Dog poo doesn’t need to be picked up in long grass

[LittleSheps]

Walking with my 3 month old in the pram in my local park this morning and see two dogs bounding a little way ahead of me, off leads. Cautiously slow down as they were big dogs and didn’t want them to run into the pram. See one of the dogs take a dump in the “wild” area to the side of the path and then see it run towards its owner. So I ask the guy “Is that your dog?” He says yes and I tell him I just saw it poo and please would he clean it up. He enquired as to where exactly so I point and he says “I don’t need to pick it up there, it’s the long grass, that’s why they don’t cut it”. To which I tell him I see plenty of kids (including my 3 year old) run in and out of these areas - lots of bushes, longer grass to the main park, trees, a lot more fun! and he should pick it up so that no one treads/falls in it. He said no and got a bit shirty with me saying if it bothered me that much I should pick it up. I should probably have just sighed and walked away at this point but his attitude really irked me so I told him that if he was a responsible dog owner he would carry bags and clean it up and if I had a dog and it had done a shit in the park I absolutely would but it’s his dog, his responsibility and that he shouldn’t ruin it for everyone else just because he isn’t keeping an eye on his dog and can’t be arsed. He then told me to shut up, waved his bags at me and walked away.

So was I being reasonable in asking him to pick his dog shit up or was he right about not needing to pick it up “because it’s in the long grass” and I was being unreasonable and should’ve minded my own business? I am not a dog owner so prepared to be told I don’t know the etiquette.

I always pick up my dog poo, being in the long grass is not an excuse not too.

I do know of a lot of dog walkers who think like this, but I don’t agree with it.If anything it’s worse because no one can see the poo so are more likely to tread in it.
I really feel people shouldn’t have dogs if they’re not prepared to pick up after them.

If you are physically able, you pick up the poo. I’ve always bagged my dogs poo and think poorly of those that don’t.

I'm a dog owner always pick her poo up!!

YANBU I've told numerous people to pick their dog shit up after them.

The one time was on the beach with my DS and my mum. We were sat having a picnic and over bounds this fucking massive dog which stole a full pack of crisps and proceeded to bark at us. The dog owner was looking the other way pretending not to notice. I bit my tongue but then the dog did a HUGE shit right next to us so I shouted over to the man "Can you please pick that up!". He was very unimpressed. The beach we were on is mostly just big boulders that are very sloped and steep, as he walks down to pick it up he slips and somehow managed a very impressive forward roll down the slope. Although amused I was slightly disappointed he didn't land face down in his own dogs muck.

The places that say "flick it with a stick" moved to that policy to deal with the dog walkers who decorate trees with poo bags. It is still much better to bag and bin than leave on the ground, but they have given up on dog owners being that responsible and so go for something they will all do that is less problematic

There are plenty of wooded areas with signs saying you don’t need to pick it up and just flick it off the path into the woodland, it surprised me as a dog owner, as I always pick my dog’s mess up, but if it was one of these areas then he’s correct.

What a dick. On short grass you can see dog poo on long grass you cannot so absolutely needs picking up regardless of the area it shits. He would get fined for that if he got caught.

@PlantPottingPlantPotting
Toxocariasis, from toxocara canis.
Toxoplasmosis is from cat faeces.

YANBU my dog poops in long grass all the time. Today he was ahem “softer” than normal and I had to unbeknownst to me it was on the tall bits as well as on the ground and so I had some wonderful poop on my arm from leaning in with the bag! This is a dog owners life! He should pick up the poop.

Meh. Wouldn’t bother me if it’s away from paths.

It completely depends. On some areas you have to clean up because if it's a farmer's land, for example, dog poo can be harmful to the animals. In other areas, there's no obligation to pick up dog poo - for example on heathland or woodland

@BumpBundle Of course it doesn't 'depend'. Dog owners ought to clean up poo wherever their dog leaves it. Those who don't are lazy and irresponsible.

@LittleSheps My guess is that if you were a bloke (and assume you are not) he'd not have given you the same lame excuses. Some men *like bullying women.

He definitely should have picked it up! Well done for telling him(not that it made much difference this time) but kids love to run through long grass and idiots like that ruin it for everyone else!

@Cherrysoup

National trust say to flick it off the path, as does my local council if in the council/Woodland Trust maintained woods. In a park, I’d pick up, tho, kids shouldn’t be restricted to the path, how boring for them! He was being a twat.

As poster says, the countryside guide suggests you flick it off the main path so it can't be trodden in and keeps the path clean. In a park, on the road or a popular footpath, please clean up. I don't follow XingDog into the undergrowth in a wild area to pick up behind her. But I don't think there would be many small children there.

Where l sometimes walk my dog, the council mow part of the field and leave part to grow excessively high. Really hard to pick up poo, but I heard others say the council said you don’t have to pick it up. I just shout no at my dog if he looks like he wants to poo in it as the grass is so long you can’t find it. He’s a good boy and listens!

It doesn’t matter whether you’re ‘obligated’ to pick up your dog poo or not. Any responsible owner should pick it up whether it’s on long grass or not. I hate ‘flickers’. If your dog can get there, my child might also get there. It’s especially awful when people leave it just on the grass, right next to the path in the wood because my kids will inevitably stand in if. You are not expunged of your moral duty just because someone puts a notice on a gate.

YANBU. More people need to call out these filthy bastards.

We have long grass in our park too. Usually my dog has done what he needs to do and it has been disposed of in the relevant bin before we get to that point. If not I call him back & put him on a lead so he can’t disappear off to do one without me seeing or in a place where its difficult to pick up.

There is no excuse. If you chose to have a dog then you are responsible for clearing up after them.

If you can physically pick up the poo then you pick it up

Yep, he should have picked it up. Mine did her stuff on a fallen holly branch once, and I picked it up. The bags aren't good with holly!

Out in the middle of nowhere, in long grass, in a thicket, I'd leave it, because it's SO unlikely anybody would walk there. But kids get their footballs and frizbees out of the long grass in a park all the time.

@ShinyFootball

Long grass is worse as you can't see and avoid it!

He could at least put it on a non biodegradable bag and hang it off a tree like they do round here

I hate people who hang poo bags from branches much more than those who just leave it. At least it will break down quickly. Decorating a tree with a poo bag is totally gross -- and fucking lazy.

It does kind of depend. In our local playing field and along the footpaths I always pick up. In the local forestry commission they say to flick it so I do that. If it is in a public place and is little too loose to pick up I spray it with a cleaner spray. This is an old habit from abroad and dilutes it down into the ground. Little bit of responsibility doesn't go amiss.

I agree with those who say it’s worse in long grass as you can’t see it!

Pick up every time, everywhere! I have 5 little dogs and I watch their every move(ment).
You had a baby so I’m thinking you may have had a nappy bag. I’d have picked it up and walked to him and either smeared the contents down his back or stroked his dogs!
I did it when a woman threw a poo bag out of her parked car, I tore it open and smeared it on her windows, she was not happy lol.

100% would always pick up. Pavement/park/woodland - it really doesn't matter. I would always pick up and would be disgusted by anyone who doesn't

You have 3 choices with dog mess:

1. pick it up with a bag and take it to the nearest bin or home
2. get a stick and flick it into the undergrowth
3. pick it up with a bag and then deposit in the nettles/undergrowth where no-one walks, keeping the bag - reverse your hand out and tie a knot in the bag, take the bag to the nearest bin or home

Choices 2 & 3 means it will biodegrade and not inconvenience anyone but apply common sense. Do not leave poop in the long grass you twat.