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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Dog poo-ing on our garden every morning and evening. AIBU to say something?

603 replies

LucyLime · 18/01/2021 10:26

We live in a quiet area with just three houses in a sort of cul de sac. We are part of a small estate but at the bottom of it. Nobody comes down here unless they live here or are delivering something really.

However there is a cut through at the top and every morning and evening for the past week, a woman has started appearing from this cut through and walking past our house with her large dog. And every morning and evening, this dog is doing a poo on my front garden.

It cocks it's leg on my bushes and had a wee and then settles down for a poo. And yes - she does stand there watching and picks it up

The reason I know? We have security cameras. The reason I've not said anything to her yet? I have annoyingly either been asleep/ in the shower/ in the garage/ out shopping. Nearly managed it this morning but by the time I'd opened my front door, she was turning the corner and I wasn't about to screech!

So ... onto my AIBU. My DH thinks that as she's picking it up then meh, not a massive deal. I think differently - I don't want my front lawn used as a dog toilet and I think it's bad manners to allow your dog to do this. Once I sort of get - but this is now becoming a pattern.

AIBU to literally stake out my camera notifications today and ensure I can get to my front door and ask her to stop immediately? Or just ignore it?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
WalkingAfterMidnight · 18/01/2021 15:04

Original poster
LucyLime · 18/01/2021 15:07

@nellly I did wonder Grin I'm a bit dense but not that bad 😂

Yeah she knows only too well. I do need to make a work call at some point but putting it off because ... poised you know!

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 18/01/2021 15:09

I would put this in obvious view

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284147030685

Bilgepumper · 18/01/2021 15:09

@CorianderBlues

Can you put some sort of dog laxative in a treat, left right by where the dog does its dirty, sinful business?

It's a Goldie, they can't say no to a treat.

And half an hour after ingestion, by the time the owner gets home, there will a dog, full of bum gravy, ready to redecorate the owners house and garden with.

It won't help but it would make me laugh my pants off all evening.

What a bizarre post. Poor dog! It would be better to give the owner a laxative.
Original poster
LucyLime · 18/01/2021 15:10

@BackwardsGoing well, we don't sunbathe out there no! It's two large ish gardens and you walk down our path which separates them. The gardens are full of lavender and flowers and they're lawned. We have Green Thumb come out regularly and well... we take pride in them? They're ours y'know?

I just don't want a dog doing a shit there twice a day. You obviously would be cool with it in your garden and that's your prerogative. Most people don't want dog shit on their property

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 18/01/2021 15:11

Someone near my house put one of these smack bang in the middle of their pristine, newly laid lawn

www.sign-maker.co.uk/no-fouling---cast-metal-sign-44868-p.asp?gclid=CjwKCAiAgJWABhArEiwAmNVTBzbDSBjqGDKp51GyRZoBd5TRHSKG5otGBGn8QYeT8Jj_P5twUJ8-6RoCxigQAvD_BwE

CorianderBlues · 18/01/2021 15:14

[quote Eckhart]@CorianderBlues

It won't help but it would make me laugh my pants off all evening

Because you'd made an animal ill? How hilarious you are.[/quote]
A dog laxative would presumably be dog safe and would do the same as a human laxative - empty your bowels, quickly, painlessly, once.

Be far less uncomfortable (for the animal) than being spayed or neutered, for example, but people do that without a moment's hesitation - I assume you DID want to get in to a discussion about permanently damaging an animal just so the human owner can have an easier life, didn't you??

But thank you for the hand-wringing.

And yes it was a joke, enough for me to have a clear conscience.

Original poster
LucyLime · 18/01/2021 15:16

@CorianderBlues I knew you were joking!

OP posts:
Wellthisismorethanabitgrim · 18/01/2021 15:17

This is an ongoing point of discussion on our local FB page - we live on a new estate so no-one has fenced front gardens, they are all just open/flat to the road. There was blue murder when someone's dog pooped on some newly laid artificial grass, and the culprits were outed on the FB page complete with picture! Most people agree that dogs should not be peeing or pooping on other people's gardens, however there is a group that think it's absolutely fine, as long as you pick up the poop, and they won't be told otherwise - apparently it's "impossible" to stop as "it's just what dogs do".

Er no, it's what dogs do if they are off lead, or on lead but you are not watching them.

My dog has never ever walked on anyone's garden the whole time we have lived here - she's on the pavement or the grassy verge. She may go in for a little sniff around the edges, but she's on a lead, so we keep an eye on where her paws (and her bum!) go, it really isn't that hard.

The other thing to bear in mind is that once one dog is using it as a toilet, other dogs are more likely to do the same.

Serendipity79 · 18/01/2021 15:22

I'm really shocked at how many people think this is ok. I have two dogs, and I would be mortified if they pooped on someone's garden, irrespective of the fact that I pick up 100% of their doggy business!

OP you shouldn't have to justify whether this woman can tell its your garden, why you've not put a fence up, or why you aren't "cool" like some of the people who couldn't be bothered to get upset about it.

I don't personally believe that we are all under some kind of obligation to make sure CF dog walkers cant allow their dogs to poo on our gardens (mine is open plan on the end of a cul-de-sac too). Like they cant possibly control themselves if we don't barricade them out??

NoOneOwnsTheRainbow · 18/01/2021 15:25

Oh I hope you get to say something to her this afternoon. We can't have a fence on our front garden and it would really annoy me if someone was doing this. Our toddler plays out there.

SlopesOff · 18/01/2021 15:28

@VettiyaIruken

I wonder if any companies make dog potties. 😁 Picking it up is all well and good but it does leave smears. I wonder about a mat that you'd lay down when the dog signals it needs to go (would require dog to be trained) and the dog would go on. It would need to be designed to be able to be sealed up and ideally be biodegradable so better than plastic bags.

I don't have a dog so maybe I'm being stupid. I have a cat who has a litter tray but chooses instead to use my strawberry patch 🤬

A Poo Trap (or similar, there are other makes) would stop the problem.
maddening · 18/01/2021 15:42

I think a diagram is called for, including where he stands and where the dog is and the boundary of your garden.

GwendolineWindowlene · 18/01/2021 15:43

20 minutes to go. Hope OP is crouched somewhere commando style, wearing full cammo and armed to the teeth, ready to catch the shitter at work.

Original poster
LucyLime · 18/01/2021 15:53

Well he had a poo at 8.18am today so I would have thought it'll be time soon for another stretch of his legs!

OP posts:
justilou1 · 18/01/2021 15:56

I hope you have the hose ready!!!

Original poster
LucyLime · 18/01/2021 15:57

And it was 4.19 yesterday that he visited for his poo. Hmm.

I'm in joggers and a sweatshirt but I'm going to go outside and.... clean the inside of my car!

OP posts:
cataline · 18/01/2021 16:03

I'm waiting (not very patiently!) to see what happens!

Santaiscovidfree · 18/01/2021 16:08

Just checking in on Poogate... Nothing happened as yet I see.... Hide in your car op and beep the horn if it squats!!
Bet the owner poos herself instead!!. Grin

ThereOnceWasANote · 18/01/2021 16:13

When this happened to us I just bought some dog repellent spray from b&q and it worked brilliantly. The dogs just held their nose as they walked past. Once you break the habit, it's sorted. The dog has just got into a routine.

AvoidingNextdoorNeighbour · 18/01/2021 16:18

The dog shouldn't be coming into your garden full stop! Doesn't matter if she picks up the majority of its shit off your grass, you don't want ANY dog shit on your garden.
Same goes for the dog using your garden to piss in. Your garden is not her dog's toilet.

I say tell her. Politely. Tell her that your garden is starting to smell of dog wee/poop and you'd rather she didn't allow her dog on in future.

Fuss · 18/01/2021 16:20

I get it. I spend a lot of time on my garden and I rather love my lawn. I wouldn't want dog wee/poo leaving big marks across it and killing my plants. When I walk my dog he stays on the pavement. I expect others to show the same courtesy.

My Mum was ridiculously paranoid about people complaining to the point where wherever she went she took a mountain of bags and a small spray bottle of disinfectant which she would then squirt liberally on the pavement when she'd picked up the poo.

BringPizza · 18/01/2021 16:20

This thread is slightly crackers, but I frequently have off-lead dogs wandering up my drive and round our large front garden as if it's some kind of park so I appreciate how annoying it it.

Original poster
LucyLime · 18/01/2021 16:24

Well I can't possibly polish the inside of my car anymore Grin It was clean anyway.

So I'm now back with phone in hand and I won't take my eyes off it. Until I have to make dinner that is

OP posts:
LookItsMeAgain · 18/01/2021 16:28

I'd go out and sit in the car listening to the radio. The dog walker will get the shock of their lives when you jump out of the car telling them to stop letting their dog shit on your lawn.
Keep us posted though!