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

[LucyLime]

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?

@Hoppinggreen yes private garden and very obviously so

I'm really heartened to see that the majority of dog owners consider this bad manners and would never let their dog do it. I was surprised at the first few responses thinking it was no big deal. Just goes to show that there are people out there who let their animals do anything

I have a dog.
He only poos on grass, and I am very careful as we walk to not let him poo on peoples gardens.

No, it is not OK for her to let her dog poo in your garden.

When I was on holiday a while ago, there were a lot of houses with pretty plant pots out side the door. They all had little signs in the them saying - please don't let your dog wee here.

Maybe a similar thing would do? small sign saying - please don't let your dog use my garden as a loo!

I can't believe you even need to ask, OP! I'm surprised at some of the responses on here - legally, a cat has the "right to roam" but a dog does not. They must be under the control of the owner when out in public.

It is your property. You did not give permission. You do not agree to your garden being used as a dog toilet.

Tell her to stop it. She doesn't have the right to trespass on your property.

Apart from anything the urine will damage your plants. Definitely say something and ask her to take the dog elsewhere.

I’m astonished at the responses saying this is OK! I’m going to shit on all of your gardens but don’t worry, I’ll pick it up, so it’s fine! (No dog owner in the history of time has ever picked up all the poo; there’s always the smear.) This is the OP’s GARDEN! Of course it’s not OK to let your dog crap on it, and the fact birds might do a fly-by or a fox might treat it as a loo is irrelevant; wild animals don’t have deranged owners giving them a defecation free-for-all. Honestly, I know 2020-21 has sent everyone totally toto but are we really at the point in the breakdown of civilisation that we’ve decided “shit where you like, it’s your fault for having a garden near a pavement.” Bloody hell.

Of course it’s not unreasonable to tell someone to stop using your garden as their dog’s fouling spot.

Well, judging by the camera times this week, she should be back again any time from 4pm ish.

So I'll be poised!

YANBU. I think I'd try a temporary sign for a few days. 'This is a private garden. Please keep your dog away.' Hopefully that would be enough but if not I would definitely say something in person.

Who are these entitled people that let their dog go into other peoples gardens, never mind having a poo? I wouldn't even let mine pee on the side on someone's fence!
And dogs have a pattern, I know exactly when mine is going to go.
YANBU I would absolutely say something to her, if she doesn't stop take a picture and shame on your local FB page?
Disgusting behavior!

I'm not sure if you can do this but could you park your car blocking where the dog enters to do its business?

Really bad manners and I'd be out there telling her.

I'm a dog owner and I certainly wouldn't be letting mine wee or poo on someone's garden.

Of course it's wrong and I can't believe people saying it isn't. A one off maybe, but to deliberately use your garden as a toilet for her dog twice a day is outrageous. I'd be chucking a bucket of bleach and water over the pair of them

Hopefully she'll be embarrassed once she realises she's been caught on camera.

I owned a dog and I would never ever let it do their business in other people's garden.
I would definetly say something!

Laminate a polite notice that makes it clear you can see her and stick it in the garden, that might embarrass her into stopping and if it doesn't it will tell you a lot about her personality.

Think this is awful and disgusting. It would be fair enough if she had let it happen once or twice, it’s pretty hard to convince a dog to move once it’s starting squatting, but the fact she keeps going back and letting it happen just shows she is shameless and doesn’t give a shit.

Yes she is picking it up, but picking poo up with a bag is different from cleaning the area properly, do you have children who play in that grass, they’d be rolling about in it.

You should definitely confront her!

It's rotten. I would follow her home discreetly and note her address.
Then next time it happens, I'd ask her not to allow her dog to shit on the lawn.
If she had an attitude and let it continue scoop up any shit and post it through her letterbox.

@LucyLime YANBU. We have a puppy who we walk every evening. He has a wee and a poo but only on the path or on grass verges. He's NEVER allowed in other people's gardens and he would never be allowed to do his business on there either!

@TwentinQuarantino can't unfortunately - it's hard to explain but we have two front gardens and they're both bigger than the length of my car - it just wouldn't block any access. Otherwise I'd do this.

No, my plan is to tell her politely but firmly to stop please and stop NOW

Definitely not ok and it is a bit worrying that a few dog owners think it is. We had a problem with dogs peeing outside our house on our fence, this attracted more peeing and then pooing. I spray the area with vinegar and it seems to put them off for a bit.

When I said I didn't think she was doing anything wrong I meant that she might not know she's doing something wrong. How am I supposed to know if it's someone's front garden if there's no fence? I don't have a photo to discern what OP is talking about. Like I said, it's not that easy to dictate where your dog goes but if asked she should realise what she's doing is wrong and redirect her dog. I never said I'd let my dog poop in someone's garden if I actively knew it was their garden, what I'm doing is giving her the benefit of the doubt so that OP doesn't go out and rip her a new one for being oblivious. Christ, why can't we just be nice? If she comes back and says she doesn't give a shit then she'd be an arsehole! But quite frankly you're all making a mountain out of a molehill. Just ask her nicely, she'll probably stop. No need to make her feel like shit first.

The dog is either off lead or on lead. It's a long lead so she just literally stands there and let's the dog run across our garden, cock its leg and then it settles down for a poo.

So concerted efforts will be made today! I do get a notification ping every time someone walks past our front door - it only extends onto our property though so she really shouldn't be close enough for it to register her!

My dog is not allowed to even put a paw on someone’s garden or driveway. We keep to the pavement or road if not possible. I would never let my dog wander on someone’s else’s property let alone do their toilet!

@Thehawki so it's fine to do it 12 times over the past week you think? Interesting.

And to be clear again, my garden is very very clearly a garden. It's not something that could be mistaken for a public park or a verge. It doesn't need a fence to show this either.

I would absolutely say something it's disgusting. You don't follow her home and do that on her garden do you. Disgraceful.

Dog owner here. I would be horrified if my dog did that.
Once might just be excusable ( although I’d still be mortified) but establishing a habit is just grim.