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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why can’t dogs be trained not to stop and shit in the middle of the pavement?

60 replies

hibiscuslightening · 07/04/2026 17:00

If they can be housetrained then presumably they are able to hold onto their poo? So why do they seem to always stop dead in the middle of the pavement and do it there?

Can they not be trained / encouraged to go in a quiet place (ideally the owners own garden) before going right through the middle of a busy pavement outside the supermarket?

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 07/04/2026 22:32

hibiscuslightening · 07/04/2026 17:00

If they can be housetrained then presumably they are able to hold onto their poo? So why do they seem to always stop dead in the middle of the pavement and do it there?

Can they not be trained / encouraged to go in a quiet place (ideally the owners own garden) before going right through the middle of a busy pavement outside the supermarket?

They can, but there are limits.

Mine are trained to go on concrete/hard surfaces as I find it much easier to pick up and squoosh from my wheelchair vs trying to drag a turd out of long grass with a poopickstick. Our verges are almost exclusively long grass as our council is one of those 'lets not mow it let the wild flowers grow' jobs, so it is only cut back twice a year.

I can't ALSO train them not to go on concrete/tarmac (it's what I have in my back yard), and they can't really differentiate between my concrete/tarmac and someone elses).

On the whole mine shit before they go out, but exercise does tend to prompt further shitting. I ensure their diet is such that poos are easy to pick up and carry a sports bottle of water for squooshing with if necessary. I think that is sufficient, the pavement is for walking on, you're not meant to be lying on it or licking it.

They're also not allowed to wee up gates/cars/peoples property, as I think thats disgusting - certain street furniture that is made from anti corrosive stuff I do permit as it is an instinctive need, to sniff the peemail and scent mark, and no ones stopping the foxes, cats, badgers and munties from doing it, all of which is interesting scent for my dog to follow/investigate.

JanBlues2026 · 07/04/2026 22:49

I see at least one a day pooing on the pavement on the school run and at least one dog poo en route. Naice area also. It’s disgusting.

hibiscuslightening · 07/04/2026 22:52

I’m glad to hear that it is possible to train them. As for those doubting it happened I nearly tripped over a shitting Sausage dog out side Sainsburys today! It just suddenly stopped in front of me without warning. The owner did try and clean it up but still surprised me.

It was in a small country town with lots of grass areas about. But there are lots of dogs here and judging by the mess that is left about most of them seem to prefer the pavements.

OP posts:
marcyhermit · 07/04/2026 23:03

They could train them to poop in their own gardens but obviously they prefer not to 😂

FastFood · 07/04/2026 23:12

marcyhermit · 07/04/2026 23:03

They could train them to poop in their own gardens but obviously they prefer not to 😂

  • Many dogs will hold it to not poop in the garden
  • Not everyone has a garden (I know its shocking).
  • Dogs can need a poo when out on a walk.
PottingBench · 08/04/2026 09:41

FastFood · 07/04/2026 22:25

Mine is a terrier indeed, it didn't occur to me it could be a terrier thing actually!

I genuinely think it might be. I've never seen another breed take quite so much care over their ablutions.

icantbelievet23432 · 08/04/2026 09:42

Urly · 07/04/2026 21:01

This is very rare where I live. I see loads of dogs every day on my walk with mine and I think I have only seen a dog do that a couple of times in 5 years.

You're lucky, there seems to be epidemic in my area (London). Poo in the TRAIN STATION!!!! I mean, wtf

GucciBear · 19/04/2026 19:15

Quite. But the majority of owners have no idea about recall. Many of them find it hard to get a dog to sit at the kerb......

YeOldeGreyhound · 19/04/2026 19:16

GucciBear · 19/04/2026 19:15

Quite. But the majority of owners have no idea about recall. Many of them find it hard to get a dog to sit at the kerb......

My dog never sat at the kerb, as greyhounds find it very uncomfortable to sit.

OneBusyFinch · 19/04/2026 19:26

User8457363 · 07/04/2026 17:06

It's the owners that have to be trained

1000% this⬆

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