How do you manage DC enjoying garden together with your dogs?

[essenceofSES]

We have 2 cocker spaniels (a lively 4yo and an even more excitable 6mo) and DS is 11mo.

DS looks like he'll be walking any minute and I know he'd love being outside over the summer. Our dogs though spend a lot of time in our garden. They love it out there and run round playing a lot but the flipside is that they also mess out there a lot. We're not always on hand to immediately pick up any poos but obviously before DS going out in the garden would make sure it was clear.
I'm concerned though that even if we do this, where they have been to the toilet, it will still be quite dirty and unhygienic.

I know some dogs can be trained to go in a particular part of the garden but as I work p/t, I'm not always around when the dogs are in the garden to manage this.

My mum thinks that DS could be put in an old playpen in the garden but this doesn't seem right to me.

DS really enjoys the dogs and seems to find them hilarious so it would be nice for them to be out in the garden together (obviously supervised!)

Am I being too fussy or do others think this too? What do you do about it?

I put up a fence but be warned I had endless difficulties I had to retrain my Lab to go outside again.

My dogs are pretty regular in their habits, they need to poo quite soon after eating. Are yours in a regular`routine, and their diet such they have firm poos? You could get in the habit of walking them at this time to minimise the garden poo.

I have never worried about it too much as to what is left behind after poo is collected and my kids have never seem to have any problems, but you could keep some soapy or disinfected water in a watering can nearby as you will be supervising them in the garden.My 4 year old is trained(ish) to watch out for poo and shouts if there is one to clear up I have missed.

You could also try fencing off some of the garden so there is a separate area for dogs free play and pooing, so there is always one "clean" area for your little one. Also he can see them but not get bumped over by boisterous pup!

we have a seperate play area for kids that dogs arent allowed in.

Also, you can use Jeyes Fluid outside and that is what i do periodically outside.

i also pick up mess at least twice a day, and more if the kids are out there.

good luck!

xx

Have you considered fencing off a 'clean' area? You can get low picket fencing (about 2.5ft high) which is very easily fixed with spiked post supports (no digging or concrete - easily removed in the future). You can fix a gate and only allow the dogs into the area when you're out with them. It'll also keep your DS contained and would be nicer than the playpen for him.

We did pretty much as MrsL has said above and installed a fenced area using metposts and low level fencing - very cheap set up from homebase with a gate through for the children to get into their area very easily to play. We also do clear up the dog area very regularly too though.

Thank you all for your replies.

frankenfanny - not really noticed a regular pattern unfortunately! I like the idea of a watering can to hand with soapy water in.

My DH is v "garden proud" (except for where his beloved dogs are concerned!) so I will talk to him about a fenced off area. He does seem ot have a Homebase addiction though so thank you beautifulgirls for that link!

We collect as regularly as possible, the dogs are wormed very regularly and DS knows to come and tell us when someone's pooed. They have SUCH fun together, and did from almost as soon as DS was walking. In fact, my old crock of a lurcher will only play with DS now - not me or DP!

Risk benefit analysis - keep it cleaned up and walk dogs as frequently as possible and it's unlikely to be a problem

We have a poo area for the dogs where they wee and poo. Always pick up poo straight away as it attracts rats.

Sure you do anyway but always make sure their worming course is up to date.

We have a dog toilet area too. The dog has the run of the whole garden, but always uses the one area, covered in bark chippings, to wee & poo.

we have just trained Ruby to do her business in a particular section of the garden (paved, so that we can sluice it down regularly). Prior to this, she was pooping all over the garden - tbh, I was thankful it wasn't on the kitchen floor anymore . It took less than a day to get her used to her new toilet area - she's only 4 months old.

Good luck!

How do you train them to poo in the certain area? By fencing it off? Or just giving treats if they go in the right place?