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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

how to keep GARDEN POO FREE - dh not picking up regularly enough

33 replies

catinhell · 17/03/2011 12:03

We recently got a lovely border terrier. i wasnt keen, but dh nagged me into submission. he was self employed at the time and promised to take full responsibility for the dog.

since then, dh has returned to full time employment and we have moved to a house with a larger garden. dh absolutely knows that dog poo is his department, but he is rubbish at picking it up. it makes me so mad that he does it in 'batches' every week or 2, and esp now the spring is arriving, i want the dc to be able to enjoy their new garden without this toxic hazard.

i sympathise with dh, and know that its hard to pick up when its dark when he gets home and the mornings are a rush. i also work 3 long days (we have a dog sitter). but he did agree to take on poo duty as a condition of getting the dog.

i think part of the problem is that the dog loves to go out and play often, and we dont see when he poos. also he poos anywhere he wishes, and they're hard to spot on the large lawn amongst the leaves.

so.... any tips for dh regarding picking up poo routine.

or tips for getting dog to use just one area of garden?

i do 'muck in' if its a fine day and the dc want to use the garden, but the problem is larger now that we've moved.

any advice? x

OP posts:

wishingchair · 17/03/2011 12:49

... waiting with baited breath ...

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 17/03/2011 12:50

Hmmm what do you feed him and how often and how often does he poo?

Healthy dogs on a good diet should only really do one poo per meal.

So I feed twice a day, follow him out in the morning to pick up a early morning poo and bin it, then he will do one more on his afternoon walk, easily dealt with, poo free garden.

Original poster

catinhell · 17/03/2011 12:56

well, for the first year he was on chum and mixer as we were rather ignorant in the food department.

dh recently got adivised to use a high quality complete dry called garden grange. but the dog keeps going off it, we switch flavour but he soon tires of it too and doesnt eat much. dh then caves in and gives a tin of chum.

prob we need educating a bit more re food, if i'm honest.

OP posts:

cryhavoc · 17/03/2011 13:00

We've got two Rottweilers, and I sometimes think it would be easier to clear the garden if we had an elephant instead. The amount of poo they produce is ridiculous, so the main, non-negotiable rule is that it gets done EVERY DAY.

Whoever lets them out in the morning goes too and does poo patrol. Obviously in the summer when people are outside more often if gets done whenever one is spotted. How old are your DC? My DD is just 3 and she knows to shout if she spots one that has been missed.

It's probably more difficult with a smaller dog because the poos are smaller - the ones I deal with are huge - so you have my sympathy, but leaving it for weeks us foul. He could be running through it and bringing it in on his paws.

hatwoman · 17/03/2011 13:07

I think the key word in your post is "routine". Most dogs are pretty regular. ours poos every day about 5 minutes after he goes out in the morning. You need to work out when he poos and make sure someone is with him to pick it up there and then. I hate the idea of poo lying around in the garden so I never let him out on his own when I know he will poo. We go for a walk, he poos, it gets picked up. It's never a separate job then, iyswim - it's just part of taking him for a walk.

You can work on getting him to use a particular part of the garden - but do you really want to turn a corner of your garden into a dog toilet? You'll still need to pick the stuff up so why not pick it up when it's fresh and not have it lying around.

Original poster

catinhell · 17/03/2011 13:08

cryhavoc, dc are 9 and 6.5.

our mornings are really rushed. we have to leave at 7.45 with dc ready for school on the days when we both work. poo patrol time is so hard to fit in. then dark when we get home.

i am working at home the other 2 days, but by then its quite a job to clear garden, so i leave it for dh, unless its warm enough for dcs to play out.

must get plan in place for the spring, tho.

OP posts:

cryhavoc · 17/03/2011 13:14

I know it seems like you don't have time, but if it's every day then it's only 5 minutes. We take it in turns. Don't think of it as an optional extra, but something that has to be done, like brushing teeth.

Original poster

catinhell · 17/03/2011 13:20

i agree that its not optional.

dh gets really annoyed with me when i broach the subject. i wish he just did it without me having to nag.

i could just give up and do it myself. but he did promise...

OP posts:

hatwoman · 17/03/2011 13:44

I don't get the time argument. dogs needs walking every day. if you time their walks to coincide with their poos then picking up the poo doesn't take any extra time. if he's not getting a walk in the morning (but needs to wee and poo so gets put out in the garden) then all it takes is 5 minutes to go into the garden with him. ie dh needs to get up 5 mins earlier.

going · 17/03/2011 13:49

Please pick it up. OUr old next door neighbours used to leave dog poo in the garden for weeks on end. I couldn't open the windows at the back of my house because of it. They were repulsive people to live next door too as they didn't even pick it up when I complained about the smell.

It only takes a couple of minutes once a day to keep the mess under control.

Original poster

catinhell · 17/03/2011 13:59

going, i can assure you that we are not in that league! we are talking maybe 8 poos on a huge lawn.

he does get a walk in the morning, but not till the post breakfast poo is needed.

i agree it needs to be done daily, but dh agreed to do it, but isnt. if i try to discuss it he gets defensive and cross.

do i just resign myself to it and do it myself??

OP posts:

Mollymax · 17/03/2011 14:06

We fenced off a part of the garden for the dog, when the children were little. The dog went for two walks a day so just needed that area to do her business. It worked well because the poo was contained in a smaller area. We did pick it up every day though.

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 17/03/2011 14:11

I think the real issue is the fact that dh said he would do it and he isn't.

Which is a bit childish really, it's like when children promise to take care of a pet and don't, though that is a bit more forgivable as they are, after all children.

I think you need to sit him down and say 'dh we got the dog on the agreement that you would pick up the poo. As the children play outside, this is something that must be done daily. What are you going to do to make sure this happens?' or if you are feeling helpful 'What can I do to help you make sure this happens'.

On a seperate note, I wouldn't keep chopping and changing his food, you will make him very fussy. Arden Grange is a good food though.

Original poster

catinhell · 17/03/2011 14:20

well, we did fence off a little area, but it didnt work as the dog kept 'asking' to be let into the main garden and so we took fence down. or should i say, dh did. dont remember agreeing to it...

the dog loves the garden and it seems a shame not to let him play/ chase squirrels

its dh's defensive attitude that i find hard.

agree re food.

OP posts:

Mollymax · 17/03/2011 16:57

It does then sound like you need to speak yo your dh and remind him his promise.
Or offer to do alternate days poo picking :)

minimu1 · 17/03/2011 17:42

Smug here - five dogs all poo in the same place everyday at the same time while I drink a cup of coffee then pick up said poos and clean garden. Do this twice daily. My dogs rarely poo outside of my property so I do not have to walk poo bag accessories hanging from my body!

It is down to training and routine - do pick up poo daily especially if you have children - there are health risks with dog poo and it needs to be disposed off sensibly.

Nag time for DH I think. No supper/or withdraw treat of your choice until poo is cleared up

Do not feed chum better food less poo if the dog does not eat it is not hungry enough

CalamityKate · 17/03/2011 18:04

Decent food = fewer poos that are nice and solid and easy to pick up.

If you do it every day it takes 2 minutes.

Kick your DH's arse!

mollymole · 17/03/2011 18:30

when i saw the heading i thought your DH was shitting in the garden !!!

Tortington · 17/03/2011 18:37

i'd pay the dogsitters a tenner for dog shit clearing

chickchickchicken · 17/03/2011 18:43

i dont have young dcs but pick poo up twice a day. i actually think it is disgusting to leave it. the dog may run outside, run in it and then run back in the house. lots more work then.
when its dark take a torch or get outside lights
show dh this thread? he said he would do it and he should. lack of time no excuse, it only takes a few minutes
agree stick to dried quality food as poo much easier and less of it to pick up

DastardlyandSmuttily · 18/03/2011 18:43

OK minimu how do you train a dog to poo in one place? Mine isn't that regular with timing I can predict it, and I'd feel bad moving him along once he's picked a spot!!

Magicmayhem · 18/03/2011 18:57

my Border Collie poo's twice a day... once on his morning walk... once on his afternoon walk... sorted!

Have just skimmed this thread, how often is your dog getting a walk?

throckenholt · 18/03/2011 19:07

I think maybe you should all take a turn at clearing up after the family pet - DH can do it at weekends and summer evenings, and you and the kids can do it during the week.

My kids have been doing "poo patrol" since about the age of 7. They aren't particularly keen but they know it is part of the reality of keeping a dog.

and maybe fence off an area that is off limits for the dog so there is a definite area where the kids can always play without risk.

throckenholt · 18/03/2011 19:09

by the way - let the dog into the fenced off area straight after food and then make sure he doesn't go into the rest of the garden until he has done one.

missmehalia · 18/03/2011 19:17

What throckenholt said. We've got a dog toilet (springer spaniel). Your DH sounds a bit childish (sorry). He obviously wanted a dog and took full responsibility when he was s/employed, now he's got more to do outside the home it has become a chore.

Well, a dog is for life, and all that. Do NOT feed him (the dog, I mean ) wet food, is my honest advice, for a kickoff. Take him to the vet regularly to get his weight checked, and get the vet's advice about feeding/pooing. Wet food makes the most disgusting and smelly poo, and really isn't good for their teeth either.

Reinstate the dog toilet, and take him in there til he's 'been'. He'll soon get the message, he doesn't sound that old, so it should be easy. We trained out dog into it when she was about 3 (new baby on the scene.) It took a fair bit of monitoring, but it should be a cinch if you've got a bit fenced off (we've just got a small gravelled area.)

Getting the garden returfed was out motivation.

If your DH doesn't want the responsibility, there'll be someone else out there who'll be responsible enough to take the dog on and love him enough to look after him AND their kids properly. It's not just about dog care, it's about keeping the kids healthy.

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