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The doghouse

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

Original poster

poo getting me down. does anyone have a dog free zone in their garden?

14 replies

Slilou · 21/12/2011 11:59

i am really ashamed of the fact that it is hard to keep my large garden clear of dog poo during the winter months. the rain, short daylight hours and huge amount of leaves make it hard to see the dog poo and it saddens me that my dc cannot play out unless its been given a thorough going over.

to be clear, my garden is not full of poo, far from it, but i find it really hard to certain that its totally, totally clear.

maybe i should not let the dog play out there.

has anyone created a dog free zone in their garden?

anyone else have this problem?

my dh is less keen on putting up a fence, and just gets really defensive when i broach the subject. i think he feels that i am blaming him as the dog is technically his responsibility (it took ages for me to agree to getting a dog).

OP posts:
multipoodles · 21/12/2011 12:05

I feel your pain, with the longer grass, wet weather and rain our garden is horrible. As I type husband is out there fencing off a small section at the back door so dogs can still have grass but be contained. How I hate winter :(

Original poster
Slilou · 21/12/2011 12:09

multi, the trouble is, we all adore our dog so much that i dont think dh sees his poo as as hazardous as it is, because its OUR dog Blush. whenever i try to discuss a proper solution he takes it as criticism that he hasnt cleared the garden well/ regularly enough.

OP posts:
Original poster
Slilou · 21/12/2011 12:10

our dog loves to chase squirrels and root around the mature trees at the foot of our garden. to fence it off, would deprive him of all his garden fun

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 21/12/2011 12:11

We have a temporary mesh fence that can be rolled back when we want to open it up.

Original poster
Slilou · 21/12/2011 12:13

scurry, what sort of mesh? how do you secure it?

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 21/12/2011 12:17

We made it from two posts that have inserts for the ground and then attached plastic mesh to it. It sweeps back parallel with hedges when it is open or the mesh can be rolled around one post with another ground insert to slot into it.

I have made that sound complicated but it isn't really. It's green mesh so it's not very obvious. I got all the bits at a garden centre.

minimuu · 21/12/2011 14:45

Can you get your dog into a routine. Mine always poo at home (as I have 6 dogs and do not want to carry 6 bags of poo around with me on walks!) So they have a command for doing a poo or a wee.

After they are fed they all go out together - have a poo session - I clear up and job done(literally) until their evening meal. When we go through the delightful sequence again.

I am soooo living the life Grin

coccyx · 21/12/2011 14:58

I watch where they go and then nip out straight away. else it gets lost in leaves

festivefireworks · 21/12/2011 15:23

We got our dog at 6 mths old & he will only poo in the garden when ill. Our garden is also free of cat poo (neighbours' cats) because the dog eats its faster than we can get to a trowel.

higgle · 21/12/2011 16:43

My dog poos on walk am and in garden pm. I clear up each poo the following morning when we get back from our walk, no problems.

LaCoccinelle · 21/12/2011 17:06

Our dog does a morning poo and an evening poo, if we go on an extra long walk he might manage an afternoon poo too. I take him out in the garden first thing and pick up the poo as soon as it's done, the evening one is done on an evening walk around the block (which is obviously also picked up). Dog is only allowed to wee in a certain area of the garden (DH does not like dogs) so he wees on command in his corner and only really plays outside when we're there to watch him.

Original poster
Slilou · 21/12/2011 17:32

the thing is, we are not able to have a set routine due to irregular working hours and different routines on my work days.

i also let my dog out to play, so dont always notice that he's done a poo.

there is no way that with a 2 yo dog, used to pooing as he wishes that we can get him into a new routine to poo on command. we are both busy professional people and would not be able to cope with factoring in the necessary training into our morning routine.

the dog gets lots of love, attention and walks. but not at set times. hence it the need to access the garden. on some days he's walked at 7 am and then again at 9pm/10pm, but plays out in garden between when i get home. on other days he's with the dog walker/sitter for a full day and wont go in the garden at all. he is never alone for more than 4 hours, max.

in the morning he is fed then we boot him out in the garden and he may/ may not poo. we are rushing off to work and dont have the time to hover over him as it could be a very long wait.

i think that zoning the garden is the way forward for us, then if we are unable to pick up after him absolutely immediately, then it is less of an issue, health wise. have bought some fencing today.

OP posts:
Original poster
Slilou · 21/12/2011 17:34

higgle, i cant actually see the poos for leaves/ mud/ worm casts! due to the size of the garden, it feels like a forensic police job combing the garden for them!

anyway, how do you train them to go in a certain place??

OP posts:
Littlepumpkinpie · 23/12/2011 14:43

I have sectioned my garden off so poo can only be done on the concrete. The children play in the garden plus we have guinea pigs that go on the grass in the summer months. I do let our dogs on the grass but only if i am there to pick it up straight away.

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