question about dog poo from new owner

[newbie2018]

Hello,
So I'm seriously considering getting a dog and doing my research into it. Never ever had one so this is all new to me.

I live in a one bed flat with a medium sized roof terrace. I have a question which I feel is a bit stupid but I'm genuinely non-plussed so here I go....

Should I let my dog out to pee and poo on the terrace and if I do am I meant to let him go anywhere on it or should I dedicate a certain place for him to do his business? Also would I then pick up and bag the poo to throw away? I think in my naivety I assumed dogs dug a hole, pooed and then covered it over but I'm thinking that's not the case from what I've seen. Also my terrace is made of slabs. i do have a hose on it so could hose it down.

Grateful for any advice/enlightenment!

I pick up all the poo from the garden. If you get one like my puppy it may wel eat it too!l

Dogs don't dig then cover their poo, cats do that. Will you be taking pooch out for walks each day, they often go to the toilet then which you must pick up and dispose of in a bag. On the terrace you could try putting some sand or earth down and take up a slab, plant a shrub and see if it will go there. If you hose the slabs where will the water go, not over the edge into someone else's balcony or into any communal garden area, they don't want your doggies poo and wee either. If the doggie pools on your terrace you can flush it down the toilet. Why do you want a dog in a flat. How long will it be left alone for, where will it poo and pee when the doors are closed and is there any chance it could jump over the terrace railings.

Presumably there's some guttering where rainwater goes and pee would eventually drain? I'd be worried about blocking the gutters with poo mind.

I pick up all dog poo immediately as I have a communal garden shared with other flats (and as it's technically no pets, I'd prefer not to cause problems with the neighbours!). They don't dig holes to bury it, but some like mine will only poo on a natural surface - not Tarmac or paving slabs.

Do make sure there's no way the dog could get over the edge - they can jump higher than you think and frankly they often have no sense of self preservation. If mine was on a roof terrace and he saw a squirrel three floors down he'd jump off without a moment's hesitation

Oh goodness I don't think a dog in a small flat with a roof terrace sounds like a good idea to be honest!

I really can't fathom this thing people have about not keeping dogs in flats, so long as you have some access to outside space. I have a dog in a flat (a shared flat in inner London, no less) with a communal garden that can't be used off lead due to unfixable holes in the fence.

It's really no harder than keeping a dog in a house in suburbia (as I did growing up and still do when I visit DF). When did stairs become essential for canine welfare?

If you get into a routine of walking your dog at set times everyday you may find that they just 'poo' whilst you are out. They don't bury the poo as others have said so you just pick it up with a poo bag and bin it.

The tricky part is if your dog has a poorly tummy which means they need to go straight away and more frequently (not sure how quickly you could get outside in that situation) so maybe think about making a small self contained toilet area on the terrace where they get used to peeing or pooing so you can easily pick it up and bin it and clean it out so it doesn't smell.

Thank you! Feeling a bit nervous now if the terrace though! It's surrounded by walls of the building on two sides and a very high fence in the other. However the fourth side is very low andifhe jumped over that would lead to the flat roof of a lower building which has no fencing. I suppose I just won't let him off lead on the terrace.

Could you put up some chicken wire fencing or similar?

Yes that's a good idea. I'm going to have a look at that. Another stupid question but how many times a day on average would a healthy dog poo? I'm looking at getting a cockapoo and if possible like PPs said he will hopefully go on his walks and I can bag and bin but otherwise should I just let him go in the terrace? Is it possible to train him to go in one area? I wouldn't be able to take up any of the slabs but I could always put something down which is easy to clean and disinfect if he goes on that or am I barking to think of that?

My cocker poos around 3 times a day when he is well and a zillion times a day when he has an upset stomach

You can train dogs to go in one spot but I didn't have any luck with that but admit I didn't try that hard.

I do think a secure garden where a dog can be off lead is quite important

I have a puppy - he is 15 weeks old and when we got him he wasn't on the best food. At that point he poo'd about 5 times day. you can't walk a puppy on a lead until it has been vaccinated so for the first 3 weeks it was in the garden only. He is diet is better now and he poos only about 2 - 3 times per day. He has spots in the garden he prefers to poop in (which makes it easier for me) and I collect it at least daily and bag and dispose. He has never yet crapped on a walk - he waits until we get home then goes in the garden!

He does dig holes in the garden but not to poo in! He also uses the garden for recreational purposes (chasing balls round) and I think we'd struggle without - he has so much energy to burn and the guidance is not to walk them more than 5 mins per month of age. A 15 minute walk wouldn't be enough in a day. He is a Bichon Frise so a small and relatively low energy dog so I'd assume it is even tougher with a big dog!

My dog generally only poos once a day, but she’s absolutely tiny. If you want to control the area your dog poos in you could try taking it out onto the terrace on a lead when you know it needs to poo. You could also try training it to poo and wee on command words, guide and other working dogs are trained this way, although I suspect the ability to do this varies by breed.

My dog poos and wees on demand! He learned it very easily, just gave the command word when he was in the act, then loads of praise. Much more useful than any other command, specially if you are in a rush, or it’s cold and rainy!

He is a mongrel. I refuse to give it a cutesy name, though his mix has one.

ok another silly question - if you're bagging and disposing of your dog's poo from the garden do you chuck it into an outside bin?

I know this isn't probably eco friendly but I bag it and put it in my rubbish bin.

So yes op I bag it and drop the bag in my bin outside.

Just a heads up, I have a small safe garden I am very happy to let my dog out in. I set up a dedicated dog poo worm farm in advance with the expectation he would go in our garden. No, he will not poo in our garden, maybe thinks it is part of his den.

If you are hoping to train him to go in a certain spot I would advise you only take him there to do his business, not to hang out with you or eat, and give him a nice soft absorbent surface, he will by instinct be reluctant to go on hard surfaces.

Cockapoos are very energetic dogs (every one I've ever known has been totally hyper). Have you factored in needing to give it either one very very long walk every day or two decent sized walks, ideally with a good amount of time haring around off the lead?

Yes I live very near lots of large parks which are popular with dog owners as well as the Heath. I also work from home a lot of the time so will be around. Part of my work thought does involve very long hours for a couple of weeks (probably happens twice or three times a year) but during those times my partner will help take over and he also has flexible hours. Does this sound ok? I love cockapoos. The one thing worrying me is the amount of grooming they need which is i admit worrying me and may possible put me off. The other dog I'm considering is a springer-cocker spaniel mix.

I also live in central London and have wanted a dog since I was a kid very badly. I've done lots of reading over the years. And most people I know seem to say I need to wait till I have a family and a home but I all honesty a family and marriage might never happen (maybe I should be posting on relationships ) and with house prices the way they are I foresee the future in my flat and so I feel now is really the best time. Am I being very irresponsible?

Ps whilst my partner and I probably won't get married he's my best friend, lives nearby and is very responsible. Have no issues at all with him helping out when I'm not always around.

I would advise against getting a larger dog, like a cockapoo, OP. They’re wonderful dogs but will need walked everyday and they can jump a lot higher than you might think. I’ve horrible images of it going straight over the side of your roof terrace. If it’s pissing down outside are you still going to take it out? Have you researched the breeds personality, likeliness to certain illnesses, what food to feed, training classes, etc? I do think that you should go to dog training classes as a first time dog owner, or you’re going to end up wit an uncontrollable, unhappy dog. Would you consider getting a smaller breed rescue that has already been trained. Also keep in mind you will have to house train your dog. Girls are easier if they have a accident in the house as it will be one the floor, whereas a boy will piss up your furniture.

Hopefully if you take I'm out regularly enough it won't be a big issue. Re the small flat, you arnt thinking of getting a big dog (or even medium sized) are you?

Have seen it so many times where people just don't consider their current lifestyle before choosing a dog breed.

Dogs left alone or bored can become quite destructive, my flatmates poor dog used to open the fridge and eat all the food, tip the bins out, poo on the furniture plus would bark which annoyed the neighbours. Both the types you like need a lot of exercise, why do you want a dog, are you getting it for company. My friends cockapoo runs around like crazy, digs for fun and loves being around other dogs.

I wouldn’t get a sprocker, OP - springers are even more high-energy! I love them, and considered a springer but decided against for that reason.

My dog only poos on walks, and will only pee in our garden if extremely desperate (& can hold it for 12+ hours). This is a bit inconvenient e.g. late at night before bed we have to go for a “walk” but it’s fine really / so I wouldn’t worry too much about using the terrace for toileting.

My dog poos 1-2 times a day, always on morning walk, sometimes on evening walk too. But as PP says, puppies go frequently and can’t go out to walk, so if you were thinking of a puppy you’ll need to use the terrace, and in that case I’d definitely designate an “area”.