To paraphrase an old saying: Poop stinks. It stinks even worse when it comes from someone else’s dog and it’s all over your yard. What can you do about it? Here are nine concrete methods to prevent the neighbor’s dog from pooping in your yard. <\/p>
And before you ask, no, one of the solutions isn’t to dump the poop on your neighbor’s doorstep. <\/p>
Dogs are famous for their sensitive noses, and you can use that keen sense of smell to your advantage. If your yard smells unpleasant to dogs, they\u2019ll be less likely to venture into your territory. <\/p>
Here are some examples of strong scents that repel dogs:<\/p>
Spread one or more of these substances along the boundary of your yard to warn passing dogs to stay away. For the liquids (such as vinegar and rubbing alcohol), it’s usually enough to soak a few cotton balls and place those along the boundary.<\/p>
Note that many of these substances are toxic if the dog ingests them, so you have to be careful about where you place them. The goal is for these scents to keep dogs away, so they shouldn’t ever come close enough to eat the source of the smell, anyway. <\/p>
Scents to avoid: <\/strong>Some products designed to repel wildlife (such as raccoons, deer, skunks, or rabbits) contain the scent of coyote urine. Coyote urine might repel smaller animals, but it attracts dogs. If you use such a product and you have problems with dogs pooping in your yard all the time, discontinue use right away. <\/p> Building a tall barrier such as a fence or hedge<\/a> around your yard is the most effective way to keep neighbor’s dogs from getting in. Just make sure the fence or hedge doesn’t have gaps large enough for a dog to squeeze through. <\/p> Many homeowners don’t like the idea of putting up a tall barrier around their front yard, and it isn’t always financially feasible. Instead, you can create a barrier along the ground made of rough landscaping rocks, mulch, or something similar that would be painful for dogs to walk on. Then, they’re more likely to pass over your yard and poop in someone else’s. <\/p> Did you know there are lawn sprinklers<\/a> you can set to come on automatically whenever someone (or some-dog) steps foot in your yard? <\/p> Before the neighbor’s dog can poop on your grass, a sudden jet of water will startle him and hopefully scare him off. Since it’s just water, it won’t hurt the pup at all. Motion-activated sprinklers ward off wild animals such as coyotes, foxes, and deer, too. <\/p> Does this method sound right for you? Here are a few popular motion-activated sprinklers for you to consider:<\/p> Most motion-activated sprinklers are easy to set up. All you have to do is stake them into the ground and connect them to the garden hose. <\/p> Are you familiar with the high-pitched whistles used to train dogs? An ultrasonic repelling device is similar to that. It emits a tone that humans can’t hear but that drives dogs (and wildlife) crazy. Keeping one of these devices in your yard pretty much guarantees dogs will stay away.<\/p> The noise from an ultrasonic repeller may temporarily disorient your neighbor’s dog, but it shouldn’t cause any lasting damage. The sound doesn’t travel through walls, so it won’t bother any pets inside your house. Just remember to turn the device off before letting your own dog outside.<\/p> Look for an ultrasonic repeller with these features:<\/p> One reason your neighbor might leave dog poop in your yard is that they forgot to bring a “doggy bag” with them on their walk or didn’t bring enough. <\/p> You can be neighborly and install a small plastic bag dispenser like the kind you see in dog parks to encourage your neighbors to pick up after their pups. Install the dispenser near the road in a clearly visible spot. This is a friendly way to help your neighbor help you. <\/p> If you have a constant problem with the same neighbor letting their dog poop on your lawn, the easiest solution might be to ask them to stop. But before you do that, be sure you know who the culprit is. Don’t make any assumptions if you haven’t seen the dog do the “doo” with your own eyes. <\/p> Here are some tips for effectively convincing your neighbor to pick up after their dog:<\/p> Most people will probably start picking up after their dog (at least in front of your house) once you call them out to their face. <\/p> If you don’t know which neighbor is the problem or you’d rather not confront them directly, there is another way to achieve the same goal. You can put up signs near the road or sidewalk that say things like “please clean up after your dog” and “no trespassing.” <\/p> Many homeowners have found that simply putting up signs is enough to encourage neighbors to stay away from their yard altogether. Of course, the effectiveness of this method will depend on your neighbor’s personality. <\/p> Visible security cameras and “under surveillance” signs are a huge deterrent for all kinds of wrongdoing, including leaving dog poop in your yard. The cameras can discourage the behavior and help you figure out who keeps leaving messes for you (if you don’t already know). <\/p> Security cameras also allow you to collect evidence that your neighbor is neglecting their “doody” so they can’t deny it. Video evidence will be helpful if you end up having to file a complaint with animal control or your homeowners association (HOA). <\/p> Setting up a neighborhood watch is a good idea if multiple people in your neighborhood are having the same problem you are. When you set up the watch, establish rules about cleaning up pet waste. <\/p> Post flyers and send notices to make sure everyone in the neighborhood knows the rules. If some neighbors continue to break those rules, the watch can collect evidence to back up your claim if you end up complaining about the neighbor to animal control. <\/p> Can you sue if your neighbor’s dog poops in your yard all the time? That depends on local ordinances. You can look up your local laws using the online Municode library<\/a>. <\/p> Here are some instructions on how to use the library to find relevant laws:<\/p> If you can’t find any relevant information online, contact your county or city clerk’s office. <\/p> Depending on the laws where you live, your neighbor may have to pay a fine if they continue to let their dog poop in your yard. <\/p> Leaving dog poop to sit in your yard carries some serious risks<\/a>. Dog poop can:<\/p> When your inconsiderate neighbor neglects to pick up their dog’s poop, they might affect the health of the whole neighborhood. You should always <\/em>pick up dog poop and dispose of it properly, even when it’s in your own backyard. <\/p> Dog pee in your yard<\/a> may not be as dangerous as poop, but it still has negative effects on your lawn. Dog pee often causes brown spots<\/a> of dead grass. <\/p> Are you currently dealing with lawn damage from dog pee, dog poop, or other doggy behaviors? We can help you figure out how to handle it with these other guides:<\/p> The dangers of dog waste in your yard show why it’s so important to keep your neighbors’ dogs from going to the bathroom on your lawn.<\/p> We don’t recommend using mothballs to keep dogs out of your yard. For starters, they’re hit or miss in their effectiveness as a dog-repellent. And sometimes, dogs end up eating the mothballs, which contain toxic pesticides that can cause serious illness or even death<\/a> when ingested.\u00a0 <\/p> <\/div> If a stray dog keeps pooping in your yard, the dog-repelling scents and methods we talked about in this article should still keep her out of your yard.\u00a0 Good old-fashioned poop-scooping or picking it up with a bag and throwing it in the trash is the best way to get dog poop out of your lawn.\u00a0 Living with neighbors who don’t clean up after their dogs can be frustrating, but it’s possible to coexist without resorting to extreme measures. Remember, Fido doesn’t know any better! <\/p> Instead of going off the handle (or letting dog poop take over your front lawn), try these humane methods to prevent dogs from pooping in your yard.<\/p> Now that the dog poop is gone from your yard, does the lawn look like it could use some maintenance? Call one of Lawn Love’s <\/em>local lawn care pros<\/em><\/a> for mowing, fertilizing, weed control, and other services.<\/em><\/p> 2. Put up a barrier around your yard<\/span><\/h3>
3. Install motion-activated lawn sprinklers<\/span><\/h3>
4. Buy an ultrasonic repelling device<\/span><\/h3>
5. Get a poop bag dispenser<\/span><\/h3>
6. Talk to your neighbor (calmly)<\/span><\/h3>
7. Put up signs<\/span><\/h3>
8. Install security cameras<\/span><\/h3>
9. Get a neighborhood watch together<\/span><\/h3>
Is it legal for a neighbor’s dog to poop in my yard?<\/span><\/h2>
The dangers of dog waste in your yard<\/span><\/h2>
FAQ about keeping dogs out of your yard<\/span><\/h2>
Help Fido be a good neighbor<\/span><\/h2>