Tips for getting neighbors to clean up after their dogs

[Anonymous]

I am in a similar situation as OP (corner lot), and there are a lot of dogs in the 'hood. The owners seem to be doing okay with picking up the poop but they let the dogs pee in our front yard, even in plain view - when they see me looking out of the window and wave.

Do you guys think it would overreacting to say something? Our lawn is not in very good condition but we just moved to this house and intend on making it nice. Also, I really don't want my DC running around in the grass covered with dog pee. Perhaps I'll get one of those signs...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in a similar situation as OP (corner lot), and there are a lot of dogs in the 'hood. The owners seem to be doing okay with picking up the poop but they let the dogs pee in our front yard, even in plain view - when they see me looking out of the window and wave.

Do you guys think it would overreacting to say something? Our lawn is not in very good condition but we just moved to this house and intend on making it nice. Also, I really don't want my DC running around in the grass covered with dog pee. Perhaps I'll get one of those signs...

Lots of people don't see anything wrong with dogs peeing on lawns, which explains why they do it right in front of you. If you are having lawn issues and really don't want dogs doing it there, than by all means get a sign. I'm not too big on policing where my dog goes #1, but I wouldn't let my dog pee somewhere where there was a sign.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious what people consider to be their lawn? I clean up after my dogs and keep my dogs to the grass area between the sidewalk and the street. Not sure what I'd do if there were no sidewalk. This area of grass is actually owned by the city.

[Anonymous]

Didn't read the whole thread so I don't know if anyone already posted this:

Bacon grease. Pour it on the piles that they don't pick up. The dogs will "recycle" it.

[Anonymous]

I like the idea of putting up a sign in the yard. It gets people thinking about what their dog is doing, and that it might actually bother someone that a dog is peeing and pooping in their yard.

On a related note, someone mentioned earlier about people who let their dogs poop on the sidewalk. I used to get irate when I'd see that... until my own dog did it. My old old (14 when he died) dog used to poop while walking on the sidewalk. I didn't even know he was doing it because he didn't slow down nor did I feel a tug on the leash. I realized he was just so old and had lost contol back there and just let it go. I was mortified when I learned I was now the offender! From then on, I'd constantly look over my shoulder during our walks to see if he'd done his business back there. Many a time however, he'd do it and I'd have no idea.

Another thought I had back when I had a dog was 'wouldn't it be great if people would have one of those baggie holders in their yard'. My dog also used to be the type who'd go 2, 3 sometimes 4 times on a walk. I'd usually have enough baggies for 2 or 3 poops but after that, I didn't have any more. For the OP, who lives on a corner lot which sounds like it's popular with the dogs could consider putting a few baggies in a tree or bush to help out.

What I don't get are people who have dogs who produce those boulder-sized poops and leave them there! Or the people who have little pekingnese and think its okay to leave dollop sized poops on the sidewalk because they're small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in a similar situation as OP (corner lot), and there are a lot of dogs in the 'hood. The owners seem to be doing okay with picking up the poop but they let the dogs pee in our front yard, even in plain view - when they see me looking out of the window and wave.

Do you guys think it would overreacting to say something? Our lawn is not in very good condition but we just moved to this house and intend on making it nice. Also, I really don't want my DC running around in the grass covered with dog pee. Perhaps I'll get one of those signs...

There really are some things you can't control. In our neighborhood there isn't really any place that isn't someone's lawn. When dogs are on a walk they are going to pee. I can't make her hold it until we get home. I try to get her to move to as unobtusive a place as possible - between yards or outisde a fence or something like that. Also mine usually pees once and then spends the rest of the time "marking" where she really isn't doing much - just squatting.

[Anonymous]

My DC neighborhood has a serious unclaimed poop problem. Unfenced tree wells are the hardest hit. When it snows, the dogs don't bother to find the tree wells and just do their foul business in the middle of the sidewalk.

Most people who appear to be owners scoop. I've wondered if the paid mid-day dog walkers are responsible for most of the sidewalk and tree well bundles.

I've cleaned a lot of dog crap off of my child's tights and shoes over the years. Thankfully, she has learned to watch where she steps, but I'm still irritated that we have to be the ones adapting to this anti-social behavior.

[Anonymous]

when i walk my dogs, sometimes the dogs have loose stools and not much you can do about it. normally i just cover it with leaves. too gross to pick up and carry all the way back home. I know that is bad, but we have big yards and I don't do it where kids would be playing. if it is solid then you have to pick it up of course.

as for dog pee, please! assuming its right by the street then what do you expect? you can't pick up liquid and the dog is going to go where it is going to go. unless you outlaw dogs nothing you can do about that.

as for dog poo in a neighbor's yard. well, it might smell but it is not your yard so STFU. if my neighbor complained about that, which they wouldnt because we have acre lots, I would promptly get cow manure to use as fertilizer all along the fence. come on, mind your own business. if you need that much privacy then move to the burbs and get a big lot.

but I do agree that many folks in DC go way overboard with their dogs. treat them like kids.

[Anonymous]

Re. dog poop in a neighbor's yard, I would expect there could be rat/ insect/ nasty run-off issues that could negatively affect neighbors. In DC, rat control needs to be a communal responsibility. Non-compliant property owners cause a lot of problems here.

I have neither dog nor lawn myself, so this is all hypothetical, but if I were to get a little sign letting you know I had put some effort into my garden and didn't want yellow spots or trampled flowers, you wouldn't give the leash a tug if your dog started to make a mess of my work? I can't imagine that you're entirely unable to think of a way to exercise some control over where your dog pees and poops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re. dog poop in a neighbor's yard, I would expect there could be rat/ insect/ nasty run-off issues that could negatively affect neighbors. In DC, rat control needs to be a communal responsibility. Non-compliant property owners cause a lot of problems here.

I have neither dog nor lawn myself, so this is all hypothetical, but if I were to get a little sign letting you know I had put some effort into my garden and didn't want yellow spots or trampled flowers, you wouldn't give the leash a tug if your dog started to make a mess of my work? I can't imagine that you're entirely unable to think of a way to exercise some control over where your dog pees and poops.

the garden or flowers shouldn't be within 2 feet of the street. if they are, you are not being pragmatic and asking for trouble. if beyond two feet, then the dog owner is an ahole and I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't read the whole thread so I don't know if anyone already posted this:

Bacon grease. Pour it on the piles that they don't pick up. The dogs will "recycle" it.

LOL. Awesome

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious what people consider to be their lawn? I clean up after my dogs and keep my dogs to the grass area between the sidewalk and the street. Not sure what I'd do if there were no sidewalk. This area of grass is actually owned by the city.

Yes - this is true - but the city does not come and mow the grass between the sidewalk and street, or clean up dog poop in this area, or plant new grass. So therefore, I consider it my responsibility and unofficially, my lawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious what people consider to be their lawn? I clean up after my dogs and keep my dogs to the grass area between the sidewalk and the street. Not sure what I'd do if there were no sidewalk. This area of grass is actually owned by the city.

Yes - this is true - but the city does not come and mow the grass between the sidewalk and street, or clean up dog poop in this area, or plant new grass. So therefore, I consider it my responsibility and unofficially, my lawn.

i can see complaining about poop left there, but not pee and not poop that is picked up. where else are the dogs supposed to go?

[Anonymous]

The city owns but does not maintain tree wells. A lot of my neighbors cultivate these areas with lovely plantings (and add "keep off" signs for dogs).

As far as where else the dogs should go... it shouldn't really be the problem of anyone besides the dog owners. There are ways that dog ownership is really not comfortably compatible with city living, though 3/4 of Dupont and Adams Morgan are convinced otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious what people consider to be their lawn? I clean up after my dogs and keep my dogs to the grass area between the sidewalk and the street. Not sure what I'd do if there were no sidewalk. This area of grass is actually owned by the city.

Yes - this is true - but the city does not come and mow the grass between the sidewalk and street, or clean up dog poop in this area, or plant new grass. So therefore, I consider it my responsibility and unofficially, my lawn.

i can see complaining about poop left there, but not pee and not poop that is picked up. where else are the dogs supposed to go?

the grass / tree box in front of the building where the dog lives