We have a “dog run” space on the side of the house that is fenced separately and has gravel surface. The dogs have learned that this is where they go, and they do their business immediately when they’re let out there. At first, we praised them and gave them treats. Once they’ve gone, we open the gate to the rest of the yard. Now, if they’re running around the yard and they need to go, they’ll go into the dog run to do it.

Anonymous wrote:When you let the dog out and it poops you immediately clean it up. If you allow the dogs out with the just your kids then you teach them to either clean it up right away or to let you know so you can. If you allow the dogs out for awhile unattended then when you let them in you search for poop and clean it up.

+1

We have a smaller yard than you but only about a quarter of it is available to the dog to "go out." She can be in the bigger yard, where the kids play, only when we're out there with her. That way we can spot any poops immediately and clean them up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just get in the habit of cleaning it up immediately after they go. We have a large yard and this is what we do. If you let it sit the flies get bad and it will smell on hot days.

Yes. This.

+1

We clean up pool immediately.

I’m surprised the dog will just go wherever? Our dog always chooses to go in a corner if she poops in the yard (or at the dog park- and most of the other dogs seem to as well) but of course every dog is different!

I'm a little surprised too. Mine (3 different dogs in different yards) have always chosen a spot on the periphery of the yard and also ran/run to the edge of the dog park to poop. Is there a way to maybe train this?