Whether you’re a dog owner or not, it can be quite annoying if a dog keeps pooping on your lawn.
If it is our own dogs, at least we have some sort of control, but how about other people’s dogs? In the U.S.A., only 4% percent of dog owners take a dog training class, and for sure, those dogs are trained mostly indoors, in the confines of their households. If you have a large, green, lush yard, this can definitely be tempting to some canines—making it challenging to keep dogs off the lawn.
There are a few ways on how to keep a dog from pooping in your yard. E.g., you can use an anti-dog poop spray, which we will go over in this article. But if you are looking for a quick recommendation, the best dog poop deterrent is Bodhi Dog ‘Not Here!’ Spray. You can use it both indoors and outside to teach your pet to avoid marking and soiling specific areas.
Do you want to learn more about figuring out how to keep a dog from pooping in your yard? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
Why stop a dog from pooping in your yard?
First of all, why stop dog poop in yards? Simply because it’s an eyesore! Who would want to see animals pooping in front of your house? It creates a bad impression of you and your home if the first thing people see is the uncollected pieces of poop.
One other reason is that dog poop carries various parasites and pollutants; not only is it unhygienic for dogs, but humans too. One gram of dog poop can hold 23 million fecal bacteria. In fact, the EPA labeled dog waste as an environmental pollutant (the same category as oil, grease, herbicides acid drainage). These bacteria can easily spread across your yard and even in your home when not taken care of, which can then leave your dog with an infection.
Dog poop does not fertilize your lawn at all; instead, it leaves grass discolored and then eventually kills it over time.
How to keep dogs out of your yard?
An easy solution to keep dogs off the lawn is buying a dog poop repellent for your yard. The name explains it enough—it is designed to repel unwanted dog poop in your yard. It does not harm canines in any way. There are two kinds: granular and liquid.
They both work the same but granular are a little more effective in creating a clear boundary area. Liquid, on the other hand, is better at targeting specific spots, items, or plants. The main ingredient in dog poop repellents is methyl nonyl ketone, colorless oil, and has a powerful odor. It is the same ingredient found in insect repellent.
What to do when a neighbor’s dog poops in your yard?
If you have a friendly relationship with your neighbors, the first thing you could try is to simply open the discussion to keep the dogs out of your yard. You could also buy or create signs to place in your yard, reminding neighbors that their dogs are not allowed on your lawn.
Suppose you are looking wanting to take matters into your own hands. In that case, you can definitely try buying a commercial dog repellent, as mentioned above.
Or, you can try a DIY approach and make your own remedy at home. Some natural dog repellents for lawns are almond oil, garlic, cayenne pepper, chili pepper, ammonia, and vinegar. These are some kitchen ingredients that dogs are not fond of and dogs find unpleasant.
How to keep dogs from pooping on your lawn?
Other than the commercial and natural repellents we just mentioned, another solution you could do is to design your garden wisely. This would be a more long-term solution. One idea is to pick larger plants and place them on your lawns’ edge (acting as a boundary). Some bushes, for example, could work. Then you could also search for some plants that are pokey and protruding.
When I say, choose your plants ‘wisely,’ I also mean choosing ones given a scent the dogs dislike. One option is lavender, which dogs find too potent. Citronella, typically in mosquito-repellent products, also keeps dogs away. The third option is the Plectranthus caninus plant, also called the scaredy cat plant. It has a strong and repelling odor to animals.
How to get rid of dog poop in the yard?
The best way to get rid of dog poop in the yard is to have a regular cleaning or gardening schedule. If you are an avid gardener anyway, then this should not be a problem.
The most obvious solution is the traditional doggie bags and then throwing them away. There are also flushable bags. One other option is to own special pooper scoopers or rakes.
These are designed to make it easier for you to pick up dog poop without crouching down to the grass. Easily scoop it and place it into a container/bin, and they work well on grass.
The most efficient dog poop yard solutions
Okay, so now you’re ready to buy your own dog poop repellent. A search online will give you many options, but here are some recommendations.
Ultrasonic Animal Repeller is a device that emits sounds waves that keep animals away. The sound waves are at a frequency that is not audible to humans. What makes this device super easy to use is that it uses solar panels to charge it automatically.
You don’t need to worry about bringing it in and looking at the battery. It is easily portable and can be moved to wherever you’d like. Also, it is waterproof.
Another option is the Bodhi Dog ‘Not Here!’ Spray. You can use spray to teach your pet to avoid marking and soiling specific areas. It can be used indoors too. If they have peed on a particular area, clean it up, wait for it to dry, then spray this on that spot.
This is perfect for training them. Most importantly, they use responsible practices and sustainable ingredients in the formula.
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
