©Scott Sheaffer, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, USA Dog Behavior, LLC

Dog poop, it’s something you have to deal with every day if you own a dog. I like to tell people considering their first dog that if they can’t handle the idea of getting cozy with dog poop, they should consider a small aquarium instead.

I’ve provided a list below of seven things to consider in the daily management of all things dog poop.

“I like how people think I must really know my “you-know-what”. I guess I should be flattered.”

Dog Modesty

This first one is very troubling for a lot of dog owners. People ask me more frequently than you would think, “Is it okay to look at my dog when they are taking a poop?” People (most, I’m guessing) like their privacy when eliminating, but every dog I’ve ever met doesn’t give a hoot about people watching.

Remember, dogs eat their own poop sometimes (called coprophagia). I seriously doubt they’re offended by someone watching them defecate.

When?

When dogs need to eliminate (i.e., urinate or defecate) while on-leash, they need to eliminate then and there. When dogs need to poop, they normally put the brakes on big-time and/or assume the “position” (i.e., curl up their bodies). When this happens, please stop and let them do their thing.

One area of confusion I see is with marking versus urination. Urination occurs when dogs stop for more than a moment while on-leash and normally pee on a horizontal surface whether male or female - they’re just peeing.

Marking, on the other hand, is when dogs (both male and female) typically urinate on a vertical surface. This marking is very brief and short - they are marking territory, not peeing. Dogs want to mark but they don’t need to; don’t feel like you have to stop to let them do this. On the other hand, dogs need to urinate.

Where Oh Where?

This one drives a lot of dog owners nuts. Why is it that dogs take five minutes to find just the right place to poop? If that isn’t enough, they spend another two minutes finding the right place to pee after they poop. You’ve also noticed that dogs never poop and pee in the same place or at the same time. This is apparently a very serious dog rule that must never be violated.

This “site selection” is completely normal and I’m a big fan of letting them pick the place(s) within reason; it’s what dogs do. Their elimination has all kinds of meaning to them besides just elimination of waste - give them their time and place(s).

Dog Parks and Neighborhood Poop Etiquette

Constantly watch your dog at the dog park for their poops and pick up an extra poop from a dog that is not yours when you are there. If you’re like me, you have probably missed picking up a poop or two from your dog at dog parks. This extra poop pick-up while at the dog park helps set the score back to 100% for you just in case.

Ditto for walking your dog in your neighborhood - pick up an extra poop or two. I want neighbors to like dog owners and ensuring your neighborhood is free of waste from your dog or others’ dogs goes a long way.

Which Trash Can?

While it technically might be okay while out on a walk with your dog to put a dog poop bag into your neighbor’s trash can, don’t. People are very territorial, even about their trash. If people don’t want you putting your trash in their trash cans, how do you think they feel about you putting your dog’s poop bags in there?

The Lawn Guy

This is a big one for me. If you have a lawn crew that does your lawn, pick up your dog’s poop right before they come. Does this one need any kind of explanation? There’s a reason these professionals aren’t big dog fans sometimes. I hate and am not skilled at lawn work; I want to do everything I can to keep these crews happy with my dogs and me.

Back Yard Ideas

I started wearing rubber rain boots/shoes a few years ago when I pick up my dogs’ poop in the back yard. This has worked very well because there is nothing worse than stepping on dog poop in your good shoes or, even worse, your bare feet (this may be about as bad as it gets). Get a pair of rubber rain boots/shoes (they’re super cheap); you can thank me later.

“How often should I pick up poop in my back yard?” is another poop related question I get. I like how people think I must really know my “you-know-what”. I guess I should be flattered. Pick up poop at least twice a week if you have one or two dogs and more than that if you have more than two.

Concluding Thought - A Mystery

Have you ever thought about this? Why don’t dogs ever help you find their poop when you’re picking it up in the back lawn? I mean, don’t they have a sense of smell that is like 20 million-billion-trillion times better than humans’? I asked my dogs about this recently.

Me: “Boys, I’m picking up your poop; can you just show me where it is?”
Dogs: “Seriously?”

Ingrates.