• Stopping Dogs from Peeing on Your Lawn: Key Takeaways While the occasional sprinkle on your grass may not cause huge problems, repeated visits may lead to dead spots on your lawn. Strategies to help keep dogs from urinating in your yard includes simple signage, installing motion-operated sprinklers, and more.
• Dogs do not defecate in gardens due to malicious intent. They are merely looking for a spot to relieve themselves and your garden looks welcoming. If you're dealing with your own dog, or a neighbor's dog whose presence you don't mind, you can try to create a welcoming atmosphere for the dogs away from the garden. Pick a shaded area.

Neighbor's Dog Keeps Pooping On My Lawn

My neighbor has three dogs and they keep digging their way under my fence and into my yard. This has been going on since the summer and it is a HUGE trigger for difficult child, who is has been terrified of dogs since I got bit by a pit bull and wound up hospitalized with a massive infection. Usually, the main reason why the dog of your neighbor poops on your lawn is to get rid of cleaning it. The true interest of that neighbor is in the ease and convenience of not scooping the poop or taking the pet to a suitable defecation position by walking a few meters.

What’s one of the biggest pet peeves that your neighbors have about you? Your pets and, more to the point, their poop.

In a LawnStarter survey of more than 700 homeowners in five U.S. metro areas, 9 percent named pets — mostly dogs — as the top complaint about their neighbors. “Pets” were the top pick in the “other” category for our question about pet peeves. Meanwhile, another 20 percent of the homeowners mentioned noise from pets, children, parties and other sources as the major gripe about their neighbors.

Our survey respondents have plenty of company. A survey taken in 2010 by Consumer Reports found that dog poop tied for sixth place on a list of Americans’ biggest everyday annoyances. Americans actually hate Congress more than they do dog poop, though. In a 2013 survey by Public Policy Polling, registered voters had a higher opinion of dog poop (47 percent) than of Congress (40 percent).

‘Major Source of Friction’

Photo: Digital Trends

Put it all together, and your neighbors might not be so fond of Fido. Andrew Kirby, professor of social and behavioral sciences at Arizona State University, says LawnStarter’s survey data suggests that dogs, and especially their poop, are “a major source of friction” in American neighborhoods.

“As we know, dog waste is unlike other forms of litter. It is unpleasant, it smells and it can foster disease,” Kirby says.

One homeowner in the LawnStarter survey grumbled that neighbors are “letting their dogs use my front yard for a bathroom.” This homeowner was among several respondents who singled out dog poop as a concern. Other homeowners complained about pets — namely dogs — running loose in the neighborhood or being walked without leashes.

On a more serious note, one survey respondent claimed a neighbor killed his or her dogs, while another respondent accused a neighbor of poisoning his or her pooches.

Millions of Mutts

Photo: BarkPost

No matter what the trigger, it’s clear that man’s best friend causes lots of consternation in American neighborhoods. Data from the American Veterinary Medical Association shows more than 43.3 million U.S. households own nearly 70 million dogs. It’s estimated that those households fail to pick up more than 4 million tons of dog poop each year, according to PoopBags.

Kirby, the Arizona State professor, says he understands why some homeowners in Chicago and elsewhere are frustrated by out-of-place dog poop.

“It would be a strange family that was not in some way upset by neighbors who allowed their canines to mess up sidewalks or lawns,” Kirby says. “Even placing poop bags in a neighbor’s trash barrel could be considered an invasion of privacy, although it is less offensive than the other options.”

Achieving Neighborhood ‘Cohesiveness’

Photo: Housewives of Frederick County

Kirby says the presence of dog waste, or lack thereof, indicates the level of a neighborhood’s “cohesiveness.”

“Locations where no one picks up cans, bottles or dog waste have no investment in the collective quality of life,” he says. “Paradoxically, many residential neighborhoods don’t actually offer any way to maintain appearances. Except around any parks or pools, there are usually few trash receptacles on the street, and most HOAs don’t permit trash receptacles to be left out for more than a few hours a week.”

Kirby says dog-poop bags and dog-poop trash containers should be available not just in traditional areas like dog parks but also along neighborhood sidewalks and in other spots where people routinely walk their pups.

“It may be not add to the aesthetics of the neighborhood,” he says, “but the alternatives are way worse and even more expensive.”

Bagging the Poop Problem

Photo: Flickr/OakleyOriginals

So, how do you handle the messy issue of a neighbor’s poop-on-your-lawn dog?

Certified professional dog trainer Robin Bennett, chair of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, recommends that if you know the parent of the pooch, you should bring up the problem “gently” in conversation. If you don’t know the owner of the offending dog, urge your homeowners association or neighborhood association to issue a pick-up-the-poop reminder, Bennett suggests.

“I would also make sure you are setting a good example by cleaning up after your own pet,” she says. “If you see someone who has a dog and they don’t clean up, you might offer them a bag as a friendly reminder.”

To be a responsible dog-owning neighbor regarding fecal matters and other matters, Bennett suggests signing up for canine training.

“I also think pet parents should work hard to build relationships with their neighbors and deal with concerns at the early stages before they build up into something huge,” she says.

See related story: Why do dogs eat grass?

Top photo: Flickr/Michael Simmons

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When your neighborhood dogs choose your lawn as the perfect place to do their business while relieving their bodies of unwanted substances, it won’t take long before spots develop to remind you of their visit. Even worse, the scent of a dog’s urine will attract other dogs who will also finish their business on the same spots, leaving your lawn affected by unsightly pee spots that might be difficult to control.

It even hurts more when you don’t own a dog, and your neighbor’s dog finds your yard quite useful in getting rid of the disgusting fluid. At such a point, you will feel disappointed, and you might wonder what to do, but thankfully some solutions will help you nip the issue in the bud:

1. Be neighborly

At times, all you need to do is hold a friendly conversation with your neighbor about their dog’s behavior and how it affects you. Try to do so in a polite way, so that it won’t spark any disagreements that may worsen the already aggravated situation. A good neighbor will take some action and begin to monitor their dog closely to avoid upsetting you.

In some cases, you can suggest that your lawn is dangerous for dogs since you have chemically treated it to deter skunks or raccoons. The only problem with lying is that it might compromise your chances of appealing to authorities if the case becomes quite complicated.

2. Confront your neighbor

At times, you have enough evidence that your neighbor’s dog is the one that pees on your lawn, and in such a case, you should be bold enough to confront your neighbor. Don’t be aggressive, however, as you are trying to solve the issue, not complicate it. The best way to do so would be to invite them over for a drink or dinner, maybe, and try to assume that they don’t know anything about the issue and that you are only inviting them to inform them.

If you reach an agreement, drop the subject and discuss something more interesting, to let them know that you’re still in good terms. If, however, they are rude and won’t listen or cooperate, you can draft a formal complaint and keep a copy for yourself, trying to prove that you attempted to resolve the issue. You might want to install a security camera that will capture the dog messing with your lawn so that your neighbor won’t have any grounds to deny it.

3. Reduce attraction

Dogs can’t forget where their “pee-mails” are supposed to be and will always go back to the same spot to relieve themselves, and as such, you have to do a little cleanup to reduce the enticing smells. Clear out all piles of feces and be sure to douse the whole lawn with a hose, to dilute and wash the urine into the ground. Afterward, sprinkle some lime over the grass to reduce any smells that may have remained.

The best thing about lime is that it will not harm your grass in any way, and will even help in neutralizing nitrogen which causes some burned spots on the lawn.

4. Motion activated sprinkler

This might not be the politest way to do it, but remember that you have to do what you can, and installing a motion-activated sprinkler is one of the most effective actions you can take to keep away the pooch threatening your lawn’s glamour of your lawn. You can install the sprinklers along the boundary of your yard, or at specific spots where the animal visits to do their business.

When the dog gets to the spot, its motion will trigger the sprinkler sensors, effecting a quick spray of water. Such a spray should be enough to startle the dog and send it scurrying away. Just remember to deactivate the sensors when you want to get onto the lawn, to avoid getting sprayed as well.

5. Mark the boundaries

Marking your lawn boundaries with a fence is more than likely to keep away dogs looking for an excellent spot to do their business. You want to invest in sturdy fencing such as chain-link, that will let you enjoy your lawn while keeping of neighborhood animals. Always keep the fence gate closed, and regularly inspect for holes that may have been dug by stubborn canines.

In case you are interested in permanent fencing, get a low-voltage electric dog fence that will deliver a low shock to animals that might want to get into the lawn despite the installed barrier.

6. Use a repellent

Cayenne pepper is also a good solution if you liberally sprinkle it along the edges of your lawn or on the pooch’s favorite urination spot. Cayenne is a hot and bitter substance that works perfectly as one of the most effective home remedies. Even as you use it, remember to reapply it regularly or as often as has been directed. You can also use vinegar since dogs hate the smell, in addition to being highly sensitive to it.

Ammonia and citronella oil will also work fine when it comes to keeping Fido off your lawn, so be sure to get a repellent that works well for your yard. Repeated treatment will make the dog remember the vague smell, and he will avoid going back there at all costs.

7. Install an ultrasonic repellent

Neighbor Dog Pooping On My Lawn

You can also install ultrasonic repellents, which are also motion-activated. Mount the device on a tree, shed, or fence, and as the dog approaches, its motion will trigger the sensors causing emission of sonic and ultrasonic waves, bothering the dog as a result. It’s, however, unclear how well these repellents work, so you might want to consider them as the last option, till more evidence comes up supporting their efficacy.

Related article: Tips for Pet Proofing Your Home

Neighbor dogs peeing on your lawn appear evil, and the effects of the pee are even worse, which is why you have to act quick before they are accustomed to peeing on your lush green lawn. The above-listed tips should be the perfect solutions, so be sure to consider the one that works well for you. Things like installing a fence should be the most effective as a long-term solution, especially when your neighbor’s Fido is stubborn. Just be sure to use a solution that will not get you sued for cruelty against animals.

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