So....how do you guys deal with this? I've never had to, since my dog has always lived at my parents' house, which is deep in the woods - all of her playing and walks occurred on their property. But now she's moved into my new house with me (yay!) and I want to start taking walks through the neighborhood (we are still in the woods my family lives in, but close the edge of a suburb and I'm trying to make friends since I've been away from home for years).
But the problem is that she seems to save all of her bodily functions for our walks! It's hard to feel like a good neighbor when she's trying to crap in someone's yard. I always pick it up, but still - I love dogs but I can certainly understand someone getting upset about it. But it's hard to get her not to - the sidewalk is right by yards, of course, and if I try to drag her along to a more neutral area she just waddles and pees/poops as she goes and creates a bigger mess. Help!
How do you guys deal with walking your dogs around the neighborhood?
-- Edited by ttara123 at 09:51, 2007-09-05
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Fashion is art you live your life in. - Devil Wears Prada | formerly ttara123
You can't control your dogs bodily functions. I think as long as you pick it up you are fine. Thats what I do with my dogs. I hope my neighbors aren't expecting anything more.
I've had neighbors get all pissed off (pun intended!) that my dog peed on their yard, once I even got yelled at for my dog peeing on someones brick post. People can be neurotic about their posessions so I understand your concern. My dog will also continue to pee/poop if I drag him away from a spot, or he will get all constipated and not be able to go for awhile, which I think is kinda cruel, so now I'll just risk getting yelled at.
Dogs piss and poop and they have to do it outside. Many prefer to eliminate on walks and walks generally occur in the neighborhood you live in so there is little you can do to control this behaviour, other than picking it up quickly. If you have a "crazy" neighbor, just avoid that particular house by walking in the street or on the other side of the street.
I don't believe there is anything illegal about it as long as you pick it up... hope you don't have any problems with your neighbors about it.
I think for the most part people understand. I mean its not like you're leaving it there! In my experience, the people who get freaked out by stuff like that, are not people I want to be friends with.
I agree, as long as you pick it up you should be fine. Normal people should be understanding of that and appreciate you're being a good neighbor and taking care of your dog's regular functions. It's not like you're letting your dog loose to go wherever and then leave it there. (Which my neighbors used to do, and boy did it make my mom mad!)
How exciting that you get to live with your doggie again, by the way! You must be in heaven.
thanks guys - I guess I'll never be comfortable with it but it's good to know I'm just not being oblivious!
She did make friends with some neighborhood kids, who always want to pet her because she's so fluffy so hopefully the parents won't mind so much since it'll be their kids' friend who is pooping in the yard! :lol:
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Fashion is art you live your life in. - Devil Wears Prada | formerly ttara123
My dog Pearl grew up with 2 male dogs, so she pees like a boy. That means every bush, flower, or blade of grass she passes on a walk is subject to getting peed on. In the 6 years I've been walking her around town, I have only gotten scolded twice from people. I just make sure she doesn't go near their lawns now.
As for poop, it always gets picked up. I hate it when other dog owners leave poop on my lawn, but I don't mind if their dog goes on my lawn as long as they pick it up.
And there's nothing worse than seeing dog poop up and down the sidewalk (because people drag their dog along while it's doing business).
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This thread reminds me of how one of the residents in our neighborhood has made all these silly, handwritten signs and put them in the monkey grass that lines his sidewalk and yard.
For example, one of them reads, "The NO PEE Zone." Another one says something about the French and goes on about wee wee....
You'd think I would also tell you about old car-tire flower planters and lawn jockeys, but he doesn't have any.
As long as people pick it up out of my yard, I'm fine. HOWEVER, there's this one guy (who doesn't even live in my neighborhood) that walks his big dog right in front of our house every morning and night. His dog chooses my lawn because I have the 2 little dogs, and he probably wants to remark the territory or something. I only have a problem with this because the guy walks his big dog right in front of our house and lets him poop, which sends my dogs into a frenzy every time. Can't he just go on the other side of the road or something??? Geez! And sometimes he doesn't pick up the mess, which is even worse since my dogs have to look at it/smell it but can't get to it because of their electric fence.