You’re probably not alone if your dog has been pooping in your yard. It seems like every dog owner has a story about their neighbor’s dog pooping on their lawn, and it’s an unfortunate reality of pet ownership.
Dog poop contains harmful bacteria that can make people sick. It also makes your lawn look icky and stinky. It’s not pleasant for anyone involved. If a neighbor’s dog is pooping in your yard there are ways to prevent your neighbor’s dog from pooping on your lawn, and it all starts with understanding why dogs do it in the first place.
Why Dogs Poop in the Yard
- Dogs poop in the yard when they’re neglected or unhappy: If your dog has been left alone for extended periods of time, she may feel the need to relieve herself right where she stands. Dogs are social animals and need interaction with their owners on a regular basis.
- Dogs poop in the yard when they are bored or under-stimulated: Boredom is another reason dogs will poop in their yards or even in their own beds. Try to find ways to keep your dog engaged with interesting things so she doesn’t get bored and resort back to her old habits of relieving herself wherever she feels like it at the moment.
- They’re marking territory: Dogs have a sense of smell that is 100 times more powerful than humans, so they can tell if another animal has been on their property by smelling its droppings. Dogs also have scent glands near their anus, which they use to mark their territory with pheromones that other dogs smell but humans don’t. To them, this scent is very important and should be used liberally.
- They feel threatened by new stimuli: If you bring your dog into an unfamiliar place or introduce something new into his routine (such as a new person or activity), he may try to defend himself by marking his territory with his stool. He may also do this if there are changes in the weather or if he hears noises outside that make him feel uneasy (like fireworks).
How to Prevent Neighbors Dogs from Pooping in My Yard
Use dog-repelling scents
If you have a small child or elderly person living in your home and don’t want them to come out into the yard due to safety reasons, then you might want to consider using dog repellents. They contain a scent that dogs dislike and will keep them away from certain areas of your property.
One thing to remember when using dog repellents is that they work best on male dogs because they tend to mark their territory more often than females do. The scent comes in liquid form, which means it can be applied directly onto the grass where the dog likes to squat. If this works for your situation, you can buy spray bottles online or at any hardware store so you can apply them yourself.
Dog-repelling scents include:
- Citrus trees, juices, or fruits
- Rue plants
- Citronella oil or plants
- Garlic
- Vinegar
- Cayenne pepper
- Chili powder
- Ammonia
- Rubbing alcohol
Use a barrier around your yard
This is the most effective way to prevent your dog from pooping in your yard. However, it’s also the most expensive option. You can buy a special mesh barrier or fence that will keep dogs from getting into your yard.
Or you can build one yourself with chicken wire or PVC pipe and netting. If you have multiple dogs, consider building two barriers: one around the perimeter and one around the grass itself.
Use motion-activated lawn sprinklers
Motion-activated sprinklers are a great way to discourage dogs from pooping in your yard because they’ll spray water when they see movement near them.
The noise of the sprinkler will scare off any dog and hopefully deter them from coming back. This option is far more humane than other methods and doesn’t require much work on your part.
Just make sure that it’s not raining when you turn on your sprinklers! And avoid using this method if there are any young children or elderly people who might wander onto your property while it’s being watered down.
Buy an ultrasonic-repelling device
An ultrasonic device uses high-frequency sound waves to repel dogs from areas you want them to avoid. These devices are best used on small yards and backyards, as they don’t work well in large areas. They’re also not very effective in rainy weather.
Get a poop bag dispenser
One of the easiest ways to keep your dog from pooping in your neighbor’s yard is to make sure they have poop bags on hand at all times. Make sure they know how and where to pick up their poop and what they should do with it once they’ve picked it up.
If they’re not using any kind of waste management service or if they’re using plastic bags, then this will be an easy fix that can prevent the problem altogether.
Talk to your neighbor (calmly)
If you still have problems after providing them with a poop bag dispenser, then talk to your neighbor about what’s going on. You might find out that they didn’t realize their dog was pooping on your property or that they’re just not able to walk their dog at all times of the day due to work schedules or other commitments like school or child care.
If this is the case, try working out an agreement with them where they pick up after their pet during certain times of the day so that it doesn’t interfere with yours.
Put up signs
If you want your neighbors to take action, try putting up signs that say something along the lines of: “Please keep your dogs off our lawns.
If you already have a security camera set up around your yard and see someone letting their pet run loose, this can be a good way to catch them in the act.
Install security cameras
If your neighbor’s dog is coming over regularly and pooping in your yard, it might be time to install some security cameras on your property. This will allow you to catch them in the act and show them the footage so they know they can’t get away with it anymore.
Watch together with a neighborhood
If there are other people in your neighborhood with the same problem, maybe it would help if everyone got together and formed a neighborhood watch group.
This way, everyone can keep an eye out for when their neighbors’ dogs come over so they can take action before any damage has been done.
Final Words
You must make the area an uncomfortable or undesirable place for the dog or cat to go. Use a combination of fences, shrubs, and rocks. Be sure that you do not have any holes or gaps in this temporary fencing before you leave it in place unattended.
