Dogs have "substrate preferences" they prefer to poop on certain kinds of stuff. My two girls like nice fresh grass (especially that in our back yard) or clean, dry sand (but only at the beach). One way to keep dogs from pooping on your landscaping is to change what is there to something that doesn't appeal to them. Maybe a hedge of salvias along the curb, or replacing part of the lawn with thyme, which has a very different paw-feel.

My method is slightly simpler: I'm planting a pooping area along the "hell strip" between curb and sidewalk. I know when I take my girls for a walk I'm grateful for an obviously clear place for dog functions (and of course I always clean up after my dogs, although some of my neighbors seem to find it too difficult).

Stu, you are severely tempting my anti-dog sentiments. I will refrain from writing my solution for this problem.

Val - could I "take a stab in the dark?"

This is a problem that I think has affected nearly every homeowner. Ultimately, it is the responsiblity of the dog owner to clean up after their dog(s), but we all know how seldom this actually happens. I solved the problem by installing a fence. Expensive, but it worked.

"Stab in the dark"? Oh no, nothing as tame as that! In fact, it involves a mini explosion set off by the interaction of a special chemical yet to be invented, when coming into contact with the offending material.

Well, you did encourage me!

Inspirational Val. Pure genius.

I live in a neighborhood where the homes are very close together. I take my small dog for long walks to wooded areas where no on resides so he doesn't poop or pee in my yard or in the common areas. I just had a neighbor move next door and she deliberately let her large dog poop in my yard and didn't get it up. Any recommendations on handling this issue?

Sharon - this question seems beyond the realms of a mere gardening blog. However, my advice would be to share this frustration with your neighbour and explain why it annoys you.

Barring that option I don't see too many other options for it appears the neighbour needs retraining, not the dog!

I have the same problem as Sharon. I do not have a pet. I live on a corner lot, my neighbors let their dogs out to poop in the afternoon and at night, and My yard is the bathroom. Is there anything we can buy to keep them out of our yard. We have leash laws in our city. The problem still exsist.Essie

try a sign no dog poop

Corner lot here, too, with a "no signs" ordinance in my neighbourhood. Do I have to invent a sanitation station with graphics only in order to get the point across?

I love dogs, but this is shameful.

I live in a condo complex and my front yard is the community dog toilet. It is disgusting and has reached the point to where it smells when I walk out my front door. I bought some stuff you sprinkle on the grass to keep the dogs away. We will see how that works.

It is amazing how many pet owners don't pick up after their dog. This is a huge national problem that many people are not aware of. We sell more no dog pooping signs than actual dog signs. Pet owners should always remember, "If your dog poops, please scoop".

We own a dog that is 15 years old and still get out of the ornemental fense we put up to keep her in and poops on the neighbors lawns. We dont know what else to do. We come home from work and she's out. We don't know exactly were she get out from but she somehow squeezes her chubby 15 year old body under the fence everyday. Mind you, she's a big yellow lab. We feel horrible that we have the pet from hell. We've barricated areas within the yard where we think she gets out and are fingers are crossed that it will work. For all the pet owners who owns a dog like us...we are sorry for our dog's behavior. I would recommend letting the pet owners know what their pet is doing and ask them if they can either pick up after their dog and check for poop without you having to tell them.

If your dog is still getting out after barricading with fences and other barriers then I would certainly advise that you contemplate a dog containment system. These are usually constructed of harmless radio signals that deter your dog from going near the boundaries of your property and in most cases are quite successful.

Try gnat scat...it keeps mosquitoes away using lemon oil and garlic oil. I just picked up dog crap off my lawn...so I sprinkled this on my lawn. I am sure this will keep them off.

I own a shop that has a dog groomer business right behind me. So every day people go past my shop to get to the groomers. For some reason all the dogs pee on the same spot right in front of my shop. It really ticks me off. Just yesterday I saw a lady stop and made her dog pee on that spot and then she praised the dog like he was doing a good job? My shop is on the front of a shopping center, and I have customers that walk in front on the sidewalk. Right there is where the dogs pee. The pee is actually tearing appart the cement that holds the stone store front.
Oh- and the groomers themselves have put a sign right where the dogs pee- Unfortunately, the dogs just peed on the sign and it fell off.
WHAT DO I DO?
www.classicalterations.com

I just moved to a spot in an RV park that everyone takes their dog to do its business. 10% pick up the mess, so you can imagine how much crap I can see and smell. Most just do not care! Their are too many pets in the world (and people) putting a burden on the planet. And it is only worse when stupid inconsiderate people have pets! My wife and I have no pets or kids because the world does not need any more. We are making a bigger impact on saving the planet than anything else we can do. How about you?

This is for sharon and any body else get your shovel and put that dog poop where it belongs but as close to the steps sooner or later they will know to keep their dog poop on their side Ed

I just read about a company who has created a product that will help deter owners from not scooping up after their dogs have done their business. The program is called PooPrints. They use DNA technology to match the mess to a registered dog. I encourage everyone who lives in an apartment complex or a neighborhood with a home owners association to check this PooPrints program out. I'll be bringing it up at my next HOA meeting.

the Lawn Dog is the only no dog poop sign of it's kind—and stands alone as the most EFFECTIVE and popular solution for any homeowner looking to keep our environment clean and healthy. check it out at www.thelawndog.com

Try the Lentek PD01C Ultra Sonic Dog Off Trainer with a battery adapter. It's on Amazon.com. Aim it at the area and leave it on. It's a subsonic dog deterrent that's inaudible to humans. Supermarkets in Europe have been successfully using something similar to discourage teenagers from loitering outside.

I tried sprinkling chili powder at the perimeter of the lawn and that seems to keep them at bay. But you do have to re-sprinkle every couple of weeks.

Living in the City of Chicago, we also have lazy dog owners - those who don't pick up their dog's poop and let their dogs run without being on a leash. Our police dept. doesn't do a thing - of course, there are worse things happening in Chicago. I tried in a nice way to get the owner to pick up his dog's poop - didn't work, so I bought a restaurant size container of cayene pepper and sprinkle it on our lawn - every few days, but especially after a rain. I feel bad for the dog is the pepper gets on its paws and he rubs his eyes, but I have no alternative. My daughter has two dogs and when we walk them we have paper towel and a bag for their poop... how difficult is it to do the right thing?

Pepper spray the bitch!
On the real try spredding red pepper all over the ground.

Pepper sounds great, until you realize that I want dogs to stay away from my lawn so my son can play in it... may have to go with that sonic thing.

i heard coffee grinds will do it - dogs don't like the smell - if you want to be vicious u can throw moth balls around - if they eat it - they're finished

u can use coffee grinds - used or unused to deter the dogs - or if you mean business throw some moth balls around - if they eat it they're finished

I have being picking up after someone elses pet on a weekly basis for the past few summer. I am sick of it.
The last one was a mushy one that nearly made me throw up. The owner must be walking their dog either late at night or very early in the morning. I work in the video industry so I plan to set up my timelapse camera in the front window and catch the person and their dog.

i have been cleaning up after someone elses dogs for months. i never see them. i put pepper down but that only last until it rains then the poop starts all over again. any suggestions that would be rain proof?

I have a problem with neighbor's dogs peeing on my 1964 1/2 mustang hubcaps and pooping all over the grass. Any suggestions short of committing a penal code violation?

Get a security camera, locate the culprit, then return their "gift" to them - either on their porch, or...???