Because it isn’t necessarily a fun topic, I thought I’d start off with my favorite story about dog poop. Imagine being at a sit-down lunch at two-day seminar I was giving on canine behavior and training. Picture a large room, with 150 people or so, sitting at round tables covered in white table cloths, the food delivered by hotel conference staff. You know the drill. We had finished a good lunch and looked with happy anticipation to what was promised to be a special dessert. Imagine our surprise when we each received a small plate with a perfect replica of dog poop on it. The cook thought it would be just too wonderful to feed us chocolate pudding in the shape of a brown, coiled snake of dog poop. It was impressively realistic. Apparently the chef was shocked that every plate was returned, uneaten. It is perhaps my favorite example of “what were they thinking?” By any chance, were you there? I’d love to hear from you if you were. I don’t remember where it was. Canada? Where ever it happened, it was memorable.
I can’t resist adding that, at the least, we could have gotten a plate of healthy poop, which should have looked like a Tootsie roll, instead of slightly-formed pudding. If by chance you’d like to learn more about healthy poop, check out this brilliant blog on what your cat’s poop is telling you. (Thanks to Julie Hecht for sending it!) The blog is about cats, but it is equally relevant to dogs. Just don’t decide to serve something that looks like it to company. But, on to more important issues:
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION: I was initially inspired to write about dog poop after receiving a question from a friend, whose dog MeMe (photo on the left) took great pains to scramble up a mound of snow to defecate on top of it. That meant that friend Debbie had to scramble up herself, poop bag in hand, to clean it up. But why was MeMe expending so much energy climbing up a small mountain just to move her bowels? My guess is as good as yours, but I suspect it had to do with scent dispersal. The higher a scent is placed, the better the chance the air flow will disperse it. This is believed to be the reason that male dogs lift their legs, in order to deposit scent as high as possible; not so much to “appear bigger” but to allow the scent to be better dispersed. If you’d like to delve into this topic in more depth, check out a great blog by Koryos on scent marking in dogs, which ends with a good list of studies on scent marking in canids.
TEACHING DOGS TO GO IN ONE SPOT: Speaking of location, for some reason my dogs have been eliminating exclusively in my flower gardens. Not so great healthy when I’ll be spending lots of time digging in the dirt. The only exception to their flower garden preference is the lawn in front of our front door. I didn’t worry about the lawn over the winter, because usually it is covered in snow and the moisture acts to dilute the urine. Not this winter, however, because we have had so little snow, so I now have a front lawn that is more yellow grass than green. I’m not an obsessive lawn caretaker, but I’d still rather not have a polka dot lawn. Here’s what I’ll be doing, which is taking the same advice I have given hundreds of clients about how to teach your dog to pee and poop where you want:
Go outside with a hand full of treats and call your dog to your designated bathroom area. If your dog stares at you (as in “Give me the treat”), just look up and away and walk around the area slowly. Eventually your dog will give up and start to sniff. Continue strolling around slowly until Ginger or Rusty squats or lifts a leg, and give a treat immediately afterward. (Yes, you have to go outside with your dog and go yourself to the area you want your dog to use. Sorry… no standing by the backdoor in your bathrobe.) Continue treating your dog in the preferred area and eventually almost all dogs, by force of habit, will use that area, at least if you go outside with them. (This is why we have slip on boots by the door, and very warm, comfy bathrobes…)
A few caveats however: Most dogs have a preferred type of bathroom. Willie used to prefer bushy or grassy areas, although now that he is older he is more likely to poop in the middle of a trail. (I’ve noticed this pattern with several other dogs, that as they age they are less likely to eliminate away from the traffic pattern. Have you had the same experience?) Other dogs like the wide open spaces–so be thoughtful about what your dog is telling you regarding his or her choice for a bathroom. Also, be aware that dogs identify bathrooms by smell. We identify them by sight… we look for the sign that says “Restroom,” look for the stall, the round white thing, etc.) Dog are looking for the smell of urine or feces, so if you are trying to train your dog to use a new area, you might want to import some grass or soil (or feces) into that area. I’ve suggested that to many a client, and found that it has been helpful in transitioning a dog from the rose garden by the house to the brush at the far side of the garden.
Here, by the way, is a good post from the ASPCA about helping shelter dogs learn or continue good elimination habits while in shelters. Given how many dogs are returned because of house training issues, this is important stuff.
SPRING CLEANING and POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: Poop had been on my mind in another way when I got Debbie’s query, because it is spring here in the northern climes. Everyone who lives in snow country knows what that means. Dog poop. Lots of it. Everywhere. No matter how much we clean up after our dogs, the reality of life in winter dictates that warm poop melts into snow, and disappears from view in an instant. That means that “spring cleaning” for dog lovers involves a very big bucket and some serious work with a poop scooper. Not a fun job, but someone’s got to do it, right?
That reminds me of the importance of using positive reinforcement when dealing with the “gifts” left by dogs in public places. Understandably, people can get upset, even other dog owners, about feces left behind by owners who don’t pick up after their dogs. I well remember a time year ago that a pack of outraged dog owners started a brouhaha about how much feces needed cleaning up in spring in a public dog park. A spring clean up was organized, but the attitude was one of “how could other people be so irresponsible to not clean up after their dogs?” Well, first, as I mentioned, poop is warm and snow is cold, and it takes about a microsecond for the product of your dog’s elimination to disappear from sight. Second, the fact is that *^#! happens and sometimes owners are distracted and don’t notice that their dog has pooped, and others, well, don’t care.
However, rather than expend negative energy on “Ain’t it awful!” (my least favorite conversation abut just about anything), I organized a competition to make poop a high-value resource. Whoever brought in the heaviest bucket during the spring dog park clean up got a prize. A good one. All of a sudden people were racing around saying “Oh look! There’s one!” as if they had found an Easter egg. The next year I told Ian Dunbar about it at an APDT conference, where I was hearing the same “Oh, people are SO AWFUL” energy, and he announced a similar competition. It worked like a charm. Keep that in mind if you live in an area where there have been complaints about dog feces in public areas. Funny how positive reinforcement works on people as well as it does on dogs.
Enough about poop, although I have to admit I could go on and on. For example, I was going to title this post “Poop Poop Pe Doo,” but discovered that 1) many others have used that same phrase when writing about dogs and poo, and 2) some of these posts lead to places that, well, we’d all rather not go. But I did find a great Wiki site on Betty Boop, who coined the phrase. You just never know where curiosity is going to take you, do you?
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: No poop pick up today, we got 4 or 5 inches of snow last night. It will melt soon and that will mean more mud, but I’m glad to see it. It’s been a dry winter and spring so far, and we need the moisture. Here’s the snow decorating the cedar tree beside the house.
Tootsie did her Pet Pals shift this weekend at the American Family Children’s Hospital. I wish I could include a photo of the little girl who had Tootsie in her lap, with her head bowed down so that her body was curled around Tootsie. When the shift was over and it was time to leave I could barely get her to let go. It’s bitter sweet indeed to see how needy these children are, and how much having a dog to pet can mean to them. We’re not allowed to take photos in the hospital, but here is Tootsie getting her obligatory bath before her visit. I trained her to stand in the sink with her paws on the divider between the sinks, which she’ll do now without any assist from me so that I can have both hands for bathing her. You can see she’s just gotten a treat. Whee, baths are sort of fun, aren’t they!
Julie says
Thank you for a very timely article! As the snow melts I’m finding piles EVERYWHERE…it’s quite literally the WORST JOB EVER to have to clean it all up. My younger rescue dog came to us favoring the brushy areas and flower beds for elimination, which my older rescue–who used to poop on the grass, thus easy to find!–promptly started following her example. As an avid gardener, this is NOT OPTIMAL!! I’ve been thinking hard about how to train them to a specific area…wondering if it would be a waste of effort…but now I’m inspired. Thank you SO MUCH for the training hints. Will start today!
Gayla McCarthy says
The mental image you painted of the little girl with Toostie; both warmed, and broke my heart, simultaneously…
LisaW says
We take our dogs out to pee and poop whenever they need to go so we can clean up immediately. That means if it’s -20°F, which it has been since December or 90°F in the summer, out we go. The reason being one dog will not poop if there is existing poop (or urine scent) anywhere nearby and the other dog eats any and all poop, including her own on occasion. I dream of letting my dogs out to go while standing on the porch in my slippers and bathrobe. No spring clean up for us, it’s all year round.
We do have several pairs of slip-on boots by the door. One pair has yak-tracks permanently attached, one pair is good in the snow, and one pair is good in the mud or rain.
Any advice for the dog with coprophagia? We’ve tried everything and haven’t been able to find something that sticks, so to speak 🙂
Gayle Watson says
We still have deep drifts around the house and can see the fresh stuff… just over there! A warmish day & I started across the formerly hard packed snow – and started dropping through. Hard jarring for the back and a challenge to get turned around and back to porch. Back to cold again but I will be waiting for a bit more snow loss before trying again without snowshoes. All of my recent dogs were winter puppies and I did not go out with them so each has their preferred location. You have inspired me to try and localize the poop place when I can get outside with them more readily. One of the four is a poop eater and this will make the cleanup a little more thorough!
Kat says
Ranger almost exclusively goes on leash when we’re out for a walk so cleaning up after him is easy. Every coat and jacket I own has bags in the pockets and stuffing a couple bags in my pants pockets every morning is routine. Finna lives a much more restricted life and goes in the yard. She’s usually thoughtful about going in areas that aren’t planted with anything I tend and seldom frequent. 90% of the time I see her going and can clean up immediately (poop bag dispensers hang on trellises and fences for just that reason) but there’s that other 10% of the time when I don’t see her go and since it’s the same color as the dried leaf mulch and wood chippings I tend to discover it by stepping in it. I hate that. But shoes wash so we cope.
I love the idea of the clean up prize. I’m passing that on to the people who manage one of the more popular trails in the area. I get really tired of hearing about the poop wars so I love the idea of a positive approach.
And finally, I loved the description of Tootsie at work. I know exactly what it’s like to have to remove the dog from someone who has needed them so much. I think that’s one of the reasons Ranger and I have a weekly engagement as Tail Waggin’ Tutors at a local school’s after school program. He’s doing a lot of good listening to the kids read and it’s less emotionally draining. We can take pictures as long as the child’s face isn’t visible. This is one I took today that makes me laugh. Ranger Is a big guy but the disparity in size isn’t nearly as great as this photo makes it appear. https://www.flickr.com/photos/33350160@N02/16725288330/
HFR says
@Kat, what a fantastic picture! It almost looks like they are both reading. And Tootsie looks ready to go. (Ever since you pointed out her “eyebrows” , I always look for them. She is so adorable.)
My dog has always hated her own “mess”. Even as a puppy. I lived in the city and had to keep her inside my apartment until she had all her shots. So paper training was a must. She absolutely refused to go near the paper if it had been used by her. Even to this day, she shuns any area that she has already used. The minute she finishes, she quickly runs away from it. She will pee on top of another’s pee or poop and she has no problem investigating other’s poop, but her own seems to be disgusting to her. Once I was able to take her out, it made it very easy to housebreak her since she didn’t want to go in the apartment where she’d have to smell or see it. I also think she just doesn’t like to defecate. She has been known to hold it in for a full day sometimes. I wonder what that’s about.
That’s a great idea about the poop contest. I walk on a trail that is heavily used by off-leash dogs. Some people think snow is magic and if they just cover up their dog’s poop with snow, it will disappear come spring. Fortunately, both sides of the trail have slopes that go down a hill. I really didn’t think I could clean it all up by myself, so rather than collect it (which would have be preferable but not doable), I bought an inexpensive lacrosse stick and flung the poop down the sides of the trail. It worked very well, since lacrosse sticks are made for flinging. Of course, you have to throw the stick out afterward and it’s really only a solution for end of winter. My only worry is that now people really will think that poop disappears if you cover it up with snow.
Monika says
Sam is an indoor dog but will relieve himself when we’re on our twice daily walks and first thing in the morning. He’s definitely an avid marker and pee-mail reader. Most days it takes forever to get through our 1+ mile loop because of all his stops and walking around and around a spot to get just the right place to leave his calling card and then…bam, he overshoots it by several inches. Not sure if that’s intention or part of the dingy-ness to this loveably hound. Cracks me up though. And as for poop, Sam absolutely has to make it as difficult as possible to clean up, often times letting it drop in between the sidewalk and grass or near steps. His No. 2 exploits are inexplicable. I especially like your strategy for park clean up, proving once again, positive reinforcement works every single time. 🙂
Margaret says
I stopped by my vet’s one afternoon and was offered some cake . . . which was artistically displayed in a (new) litter box, covered with cookie crumbs that looked just like kitty litter, and decorated with Tootsie Rolls that had been softened in the microwave and plopped on the top of the cake. Very realistic . . . and no, I didn’t have any.
Laura Anne Welch says
I am one of those who, having lived in northern Il, have little tolerance for people who don’t pick up after their dog, offer them a bag, which a few take and use, and I do pick up after them. The only time I haven’t done so was when the wind was howling so badly, the snow was so fluffy and blindingly blowing that I couldn’t find the stuff at all, even though I was watching the dog the whole time. That was twice in 30 years. Also, this weekend, at a motel where we stayed for an agility trial, the grassy area to walk the dogs was right next to a precipitous drop of about 15 feet to a drainage area. Winston pooped with on the edge of the drop and it rolled 15 feet down. Nope, didn’t go for it because an ambulance would have been required to transport and repair me after I fell down the hill. I think that the Town of Green Bay, WI, doesn’t allow any dogs in any parks. It must be because of the disgusting poop situation after winter up there.
Laura says
Ah… poop.
Clean up is generally easy with my dogs. After more than a decade… wow, has it been that long? Of working with guide dogs, and being trained to relieve my dogs on leash, each time, I clean up right away. I’ve been asked, “How do you know when and where your dog poops? How do you pick it up?” The answer is this. Our dogs are taught from puppyhood that it’s good to touch them when they’re pooping or peeing. They have to learn this because their future handler may not have any vision to see which number they’re producing, if any. So, When we’re relieving the dog, we touch their back. If their back is slanted down, it’s pee. If their back is rounded, it’s poo. I leave my hand there until I feel the dog move and then bend down to pick up the poop, if that’s what it is. Generally, because I’ve left my hand on their back, I can tell the area in which they left their present. Sometimes, I miss little bits of it, but most times, I get it all. It’s fun having someone standing next to you saying, “oh… there’s one… missed one… to your right… there it is.” Also, like most service dogs I’d imagine, our dogs are trained to relieve on various surfaces, grass, pavement and the like. Most, I think, would prefer grass, as it’s more stimulating for them, but my dog will poop anywhere I ask him to, including between parked cars. I’ve had to do that. It isn’t fun, but it’s necessary sometimes. One thing I can’t stand and that I wish would change is the relief areas at most airports. They’re generally far away from your gate and worst of all, you usually have to reenter security checkpoints afterwords. I’ll never forget our flight from Chicago to home in St. Paul last summer. Our flight from Atlanta had been very hot, so warm that Seamus immediately laid down at my feet on the plane and fell asleep. I can tell it means he’s too hot. I got him some ice and even a little water, promising him I’d relieve him when we got to Chicago. We arrived, and were told that because of a storm, our flight was delayed. I decided it was a good time to find a relief area. They had one, but I had to go across the airport to get to it. By the time I got back in, my flight app was informing me that our plane was leaving in 10 minutes. Near tears, I went through security again. Once through, I dropped the harness handle, took my husband’s arm, and we ran for the gate. While running, Seamus beside me, I looked down at him and muttered, “if you have to poop, go right ahead, I don’t care anymore.” Fortunately, he didn’t poop, and we did make it to our plain on time, but just. He was a great dog that day, unflinching through the lines, the heat and the long way to a bathroom.
MJ says
Pooping in mid trail … I’ve been wondering about this. The past few years there have been what I think are fox (yes, I googled) pooping dead in the middle of our prairie and wildlife corridor trails. Talk about a sign post! They are very consistent about it.
This winter some large dog is leaving deposits mid-trail. I can get cranky about owners not picking up after their dogs’ leavings in the middle of the well traveled urban trail. At the very least, kick it off the edge! There is no excuse.
Carolyn says
I have a border collie who is now 12 and over the last few years he’s insisted on “pooping in the path” whenever we go for a walk. In his younger days he preferred woods or tall grass and some sort of privacy. Interesting that it might be an old dog thing.
Kris Evans says
I had a dog with severe arthritis and balance issues. He always preferred to eliminate on concrete instead of grass. I think he felt more stable. I noticed other dogs start to do this as they get older, too. I guess it’s just like an elderly person, they don’t trust uneven surfaces.
Samantha McCollough says
It’s amazing to me how often trainers, and I am certainly guilty of it myself, can forget the importance of positive reinforcement when dealing with our own species!
Pamela Vincent says
My Cavalier, Quigley is always on leash when we go out, so again, clean up is easy. I have a poop bag dispenser attached to the leash, so I don’t get caught unprepared. For really bad weather, or middle of the night bathroom needs, I use a Potty patch on the condo balcony– much better than bundling up, down the elevator, and out the door.
Ravana says
I’ve always called spring cleanup “The World’s Most Disgusting Easter Egg Hunt” so I love that you turned yours into one!
Barb says
One of the hard things about traveling with dogs is getting them to poop on all kinds of surfaces when they are away from home. Some hate pooping anywhere that isn’t their own backyard. (I’m like that myself.) You never know whether you are going to get grass, wood chips, gravel or even artificial turf in the penned off area. The only solutions I know are (1) take them along when they are little and praise them effusively when they go (2) scout out areas close to the venue where you can walk them in a grassy area for an extended period of time.
Marjorie says
Smart Tootsie, what a gift she is. So nice to see and hear about her important work.
Ravana says
BTW. When I went to Dog Scout Camp about 10 years ago they had secret “Poop Police”. The job of the Poop Police wasn’t to get after the people who didn’t clean up after their dog, but rather to reward people they spotted cleaning up or carrying a full poop bag to the designated poop garbage cans. You’d get a wooden nickel which could be used to buy little trinkets or treats at the camp store. Perhaps some dog park regulars would want to institute something similar.
dieta says
One of my dogs used to poo in places where it was nearly impossible to pick up
She was a big girl, a large Huskie cross and her favourite places were the middle of a nettle patch and chest deep in the sea
Christina says
Once upon a time I lived in the big city with our Boston Terrier, Max. One warm summer day we were walking him down the main shopping street, which was busy with pedestrians and people sitting in cafes and on their stoops, when Max stopped to relieve himself. I pulled out my baggie and picked it up as usual, but this time I was a little embarrassed but pleased because I got a round of applause from the residents sitting nearby on their front steps. I guess not everyone was considerate about picking up after their dog!
Harley Harrington says
Another great post! I love your honesty, and I must confess, I too don’t take my own advice on proper canine bathroom etiquette, and now I have a lot of poop scoopin’ to do. Oh well, just goes to show that even dog trainers with 45 years experience are not perfect. We just do the best we can everyday, and then get up and do it again. Thanks
Frances says
Excellent! One thing I would add is think about all kinds of weather before decidng upon the designated spot – we have several acres of communal gardens, and I dutifully taught my dogs to use Poo Corner by the garages, away from where children play, accompanying them every time because the whole area is unfenced. Come rain and snow and sleet and gales and hail and all the other joy that British weather can produce 50 weeks a year, when I really wished that I had just taken them to the patch of gravel by my own front door, it was too late…
Julia Hill says
The story about Meme reminds me of one of my former foster dogs. She insisted on climbing to the top of each snow pile to do her business. My foster coordinator was disappointed I cut that part from Trixie’s adoption video (for obvious reasons…), so I made a quick clip just for her 😀
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10102952930695150&l=1146342444638748519
Nancy says
One of the “bonus” benefits of feeding a raw diet is the resulting low-volume, firm, dry, nearly odorless poop. Very easy to pick up when out in public. At home, I just go out every few days (or after the snow melts and the soil dries out a bit in the spring) and, with a single stomp on each deposit, turn the now-dehydrated and odorless poop into dust.
Amy says
When the snow banks got high around our path and sidewalks, my dog started urinating in the cleared areas, but for poop she always climbed up the snow bank. I didn’t understand it, but I appreciated it since poop on the sidewalk would have to be cleaned up immediately, of course. Otherwise, I was able to wait until Poop Harvest Time. So far I have picked up three bags of poop, and probably have one more to go. (My goodness. I don’t think I have ever posted anywhere where the word “poop” was used so often!)
Kathy says
I never used to think about poop much. I lived in the country and my dogs always went way out into the fields to do their business. Now, however I live in town with a small backyard and two Border Collies. They do stay within 2 ft. Of the perimeter fence, so walking across the yard is pretty safe, but spring clean-up is a chore. Delilah likes privacy so I made sure she has access to a spot behind a lilac bush. I do need to try your technique to get Frank to stop peeing on my grill though!!
Crystal says
One of my dogs is ‘poop shy’, he is really uncomfortable around his or other dogs’ poop. Something must have happened in his life before me. I’ve spent far too much time thinking about his poop, he has some allergies and that’s the best way to keep track of it. He also will take up to 15 minutes to find the right spot to go. In the squat, just, here, no here no here over and over. I also had a dog who would get uncomfortable if you looked at him when he pooped.
Once we had a dog that ate a bowl full of jolly ranchers, wrappers and all. (not sure how his jaws didn’t get stuck shut!). That was an interesting output.
Barb G. says
We have a system that works for us. I take our dog out on leash (yes, the coat and boots go on too) along with one of those orange flags used to mark underground electric cables. You can buy a bunch at the hardware store. So the dog poops and you stick the flag in the snow to mark the spot. At the end of the day you pick up the frozen “poopsicles” and flags. No yucky spring cleanup! But if you don’t pick up those flags promptly the yard tends to look like a construction zone.
Tegan says
Just want to put in words for 1) while trying to encourage the dog to go in one area, do so **without** reinforcing any neuroticism about where it goes (when traveling, it’s really helpful to have a dog that will eliminate wherever it’s encouraged to go, and not only in just exactly the perfectly right conditions), and 2) making sure your dog will go on-leash, and not only in its yard (again, thinking of trips away from home).
Bitter voice of experience here.
sailerGurl says
I trained Tripp The Wonder Dog (Much like Luke I think) To always poop in the same area every morning before we took our 5 mile hike. No poop, no hike. She got it quickly and never had an accident. We got new neighbors, with another young female dog, and Tripp forgot everything. She started roaming in the neighbor’s yard, into which she had never gone before, to relieve herself in their front yard. I would scold, yell and scoop, to no avail. The sweet neighbors said “Oh, it’s OK” but it is not OK with me.
Now I must take a well behaved bitch, who never needed a leash, on a leash in my own property, to force her where to poop. I am so disappointed. She is now a 15 year old JRT who was so well behaved and so calm. with a new, young female hound next door she has turned into a terriorist. She barks constantly, has lost her like a clockwork schedule. OY! I scoop everywhere to stop the madness, but it doesn’t stop. Please Patricia, tell me there is hope to get my wonderful companion back to where she used to be?
Trish K says
Would’ve, could’ve, should’ve. My dogs will be two next month and pooping in a designated spot is something I wish I had taught them. Hope its not too late. I pick up poop everyday after work in the spring, summer and fall but not usually when there is snow on the ground. Having them go in one small area will keep the grass nicer which will make for less mud on rainy days. We have a person in our neighborhood that’s leaves dog poop on the sidewalk. I can’t image they just don’t know their dog poops on the sidewalk regularly. SO glad you are feeling better :-). Tootsie is adorable.
aimee allen says
The coyotes in my area (upstate NY) poop on top of the compost pile and large rocks. My livestock guardian dogs will always make the climb to mark the spot. When they run out of urine, they leave a feces marking always kicking up ground for good measure.
LisaW says
This conversation made me remember reading about a study that looked at the magnetic sensitivity in dogs—at least when they poop and why dogs tend to turn and turn and turn before they eliminate.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2014/0102/Scientists-observe-dogs-relieving-themselves-discover-something-amazing
So, if you are going to train to poop in a designated area, make sure it’s aligned properly 🙂
Cynthia Becker says
My female husky Sugar climbed to poop and backed up trees and posts to get her pee as high as possible. My boys were happy to squat to pee. All my females lifted their legs. Wonder what that says about our household?:-) An agility club where we compete has a poop raffle. One ticket per pile picked up. Cleanest trial spot ever! Let’s hear it for positive reinforcement!
Christy Paxton says
Love having a potty word so I can trigger my dog Tawny whenever, but this year’s snow-pacalypse on northern Ohio made it impossible to do anything other than dig trenches in my back yard (followed her normal walking patterns) with some circular “rest stops” here and there in places she tends to poop. Happy to say it worked! Had to re-trench several times, so as the snow finally melted I was presented with sedimentary poop layers that were surprisingly easy to scrape up using a plastic bag on my hand and a roll-up technique. Got roughly 10 pounds each time, all from one 35-pound girl. File this under “Things I never thought I would be discussing in public”!
em says
Oh, boy, a chance to talk about poop! Before I launch in, let me say that Tootsie looks adorably soggy and I was so touched by the story about her work at the Children’s Hospital.
I have way more questions than answers when it comes to dogs and poop- lots of weird things I’ve observed, and very little idea what to make of them.
First- on the topic of dogs pooping in a high or prominent place, I have two possible suggestions. Wild canids, as several people have noted, do often poop in prominent locations- the center of the trail, on top of a rock or log, and I would guess that this behavior is territorial marking.
I have know domestic dogs that I believe also mark in this way- they will go in prominent locations, in response to marks from wild canids or other dogs, and more often than one would expect in the course of a walk, sometimes squeezing out a tiny poop with considerable effort in order to over- or adjacent mark.
On the other hand, I have observed that while they can and do become accustomed to pooping on a leash, most dogs like space when they’re pooping, and appear to feel vulnerable while doing so. Given their druthers- off-leash, they will almost always move away from their people and other dogs, and often look uncomfortable if dogs in particular approach while they are in the act. A dog might conceivably climb a snow bank because it offers a bit of space and a clear view of anyone approaching.
When it comes to a dog who starts pooping in the middle of the trail- I agree that in an older or physically compromised dog, it is likely a comfort issue- seeking level, stable ground to help with balance. However, dogs do sometimes develop new territorial marking or guarding behaviors, especially after changes to their home or family structure. Adding a new dog, moving house, losing a dog or human from the household, or having a neighbor with a dog move in can all prompt dogs to change their behavior. Marking with poop isn’t all that common in domestic dogs, as far as I know, so I’d be inclined to think that developing it as a new behavior as an adult is unlikely, but not outside the realm of possibility.
On that topic, let me raise another question. It has often been my observation at the dog park that when one dog poops, it will set off a chain reaction among the group and three or four dogs will all poop at the same time. The dogs won’t poop anywhere near each other, but they will go at the same time. The dogs will have arrived at different times, so it’s not a case of everybody pooping five minutes after they get to the park. I have no idea what this is about. Is this a territorial marking reflex? Is it just a power of suggestion thing, like seeing someone yawn?
Liza says
Question – why does my Aussie cover up his urine w/snow? He only does this on his own lawn. He’ll push little mounds of snow on top of the ‘offending’ pee. When on our walking routine, he will urinate over the usual spots to show we’ve been there. He feels no need to cover it up then. It’s been a mystery I haven’t found the answer to yet, though I haven’t read extensively.
Grace Casey says
I would be delighted if my Border Collie, Baxter, would go on the trail at the dog park. I’m a “stopandchat sort of dog walker so I sometimes am talking while he’s pooping. Bad Human Trick. My home pick-up involves a rubber glove and a plastic tub with a plastic bag in it. It’s a treasure hunt!
Kathy says
When on walks in wilderness areas (we don’t frequent dog parks), both of my dogs are off-the-trail poopers, a habit for which I am forever grateful. When they have to go at home in the yard, they try to find private, high-grass spaces when they can. Now, though, I’ll be on the watch for a change in this habit as they get older, and I’ll start carrying bags even on the trail. I hate finding dog poop in the middle of the trail–especially since I always seem to find it on the bottom of my boots before I notice it on the ground. People could just move it off the trail with a stick, I would think, but many people seem to think if they’re in a wilderness area, even the trail is “wilderness” so poop clean-up is unnecessary.
One of my dogs eats every kind of poop he can find–except his own–and the other dog loves to eat his own poop–but never touches any other kind. Sigh. There’s a lot of bad breath in my house. I have tried to get them both to stop, and would be so grateful to hear any solutions to coprophagia (as someone else already posted). (And I warn you not to Google that term–or coprophilia, either–unless you want more of an education than perhaps you bargained for!)
Jim Payne says
Poop is the window to doggy health too. What have they been eating. What have they been chewing up when nobody is looking. Do they have a parasite. Is the poop firm or runny all help figure out if Fido is healthy.
Trisha says
Argh, coprophagia. I wish I could provide a simple solution that works for all dogs. Alas, I’ve never found such a thing. I’ve had no luck with any of the “supplements” to a dog’s food (Forbid, etc.). My own BCs love Tootsie’s “poop-sickles,” but have no interest if they aren’t frozen. (Any one else seen this at their house?) I stuck with training (“leave it”), but found that the reinforcement better be REALLY good. Dogs do love poop after all … the Navajo name for dog is “Eater of horse poop”. And many have speculated that dogs were attracted to human settlements not just because of the garbage. (Sorry to share that.) I wonder if this might be a good blog topic sometime. Thanks for prompting the idea!
Is defecating “contagious?” Interesting question. I too have seen one dog starting leading to others. I’m not sure how common it is, but it does sound like people. “I’m going to the restroom” often leads to “me too,” right?
And why would a dog bury its urine? Watching too many cat videos? (Sorry again!)
Sam Ivy says
I find it so interesting how much of our tastes and palates are interested in how food looks. Did you try the dessert at all? I can’t imagine how gross that would look.
Thank you for the tips, especially on teaching them to go in a designated area. MeMe is a beautiful dog, and your scent dispersal theory is interesting. I would have thought it was because MeMe has a sense of humor and wanted to make Debbie scramble after her 🙂
Bruce says
Yes, we have a dog door and a coprophagic 6-year old pug, which complicates reducing the pug’s weight before her knee surgery. Getting a new 1-year old dog has certainly increased the pug’s exercise – they two dogs play constantly – but bulking up the pug’s food (green beans, carrots, etc.) and regular poop patrol has yielded slooooow progress.
Unrelated topic, but I wanted to thank you for helping me begin to understand the ideas behind positive dog training. I have had dogs for 25 years and always used a mix of rewards and corrections for training. Three weeks ago we brought home a 1-year old female from rescue. New dog is probably a Ridgeback mix, 50 pounds of exuberant, athletic lap dog, with a somewhat “soft” personality. I am determined to train her using positive methods.
Your writing helped me solve a problem this morning. New dog has become reluctant to go in her crate when I leave for work. Two or three days a week we crate her during the day, usually for no more than 4 hours at a time, but once weekly we do need to crate her for a full work day. Except for when I go to work, she loves her crate and sleeps in it at night with the door open.
Plan A: I grabbed a highly desirable treat, broke off tiny pieces, and made a big show of giving our two other dogs treats while slowly backing towards her crate in the bedroom. New dog made it half-way to the bedroom before running away. Hmm, switch to Plan B.
Plan B: I took her favorite chew toy, stuffed it full of treats, waved it in front of her nose, and went into the bedroom with the other dogs, continuing to make a big happy deal of giving the other dogs microscopic treats. New dog came into the bedroom to investigate. I waved her treat-stuffed chew toy under her nose and lured her into the crate. Success!
I can see that positive training requires a lot more patience (not my strong point), but I love the results. New dog has already learned a gloriously exuberant recall via strictly positive methods!
Connie says
Thanks for the info on retraining of dogs and their preferred bathroom area. My rescue pup came to his forever home at the beginning of December and did not like the cold so I let him use my garden outside the back door as his bathroom. Now when the snow has melted and I am thinking of flowers and shrubs I was pondering how to go about retraining Oreo. Thanks for the idea of moving some of the feces to the new area as I had not thought of that and I also appreciate the info regarding the smell being more important than the looks of the area for our dog. So here I go… a new bathroom for my puppy and a clean garden for me! Thank you
Nic1 says
I’m a bit late to the scoop on poop!
Fascinating to note lots of others observing their pooches taking their bathroom break off the hiking trail or path. I often wondered if this was to do with wanting privacy? I’ve noticed some dogs often look vulnerable mid-poop. Some dogs do seem to be very fussy about their toileting habits. Since landscaping the garden, my dog has not pooped on their since. And she has now chosen to urinate on a gravelled area, as opposed to the lawn. I really don’t think she enjoys squatting when the grass is wet. However, she does like to poop on snowdrops and daffodils. Anything to do with scent/height?
We don’t have the same issues with snow in the UK much (we’re lucky if we get any), therefore we always pick up but I have to admit that I can’t always find it if doggy is off lead and has pooped off trail.
Nanny says
I have a pile of dog poop in my back yard that has not dried up for ovrt 2 months. I is pasty and light briwn, like peanut butter. What could be wrong. It is only one pile.
Linda S says
I am way late to this, and don’t know if anyone will even see this, but has anyone experienced their dog sticking a back leg straight out when they poop?? Our girl dog sticks one of her back legs STRAIGHT out, pointing her toe as hard as possible and balances on the other 3 legs every time she poops. It is the FUNNIEST looking thing I’ve ever seen 🙂 just curious if anyone else has had a dog do this – can’t seem to find any other anecdotes online. Thanks!
Derek Dewitt says
My wife and I just got a new puppy, so thanks for these helpful tips on cleaning up after them. I like that you suggest teaching your dog to use the bathroom in one spot by taking treats outside until they go. I don’t mind going out with him for a bit until he starts to go in one spot.
Bethany Birchridge says
I never took into account that dog poop that wasn’t cleaned up could carry diseases into the water ways and deplete the amount of oxygen available to aquatic life. My aunt has a dog, but cleaning up dog poop is the winter seems to be a difficult chore for them. I think that reading this article would help them realize that it’s important to always clean up your dog’s poop.
Gary says
Just bought a 25 acres hay farm. Cattle has grazed here for at least a decade. We were city folks who cleaned up after our dogs all the time. Is that something we need to do or will nature take care of it from now on out at the farm?
Jennie Berkson says
We live in rural Northern Michigan with plenty of unpaved areas for our recently rescued 3 year old Lab/Chessie mix Belle to poop and pee. But we also spend a significant amount of time in NYC and other more urban areas where grassy areas are less available and require longer walking distances. Not that we mind the longer walks, but it’s new to us as our previous Lab, Buddy would go pretty much anywhere.
Lawrence says
Thanks for these helpful tips on cleaning up dog poop.
Deborah Blackburn says
I’m so late with this post. Moving with a greyhound to an apartment complex. Happy they allow greys, but I’m worried about him pooping on sidewalk getting to the grass or dog park. I’ve been looking for what to put in a little spray bottle if the stool is loose. Thank you
Aaron says
You have a great and informative post, I’ve learned something new from it 🙂 For every dog or pet owner, we have to be responsible for every mess that our dog did. There are communities that have specific laws about sanitation and disposal of dogs waste. We have to understand the importance of proper handling of dog poop. This article talks about it in depth https://ultimatepetnutrition.com/dog-poop/. Hope you like it. Thanks
Javier Cervera says
Don’t have a comment, more of a question. Would you happen to know the average temperature of a dog’s poop?
Trisha says
Got me on that one Javier!
Javier Cervera says
The reason I ask is that is I’m working on an idea to freeze-dry poop…that’s right freeze-dry poop. Being a dog lover for half my life (ok that’s 25 years…I’ll let you do the math) having a good companion you could count on no matter what was/is an awesome feeling. So, like most of the dog-loving population, we sacrifice a bit of our dignity and brave the grossness of picking up their after-dinner leftovers (sort of), because they’re undying faithfulness is worth it. But, what if you could leverage that a bit and say goodby to that warm (in some cases hot) squishy feeling, yes I know there’s a plastic barrier in between and I know after countless times you lock it out of your head for the love of your four-legged (in some cases three, in some two) family member. But I know in that deep little corner of your mind you pray that there is not even a pin size hole that will jeopardize the integrity of that (grocery bag, fruit bag) state of the art poop bag…which is just another plastic bag btw. Imagine, after your pooch does his doo you say ok good job boy or girl and pull out an anti squishy poo device. Like Doc Freeze, and freeze the bejesus out of that unsavory brownie. Now, I’m sure you’re thinking “I’m sure someone has thought of it” and you’re right, someone has, but and that’s a big BUT…it bites! (little dog humor). Users are saying that it does not fully freeze and that you have to move the poo around to freeze all sides. Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t even like to touch it let alone move it around…it’s usually a grab and go thing. But what if you could solidify that pooch playdough into a work of rock art and could even drop in a paper bag and knock out two birds (leaving a sanitary and healthy environment) with one stone. Let me know your thoughts pooch lovers and not so poop lovers 😉