How to stop a dog from pooping in my yard? 17 tips

Most people like to keep their yard neat. The last thing you want is for your neighbors’ dog to use your yard as his favorite place to poop.

A dog pooping in somebody else’s yard can spoil the friendly relations between neighbors and lead to severe consequences such as arguments and physical fights.

Things don’t have to get out of hand, even if your neighbors are doing nothing to stop their dog from using your yard to poop.

You can choose from one of many deterrents to protect your lawn without resorting to an argument or fight with your neighbor.

Below we have provided several practical tips to answer your question, “how to stop a dog from pooping in my yard?”

1. Barriers

The easiest solution to the problem of dogs pooping in your yard is to install a barrier to keep neighbors’ dogs from getting in.

Below are different types of barriers:

Fence

A fence is a good option. While some fences can be expensive, you will also be able to find more affordable options.

Once the fence is erected, it should keep most dogs out unless a dog is determined to get in.

This solution will not work if you don’t like the idea of a fenced yard or feel it spoils your home’s overall appearance. If you feel this way, you should explore other options provided below.

Natural barrier

If you don’t like the look of a fenced yard, you can go for a more natural barrier such as a hedge or a row of shrubs that dogs cannot destroy. Aloe, agave, prickly pear, hollies or other succulents can be planted around your yard to keep dogs out.

A natural barrier may not keep dogs out of your yard as efficiently as a fence but can discourage dogs from using your yard to poop.

Mulch

Another option is to circle the ground around your yard with an uncomfortable material that dogs would not want to touch with their feet. Dogs will avoid items that irritate their feet such as pine cones, cuttings of thorny plants like rose, wood chips etc

2. Sprinklers

Use a sprinkler to keep dogs out of your yard.

You can install motion-activated sprinklers to deter dogs from pooping in your yard. If you are not happy with installing a fence, then the sprinkler is another effective option.

A dog that uses your yard as his toilet will learn to avoid the area after getting soaked a few times. Instead, he will look for another place to do his business.

3. Create a designated place for pooping

If you are a dog owner and don’t mind other dogs coming into your yard, you can create a designated sandy area where dogs can do their business.

You can train your dog and other dogs to use the designated area instead of pooping in the middle of your freshly mown lawn.

If a dog poops on your lawn, remove the feces immediately, or else dogs may think that your lawn is an excellent spot to do their business.

4. Use scents

Dogs have a powerful sense of smell. So you can use scents to stop dogs from using your yard to poop.

If your yard smells familiar, dogs will continue to return. However, if the area has an unfamiliar smell, they will be reluctant to enter.

Simply changing your lawn fertilizer can sometimes do the trick; the unfamiliar smell will keep dogs away from your yard.

Beware, some scents can attract dogs, such as those used in repellents to keep raccoons, skunks, or rabbits away. Coyote urine is an ingredient of such repellents, and dogs are drawn to this smell.

5. Use dog repellents

You can use a homemade dog repellent to stop dogs from pooping in your yard.

Below are a few options you can try:

Spray a mixture of one cup white vinegar and two cups of apple cider vinegar on your lawn. Dogs dislike the strong smell and will stay away from your yard.
You can also soak cotton balls in a mixture of white vinegar and lime juice and drop them around your yard to keep dogs away.
Sprinkling cayenne pepper around the yard is an effective option. The pepper will irritate the dog’s sensitive nose, and he will keep away from your yard.
Placing ammonia-soaked cotton balls will deter dogs from pooping in your yard. Don’t pour ammonia directly, as it can damage your lawn or plants.

6. Install video surveillance

You should consider installing video surveillance to catch footage of your neighbors’ dogs pooping in your yard.

Video evidence will come in handy if you need to inform your neighbor that his dog uses your yard as a toilet. But, perhaps, a talk with evidence in hand is all that may be required to solve the issue.

Having video surveillance is also helpful if neighbors are in the habit of walking their dogs on your lawn or, worse, walking away without scooping up the poop.

You can also fix a sign saying that the whole area is under video surveillance, which can also be a deterrent. Most people will not want to be caught in the act of allowing their dog to poop in your yard.

7. Doggy bags

You can also proactively offer doggy bags to help your neighbors clean up after their dogs’ poop in your yard.

It would help if you left a few bags in your yard with a sign encouraging dog owners to help themselves if they need to clean up their dog’s poop from your lawn.

8. Install a warning sign

You should install a sign near your yard warning dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash when near your yard and to clean up poop if their dog decides to do his business in your yard. You can also add the line “No Trespassing.”

A prominent sign will discourage people from entering your yard with their dogs. However, it will not make much of a difference if the dog is roaming around without the owner’s knowledge.

9. Install a motion-activated dog deterrent

Installing a motion-activated dog repellent in your yard will also help to keep away unwanted visitors.

Some devices produce a startling burst of noise and light as soon as motion is detected in your yard. For example, you can install the device in the areas that dogs visit for their bathroom breaks.

The device is activated only when the unwanted visitor steps into the range of the infrared sensor. These devices are solar-powered, weatherproof, and have a good coverage range. You can set the sensitivity of the device to suit your requirements.

10. Make your yard unattractive to dogs

Clean up your yard to make it unattractive to dogs

Clean up your yard to ensure that there is no food or water that dogs may find attractive. Keep trash cans closed and ensure that dog food is stored inside your house.

Keeping your yard free of rodents or small animals that dogs may find interesting, will also make your property unattractive to unwanted visitors.

11. Keep your dog in check

Don’t allow your dog to urinate or defecate in your yard, as the smell will attract other dogs to explore your property. If accidents do happen, make sure to clean the spot with an enzymatic product to remove the scent.

Avoid harsh chemicals to clean your yard after a dog poops or urinates, as it can harm the plants in your yard. Instead, you can use baking soda, which effectively removes the smell of dog poop from your yard. Check out this video on how to remove urine and feces odor from grass.

12. Have a polite conversation with your neighbor

Most people are reasonable, and a polite conversation can sometimes do wonders.

If your neighbor’s dog is regularly pooping in your yard, you should head over to his place on the weekend and bring up the topic casually.

You should start with other topics and finally, bring up the subject of his dog pooping in your yard. Sometimes your neighbor is probably not even aware that his dog is roaming around. Some dogs manage to get out of even fenced yards while their owners are away at work. So speaking to your neighbor can solve the problem.

Remember to be friendly and don’t scream or get angry. Don’t threaten your neighbor with legal action. Instead, you should visit your neighbor, assuming that he is not aware that his dog is pooping in your yard.

13. Using bottled water

Place large bottles or empty soda bottles filled with water in the sunlight near the borders of your yard. Keep a distance of around 2.5 feet between the bottles. Dogs may choose not to poop in your yard when they see the water.

Some people think that dogs are repelled by the sunlight reflected off the water, while others feel that dogs will not poop in an area if food or water is present.

If spoiling the look of your yard bothers you, then explore the other options mentioned above.

14. Coffee ground

The pungent smell of coffee ground can act as a deterrent to both dogs and cats that choose to do their business in your yard.

Be careful when resorting to this method, as caffeine is toxic to dogs and cats even in small quantities.

Since caffeine is toxic to dogs and cats, you can be a little cautious and mix the coffee ground with the soil to ensure that dogs and cats don’t end up eating it. However, even when combined with the dirt, the coffee ground will continue to give off a strong smell that deters dogs and cats from using your yard as a toilet.

You can also erect a sign to warn dog owners that you have scattered coffee ground on your lawn.

15. Citrus Peels

Unlike humans, some dogs and cats find the smell of citrus a bit too strong to handle.

You can use peels of orange, lemon, or grapefruit as a deterrent but remember that it may not work for all dogs.

It is recommended that you mix the peels with the soil to allow the peels to break down and keep insects away.

You can increase the strength of the deterrent by mixing both citrus peels and coffee ground with the soil in your yard.

16. Remove stagnant water

Remove any form of stagnant water in your yard, including a birdbath, fish pond, puddles, etc.

Most dogs enjoy lapping water, and having small pools of water in your yard will act as an invitation for the dog to come over and explore.

To avoid pools of water, ensure that you are not overwatering your lawn.

17. Contact animal control

It is essential to know the local ordinances concerning stray dogs or dogs allowed to roam around in the neighborhood by careless owners.

Many cities have regulations and leash laws. You can enquire about leash laws with your local government authority.

Connect with your local animal control shelters to understand how best to deal with a neighbor who is unbothered about his dog pooping in your yard.

Shelters will often send an officer to meet your neighbor and politely explain the laws relating to roaming animals.

Some animal control agencies will also pick up the dog when it is in your yard. Your neighbor will have to pay a fine to get his dog back. If this happens once or twice, your neighbor will be more careful about allowing his dog to roam around freely and poop wherever he wants.

Conclusion

We all agree that it is pretty disgusting to step in dog poop when you are out walking in your yard. But, unfortunately, dog feces can also spread diseases and make your yard smell bad.

You can train your dog and ensure that he doesn’t use your yard as a toilet, but what about stray dogs or neighbors’ dogs? The only way to keep your yard free of dog poop is to prevent dogs from entering your yard to do their business.

If you face a problem with dogs pooping in your yard, there is no need for you to get angry or upset. Our suggestions above will help solve the problem peacefully without unnecessary arguments about dogs pooping in your yard. You can even combine a few of the tips to make the deterrent even more impactful.

How to stop a dog from pooping in my yard? 17 tips