If you want to stop your dog peeing or pooping where its not wanted read on for our top eco friendly DIY tips on Poop & Pee prevention outdoors.
We have to admit we’ve been very lucky with our dog Willie. He was easily housed trained and has never had an embarrassing moment in the house.
City dwellers, we have a small back yard mostly paved with little garden bed. We hoped that like the two cats he lives with Willie would choose the garden bed to fertilize with his doggy doo and pee……. We were wrong!
This is not such an issue except that the one favored spot he has chosen on our paved yard (especially in rainy winter months) is the covered area right outside the door to our outdoor laundry and storage shed….. Ever stepped in dog doo in your ugg boots?…… Not happy.
After some epic fails we’ve found a few winning solutions that fit with our preferred eco friendly ethos. Of course no two dogs are the same so you might want to experiment to see what works for you. Here are our fav’s and the pro’s and con’s.
Just spray or pour vinegar over the poop zone. Dogs are highly sensitive to smell and hate the scent of vinegar. Willie now refuses to go anywhere we’ve sprayed it.
If your area is under cover you’ll need to re treat the area around once a week until pooch has gotten the message. If your yard gets rained on you’ll need to repeat the treatment immediately post shower. You can dilute the vinegar with water as you repeat the treatments your dog will remember the vague smell and just not go there.
At $5.75 for 100ml’s it’s not quite as cheap as Vinegar but still a damn sight less expensive than store bought chemical concoctions ! Your dog, hates this smell, trust us…. Tried tested… snubbed by Willie for hours as punishment.
Like a flame thrower! Sprinkle cayenne pepper or chilli powder over the affected area. If the area is non organic ie, concrete, brick etc then wash first with vinegar or ammonia to get rid of the attractive pee scent. You can also mix the pepper / chilli with a little water and liquid soap to give it more sticking power.
This stuff is hardcore! Rinse the affected area with bleach to cover any tempting pee / poo odors. You can use straight or (recommended) water down a little.
Now, what to do with all that poo! Check out our earlier blog post on how to make your own DIY Pet Poo Composter! Here.
With all this in mind, our top tip is still positive training. Teach your pooch from an early age to go in one spot of your garden / patio or balcony depending on your circumstances.
Training is as simple as following a young pup to the toilet and rewarding the correct behaviour / spot with treats and praise while guiding them away from the spots that are out of bounds. .
If you’ve got more great environmentally friendly DIY tips for deterring dogs, please leave them below in the comments.
Also if you try any of these methods, we want to hear how you go! Drop us a line.
- Commercial dog-repellent sprays, which you can find online.
- Citrus trees, fruits, or juices.
- Rue plants.
- Citronella plants or oil.
- Garlic.
- Vinegar.
- Cayenne pepper.
- Chili powder.
Give an Ultrasonic Animal Repeller a Try
You can also try giving an ultrasonic animal repeller a try. These devices emit a high-pitched sound that only animals can hear.
They are safe for use around pets and will not harm your dog in any way. The sound will help to keep your dog away from the areas of your lawn where you don’t want him to go.Liquid Fence Product Review
One option is to use a product like Liquid Fence, which is a safe and effective way to deter dogs from pooping in certain areas.Does it work? Repel II Dog & Cat Repellent
Another possibility is to try a commercial dog repellent. These products work by emitting a strong scent that dogs find unpleasant.
When applied to your lawn, they’ll typically keep dogs away from the areas you don’t want them to poop in.Training Harley to Potty in a Specific Place
Make sure you provide plenty of opportunities for your dog to relieve itself before taking it outside. This will help to reduce the chances of an accident.
Train your dog to only go to the bathroom in designated areas. You can do this by using positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise, when your dog goes in the right spot.
Training your dog to poop only in specific areas of your lawn may seem like a daunting task, but it is actually quite simple.
The key is to be consistent with your commands and rewards. Start by designating a small area of the lawn as the designated “potty spot”.
Every time your dog goes to the bathroom in this spot, be sure to give him a tasty treat.
Alternatively, you can use a set of markers to create an invisible boundary around the potty spot.
Whenever your dog enters the designated area, give him a verbal cue (such as “go potty”) and praise him when he does his business.
With patience and persistence, you will soon have a well-trained dog who knows exactly where to go when he needs to relieve himself.
Put up a fence around the perimeter of your yard to prevent your dog from roaming too far. By taking these steps, you can help to keep your lawn looking its best.
One option is to use a hedge as a barrier. If you have a fence around your property, line the inside of the fence with a hedge to create an extra barrier that your dog will have to jump to get over.Motion Sensor Sprinkler Lady and dog
Another option is to install motion-activated sprinklers in your yard. These will startle your dog (and probably you, too) when they go to poop in the yard, and after a few times, they will learn to avoid the area altogether.How to build a dog potty area outside on your lawn
Another option is to create a designated potty area for your dog. This can be done by fencing off a small section of the yard and training your dog to use it as their personal bathroom. With a little patience and consistency, you should be able to successfully stop your dog from pooping all over the lawn.
Barriers
The simplest and most instantly effective solution is to erect a barrier that will prevent local dogs from accessing your land.
Your first option is to put up a fence around your garden. While some fences may be a little pricey, you can also find some more inexpensive options. Once in place, unless the dogs are particularly determined to find a way in, this will resolve the issue immediately.
Perhaps the biggest downside is that not everybody will be happy with having to build a fence around their property. You might not like the aesthetics, or it may make you feel like you’re under siege from the dogs. If this is the case, you might prefer to try something else.
Another option is to put up a living barrier in the form of a hedge or a line of dog-proof plants or shrubs. Such an option does not create such an impenetrable barrier as a fence, but it will perhaps be enough to deter the dogs from using your yard as their go-to bathroom.
You could also try to build a barrier on the ground by laying a line of something that dogs don’t like walking on.
A ring of sharp gravel may be enough to keep local canines at bay since it will hurt the pads of their feet to walk on it and they will prefer to stay off.
The Dangers of Dog Waste in the Yard
As a dog owner, you may be used to picking up your pet’s waste when you’re out on a walk. But what about in your own backyard?
Dog waste can actually pose a serious health hazard if it’s not disposed of properly.
When rain falls, dog waste can run off into storm drains and eventually make its way into waterways. This can contaminate the water supply and cause serious illness in people and animals.
Dog waste can also attract rats and other pests, which can spread disease.
In addition, the waste itself can be harmful if ingested by children or other animals. So next time you let your dog out in the yard, be sure to pick up the waste and dispose of it properly.
But what if your dog poops wherever he wants – and you’re having a hard time keeping the poop contained to just one area?
Here are a few things to keep in mind.