Is it okay for your dog to pee on the neighbours’ lawn?
July 8, 2019
Imagine you’re a homeowner relaxing on your front porch after spending the day tending to your garden, weeding, seeding, planting for hours in the hot sun, when along comes that lovely lady, Doreen, from number 35 with her cute dog, Lincoln, a bull terrier who likes to pee and poop on your front lawn. You take a sip of your iced tea and tense up at the clicking sound of Doreen releasing the brake on Lincoln’s extenda-leash. Up he pops, the little darling, sniffing and dancing in circles around your front lawn, before positioning his pert pink derriere at front row centre for your viewing pleasure. Doreen quickly mounts your patch of grass to retrieve the offending deposit, only successfully managing to smoosh a great deal of it into your lawn. Meanwhile, Lincoln has made a beeline for your beautiful blooming hostas and with a gusty grin over his shoulder in your direction cocks his leg and gives it his best shot.
To pee or not to pee
When you live in the inner city, it’s virtually impossible to keep your dog from peeing on other people’s property, but we need to be more scrupulous about not doing so. It’s discourteous and you can tell people are getting fed up with it. More and more of those No Dogs! signs are cropping up on people’s front lawns and who can blame them? Dog pee kills grass and plants, encourages other dogs to pee, and dog poop attracts flies and carries harmful bacteria. Plus it smells. There’s also your neighbours to consider and the community you live in.
The politics of doggie do-do
Letting your dog do their business on other people’s property could start a neighbourhood quarrel. There are some cases in the U.S. that have ended at gunpoint with a frustrated neighbour finally putting an end to the problem. Others have ended up in court with charges of trespass and property damage. So have a care and encourage your dog to go to the bathroom in your own backyard before venturing out for a neighbourhood walk, and try to stick to public property and parks along the way for spot marking and last-minute dribbles.
How to get your dog to pee and poop in the backyard
Some dogs will only pee and poop on a walk as they need the stimulation of the fresh air and enticing odours to get their system working. So if you’re having trouble getting your dog to go in the backyard, here are a few tips:
- Choose a particular spot in your garden and designate it as your dog’s potty area. This will keep any unwanted waste away from the rest of your garden and out of harm’s way from your children.
- At first keep them on a leash and walk them to the spot, giving them the command to go pee-pee or poo-poo.
- Be patient with your dog, encouraging them and giving them enough time. If unsuccessful, do not punish them. Simply return to the house and try again in a couple of minutes.
- Make sure you keep this area clean as your dog will not poop in a soiled lot.
- Reward them with a tasty treat, encouraging words, and a nice walk after they successfully do their business in the designated area.
- If you live in an apartment building or condo, consider getting them a porch potty or a square of pee grass you can place on your balcony.
Eventually, you’ll be able to let them outside with the command to go pee-pee and they’ll head straight for the desired spot and do their business. Then you can head out for a neighbourly walk and hold your head high knowing your dog isn’t going to foul it up!
Photo by: davidseibold ~ What?!