Curb Your Dog

Several times each week a neighbor's dog comes over to our yard to do his business. If I'm outside when he visits, I chase him off, but I'm not always quick enough to get him moving before he's left his little gift.

During our garage sale last summer, the owner came into our driveway with the dog on a leash and I told her that her dog looked just like the dog that always takes a crap in our yard. I though that would be enough of a hint for her to keep him in her own yard, but it sure wasn't.

I've even taken photos of him making his deposits, but I never got around to printing them out and delivering them to the owner.

This evening when I tried to shoo the dog out of our yard, he ran into the back yard and left a huge pile. I went inside and grabbed a Ziplock bag and then went back and located the pile and packaged it up as a gift for the owner.

I walked it down the block and across the street and knocked on the side door. When the lady opened the door I asked her if this is where the little mop dog lives. I already knew it was the right house, but that was the best opening line I could think of. When she said yes it was, I handed her the fully-loaded Ziplock bag and said, "Here, this is yours."

I went on to tell her that I was tired of her dog pooping in our yard and was there anything she could do to prevent it from happening again. She apologized and asked which house I lived in. I pointed to my house and she said she'd do her best to keep her dog out of my yard.

Now, I'm wondering exactly how she's going to teach the dog to stay out of my yard... when she's still going to let him run the neighborhood in search of a toilet. Did she walk with him down the street and point out my house and tell him that it was off limits, but any other yard in the neighborhood was fair game?

I don't blame the dog for his actions... obviously it hasn't been properly trained to stay in his own yard. But, I'm seriously considering calling the dog pound the next time he's in my yard. If they succeed in capturing him, I will let the owner know so the dog isn't left in the pound. Maybe the cost of getting him out and paying a fine will be enough to motivate her to get an invisible fence.