# Dog Poop Etiquette **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 25, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439 "2015-06-25T13:41:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ldubs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ldubs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ldubs)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/1 "2015-06-25T13:41:03Z")
So we recently moved to a new apartment. We’re on the first floor, although, that doesn’t necessarily matter here as all 3 tenants use the same front door. We’ve been there for about a month now, and we notice that someone or some people are throwing their bags of dog poop between our “stoop” and the outdoor garage door. My husband brought up that he thinks it’s our 3rd floor neighbors, as they have 2 dogs. They also don’t have an outdoor space or anything, so I can fully understand why they wouldn’t want to bring the poop back into their apartment. We were discussing this on trash night, and honestly, “stalking” them (looking out the window) to see if they would gather up the bags and put them out with the trash. They did not. This poop has now been there for at least 2 weeks. It’s starting to smell, WORSE, and it attracts flies and bugs, etc. We’re not quite sure what to do. We don’t want to be the new “asshole neighbors” and confront them about it, especially if it isn’t them! A friend mentioned getting a small trashcan with a lid and putting that there, but it should not be my responsibility! I’m also afraid that will invite other people walking their dogs to put their poop in there. I don’t mind neighborhood dog walkers putting BAGGED dog poop in my trashcan, as long as the trash has not been picked up yet. I don’t want it in my can, or on my property for a week. (I live in the city and we have one trash day a week, and limited space to keep trash during that week.) Does anyone have any ideas of how we can handle this? It’s pretty gross when we invite people over to our house and you can’t walk in the front door without smelling dog poop and getting attacked by flies. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/2 "2015-06-25T13:46:04Z")
Talk to the landlord. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/3 "2015-06-25T13:50:23Z")
I’d move the existing poop bags to the trash this once, just to rid yourself of the smell, and put a small, temporary sign up asking that poop not be left there _because_ of the smell and flies. Hopefully they’ll respect that, it won’t happen again and after a week or so you can throw the sign away. If they throw more poop there next to the sign then you’ve got a problem that needs to be reported to the manager. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/4 "2015-06-25T13:51:22Z")
Put it in front of their door, light the bag on fire, knock and run! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/5 "2015-06-25T13:59:16Z")
> [@ldubs](#): > > We’re not quite sure what to do. We don’t want to be the new “asshole neighbors” and confront them about it, especially if it isn’t them! Maybe look into [pooprints](http://www.pooprints.com/), a DNA matching service. There are several companies offering this service. Renters or condo owners pay a fee to have their dog’s poop dna tested. Any poop found on the property can be submitted, and if it matches a dog then the owner is fined. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/6 "2015-06-25T14:01:59Z")
Put the poop in a bucket. Add about half as much water as there is poop. Let sit in the sun during the hottest part of the day for a couple of hours. Then throw the bucket of poop water on their door. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/7 "2015-06-25T14:05:51Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Put the poop in a bucket. Add about half as much water as there is poop. Let sit in the sun during the hottest part of the day for a couple of hours. > > Then throw the bucket of poop water on their door. > > 🙂 Even better if you mix in old urine instead of water! I’ll leave it to you on where to get the urine. ---
**Author:** ![ldubs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ldubs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ldubs)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/8 "2015-06-25T14:38:19Z")
Tonight is trash night, so I may try to get a peek to see if it is our neighbors doing it. If it’s not picked up by tomorrow morning, I think I will have to pick it up this once, just because of the smell, etc. I’m just afraid if it is our neighbors that putting a sign instead of confronting them would be rude. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/9 "2015-06-25T14:52:34Z")
My neighbors throw their poop bags in my trash can. I don’t mind that, but I do mind when they put the bags in the recycling bin or leaf bin. Sometimes the bag ends up on the ground and I have to put it in. It may be someone on your block who is walking the dog around and around. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/10 "2015-06-25T14:58:30Z")
Put it in trash. Leave sign. “Please, no poo here! Thanks!” ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/11 "2015-06-25T15:06:53Z")
Print a sign and place it where it’s clearly visible… \*\*Free poop, courtesy of \*\* (neighbor’s name with phone number). **Please Take one**. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/12 "2015-06-25T15:51:31Z")
_destroy them!_ ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/13 "2015-06-25T15:57:46Z")
I’m a fan of the rubbing their nose in it and smacking them with a rolled up newspaper technique. Though that would probably be a step towards asshole neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/14 "2015-06-25T16:03:57Z")
I vote that you add it to their wash next time they have clothes in the laundromat. ---
**Author:** ![ldubs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ldubs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ldubs)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/15 "2015-06-25T17:38:57Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > I vote that you add it to their wash next time they have clothes in the laundromat. this is so nasty, and I love it BUUUUT, I do think this falls under asshole neighbor LOL. My old neighbors however, I would have LOOOVED to do this to, and they didn’t even have a dog! ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/16 "2015-06-25T19:09:15Z")
I had a neighbor poop on my front lawn and then deny it. Then she moved out and the pooping on the front lawn stopped. Maybe it was just a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/17 "2015-06-25T19:53:44Z")
Was she in a dress or did she shake it out the pant leg? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/18 "2015-06-25T20:52:00Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Was she in a dress or did she shake it out the pant leg? Keyboard! You owe me a keyboard! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/19 "2015-06-25T20:55:06Z")
I don’t see any evidence in the OP beyond a suspicion. Mention it to the landlord, but I don’t see the utility of confronting them. Of course they will deny it. I am having a hard time conceptualizing the architecture. Is it clearly left in “your space,” or just a common space that affects you the most. Neither is “cool,” but the former is harder to attribute to ignorance/laziness rather than malice. > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I had a neighbor poop on my front lawn and then deny it. Then she moved out and the pooping on the front lawn stopped. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Did she wipe her ass on the lawn or bring her own TP? ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439/20 "2015-06-26T00:06:31Z")
> [@ldubs](#): > > So we recently moved to a new apartment. We’re on the first floor, although, that doesn’t necessarily matter here as all 3 tenants use the same front door. > > We’ve been there for about a month now, and we notice that someone or some people are throwing their bags of dog poop between our “stoop” and the outdoor garage door. > > My husband brought up that he thinks it’s our 3rd floor neighbors, as they have 2 dogs. They also don’t have an outdoor space or anything, so I can fully understand why they wouldn’t want to bring the poop back into their apartment. > > We were discussing this on trash night, and honestly, “stalking” them (looking out the window) to see if they would gather up the bags and put them out with the trash. > > They did not. This poop has now been there for at least 2 weeks. It’s starting to smell, WORSE, and it attracts flies and bugs, etc. > > We’re not quite sure what to do. We don’t want to be the new “asshole neighbors” and confront them about it, especially if it isn’t them! A friend mentioned getting a small trashcan with a lid and putting that there, but it should not be my responsibility! I’m also afraid that will invite other people walking their dogs to put their poop in there. I don’t mind neighborhood dog walkers putting BAGGED dog poop in my trashcan, as long as the trash has not been picked up yet. I don’t want it in my can, or on my property for a week. (I live in the city and we have one trash day a week, and limited space to keep trash during that week.) > > Does anyone have any ideas of how we can handle this? It’s pretty gross when we invite people over to our house and you can’t walk in the front door without smelling dog poop and getting attacked by flies. I think your friend has a great idea , the person should get the message to stop leaving their dog poop next to the stoop. If the smell is getting that bad I would think you be dying to move the poop . You could get a finger print set and get prints off the bags then off your neighbors apartment doors. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-poop-etiquette/723439.md?page=2)