If you have a dog or several like me, you probably handle dog poop on a daily basis. The poop factor was actually one of the reasons why I initially did not want a dog. I didn’t like the idea of having to pick up poop. But then I grew up and got over it. Now, I handle so much dog poop on the regular that it doesn’t even phase me. However, there are still some things I don’t like to deal with at all.
Here are six things I hate about dealing with dog poop:
1. Fabric that gets stuck in dog poop
My dog Buddy loves to eat fabric for some reason. So far, he’s eaten part of the following: my pants, my son’s pants, T-shirts, dog beds, and my favorite Raggedy Ann blanket. I don’t really like having our fabric goods consumed by him, but I like pulling them out of his butt even less. That’s right: I have to pull the fabric strips out because dogs have a hard time doing it themselves. It’s really gross. (Note: If you discover your dog has swallowed fabric, consult your vet before pulling anything out.)
2. Dog poop that gets stuck in blackberry brambles
I am curious to know how much effort people put into getting every last poop morsel up off the ground when it’s immersed in thorny bushes. I know that when my fingers start to get pricked, I tend to not pick up every last drop. But I feel guilty about this. I’m curious to know how others handle these prickly situations, as the law is to pick it up.
3. Dog poop on the couch
Fortunately, most of my dogs are reasonably potty trained. This is not to say they all started this way, or that they never have accidents. Every one of my dogs was a rescue who needed house training. Daisy had no clue whatsoever, and it would just sort of fall out of her inside the house. It’s nice when they progress past this stage. But the other day Lilly pooped right on the couch. My daughter and I were baffled. Was Lilly trying to make a statement of some kind? Without the ability to flip us off, was she trying to show her disdain for us giving another dog more attention? Did we miss her signals to take her outside?
4. When the poop gets on your hand
You’re trying to do the right thing by picking up the poop outside, but somehow, either because the volume is so high or the bag twists awkwardly, you get it on your hands. Then you worry about getting it on the leash, and the resulting bacterial transmission that will happen. And you imagine your entire family, both human and canine, coming down with a case of something.
I suppose the best thing would be to always carry a dog-walking pack everywhere, all the time, that contained large poop bags, hand sanitizer, and a flashlight (for help when it’s dark). But being that I am flawed and human, I generally consider myself prepared if I leave the house with the dog, leash, and potty bags. As for the poop-related mishaps inside the house, it’s probably also best to carry the pack with you at all times, because it seems like accidents always happen when you least expect it.
5. My kid stepping in dog poop in the house
I am embarrassed to admit this, but yes my son has stepped on dog poop inside my home. We lay potty pads down for the times when we can’t make it outside fast enough. When he was younger, it wasn’t all that uncommon for my son to step right in a pile, which resulted in frequent feet washing. Again, just as dogs learn and grow, so do kids, so thankfully this hasn’t happened for a while.
6. Dogs eating cat poop
This is one of the grossest aspects of having both cats and dogs living in the same house. I’d been warned before bringing my first dog home that dogs like to eat cat poop, but I kept hoping it wasn’t a real thing. Unfortunately, it is — at least in my home.
These are some of the most common poop issues I’ve dealt with since adopting dogs. I certainly never imagined that I would get to a place in life where dealing with and talking about poop would become as common as discussions about the weather, but since I have, I’d love to hear about your dog poop-related stories. Please share in the comments!
Read more about dog poop:
- 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Dog Poop
- 5 Rules of Picking Up Dog Poop
- Do You EVER Get Used to Picking Up Dog Poop?
About the author: Also known as the Breadwinning Laundry Queen, Kezia works as a Health Coordinator for an urban Head Start program by day and writes for Catster and Dogster on the weekends. She lives with her family, which includes a pack of rescued cats and dogs, in Seattle. You can follow her on Twitter.
