[KeepingItReal]

As confirmed once again by this thread still going this is apparently a larger problem than most ever thought and one that definitely raises blood pressures. To some the dogs have become family, or even replaced family, sometimes to the extreme.
It is really hard to understand why one would own a pet that they cannot control. Many have said sometimes pets just do what they do and sometimes they get loose and sometimes you just cannot stop them from going. Some of the same have expressed ire with out of control children they have seen as they too also appeared out of control. For some reason they didn't seem to have the same compassion for the parents of those children or even the children as they did for the pets. Children are people and should behave but surely would receive compassion over animals.
Thanks to the many that walk their dogs everyday and are always mindful and keep the dogs close to them and out of yards. Whether it really does any harm or not most people I think just feel it is disrespectful for anyone to allow their animals to scratch around and leave excrement on their property without their permission. A lot of times the scratching with front and back feet after the deed is done does pull up grass. Not all dogs do this but the ones that do tear up grass. Then the owner has to make a trip out to retrieve the package as well. A single occurrence would probably not be a big deal for anyone but numerous occurrences day after day does become a problem.
It's really not anyone's right to look at another’s lawn and say it’s just grass or it is not pretty enough to worry about keeping off their property. It's their property and it's important to them.
It’s obvious a lot of pet owner’s don’t think it is a problem since they are so enamored with the pet they actually think they can do no wrong. This is OK for them but there’s nothing that can be said that will justify not keeping them under total control and realizing not everyone agrees and has a singular right to control anything that happens on their own property.

[Jaggy]

Why am I still reading this thread? I think my head rolled off somewhere on Page 4 ...

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by gomoho

I always wondered when walking in a national park with horse trails why I was required to pick up my dog's poop, but horse owners had no such obligation. Wonder how that would go down in TV???

Horse people don't have a problem because they can't catch them, besides, everyone knows that MANURE HAPPENS.

[ilovetv]

"...A single occurrence would probably not be a big deal for anyone but numerous occurrences day after day does become a problem.

It's really not anyone's right to look at another’s lawn and say it’s just grass or it is not pretty enough to worry about keeping off their property. It's their property and it's important to them...."

This leads to my continuing question which is: When a homeowner has made it clear they do not want dog owners allowing their dogs to mess on their private property--their lawn--why do the dog owners continue to do what they've been asked not to do??? This is just plain disrespectful!

And just now, as I came westward on O'Dell just inside the gate in front of Havana CC, I saw a woman with her dog on the golf course and about 15 ft. away from the sidewalk. The dog was lifting its leg on a course boundary post or other such short white box or post that was part of the course. Now is THIS something nobody should say nothing about, too?? Or is golf course turf pretty enough and expensive enough that the person should be told to STOP it?

[graciegirl]

It isn't a problem for the overwhelming majority, the one Billethekid is always talking about. I don't have a dog. I do so like them with the exception of Pitbulls and they scare me. We have two cats, Mikey, Harry and Hershey and they stay inside our home. We see people walking their dogs in this village and we saw them walking them in Hadley. I know the name of every dog that walks around in my area. I like them. They are warm and nice and each has their own personality.

So far, no dog has done his business on our property with the exception of some close friend dogs who will hike their leg and mark our bushes while their owners are chatting to us. Hasn't hurt the bushes.

Some people are pet people and some people have absolutely NO use for animals in their home or on their property. That doesn't make them wrong, it just makes them puzzling to me. I am probably ten times worse to THEM so it all evens out.

I am glad we have lotsa dogs and I have had not one single problem so far.

[Tom Grooms]

Are we sure it's "not a problem for the overwhelming majority"? Any data to back that up or is that an assumption?

I would personally like all dog walkers to assume that it's NOT ok to go in people's yards. I'm training them, one by one.

[Rbgold]

Can I cry "UNCLE" now??? PLEASE??!!

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by KeepingItReal

As confirmed once again by this thread still going this is apparently a larger problem than most ever thought and one that definitely raises blood pressures. To some the dogs have become family, or even replaced family, sometimes to the extreme.
It is really hard to understand why one would own a pet that they cannot control. Many have said sometimes pets just do what they do and sometimes they get loose and sometimes you just cannot stop them from going. Some of the same have expressed ire with out of control children they have seen as they too also appeared out of control. For some reason they didn't seem to have the same compassion for the parents of those children or even the children as they did for the pets. Children are people and should behave but surely would receive compassion over animals.
Thanks to the many that walk their dogs everyday and are always mindful and keep the dogs close to them and out of yards. Whether it really does any harm or not most people I think just feel it is disrespectful for anyone to allow their animals to scratch around and leave excrement on their property without their permission. A lot of times the scratching with front and back feet after the deed is done does pull up grass. Not all dogs do this but the ones that do tear up grass. Then the owner has to make a trip out to retrieve the package as well. A single occurrence would probably not be a big deal for anyone but numerous occurrences day after day does become a problem.
It's really not anyone's right to look at another’s lawn and say it’s just grass or it is not pretty enough to worry about keeping off their property. It's their property and it's important to them.
It’s obvious a lot of pet owner’s don’t think it is a problem since they are so enamored with the pet they actually think they can do no wrong. This is OK for them but there’s nothing that can be said that will justify not keeping them under total control and realizing not everyone agrees and has a singular right to control anything that happens on their own property.

I saw a great example tonight of controlling the dog:
owner is walking small white fluffy down the residential street passing by an unbuilt lot.

She has a retractable leash and is holding it in both hands, with most of it retracted, allowing the dog 6 feet of lead, enough for the dog to walk on the unbuilt lot. when they continue past the grass of a private residence, she shortens the lead to 4 feet and walks far enough from the grass that fluffy has to walk in the street with her.
Well done, neighbor!

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

I saw a great example tonight of controlling the dog:
owner is walking small white fluffy down the residential street passing by an unbuilt lot.

She has a retractable leash and is holding it in both hands, with most of it retracted, allowing the dog 6 feet of lead, enough for the dog to walk on the unbuilt lot. when they continue past the grass of a private residence, she shortens the lead to 4 feet and walks far enough from the grass that fluffy has to walk in the street with her.
Well done, neighbor!

Good example. Why this has to be explained and illustrated to people who've lived this long, and should be smarter than a 5th grader, is beyond me. We were taught in 1962 as we walked home from school that we were not supposed to trespass on homeowners' yards and we were to stay on the sidewalk.

Somehow we just knew that if walking/playing on somebody else's yard was not allowed, leaving dog feces on it was far worse and far more unacceptable.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Tom Grooms

Are we sure it's "not a problem for the overwhelming majority"? Any data to back that up or is that an assumption?...

I'm not sure what would constitute data to back that up, but I personally think Gracie's right.

There are a few dog owners that don't respect others' property. There are far more that do. There are a few non dog owners that impose unreasonable expectations on dog owners. There are far more that do not.

[Tom Grooms]

I thought she was saying the overwhelming majority of home owners think it's ok for dogs to pee and poop all over their lawn.

And what exactly is unreasonable expectations? My expectations are your dog should never under any circumstances pee or poop on my turf. If you allow that behavior and you get caught, prepare for a confrontation.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Tom Grooms

I thought she was saying the overwhelming majority of home owners think it's ok for dogs to pee and poop all over their lawn...

I don't think so.

Originally Posted by Tom Grooms

...And what exactly is unreasonable expectations...

I'll leave that to each individual. But I do believe some unreasonable expectations have been put forth in this thread.

Originally Posted by Tom Grooms

...My expectations are your dog should never under any circumstances pee or poop on my turf. If you allow that behavior and you get caught, prepare for a confrontation.

Now here's where I'll probably incur your wrath...

While I totally respect your opinion and property rights, I believe if an otherwise well-mannered owner, with bag in hand ready for a #2, allows his/her dog to pee on grass near the street in front of your property, a confrontation would be pushing the limits of reasonable behavior.

[Tom Grooms]

I guess some people just need confrontations to escalate before they understand.

Be safe out there, your misguided judgement, sense of entitlement and outright lack of respect might get you in a situation you won't like...

I don't get it, Is it sooooo important for your dog to not have to poop in the street that you are willing to take that risk?

[kittygilchrist]

Polar Bear, You've demonstrated exactly why this issue is unresolved, that in your mind you "totally respect..property rights" , consider yourself "well-mannered" and think it is reasonable for your dog to pee on the homeowner's grass.

I would consider your allowing the dog to pee in my yard to be ill-mannered, and disrespectful, and I would confront you too, even though MY dog is allowed to pee in my yard. The point is not the pee, it is that no matter what you are doing on my property, if you are there to help yourself to a piece of it, I will feel that you have no respect.

That said, I respect your having a different opinion and would gently ask that you not do that on my yard with a smile, the first time.

[Parker]

When my dog poops in my yard I pick it up, so I won't step in it, so it won't attract flies, and out of consideration for my lawn guys. If your dog poops in my yard, and you pick it up, I don't care about it. If your dog poops in my yard, and you don't pick it up, and I step in it, I'll be upset about it. Not homicidal, just upset.