A Guide to Cleaning and Disposing of Your Dog's Poop

A good dog poop guide is not complete without some practical tips for cleaning dog poop and disposing of dog poop. 

For all those new dog owners out there, you will quickly become an expert at this necessary task, as most dogs will poop more than once a day. If you’re wondering how many times a day should a dog poop, know that puppies poop more than senior dogs and five times a day is normal. 

Speaking of puppies, some basic puppy training will help you on your way to a great relationship and will teach you how to stop puppy biting. 

Healthy Dog Poop Guide

Healthy dog poop should be chocolate brown in colour and have a firm, yet squishy consistency, akin to Play-Doh and in a sausage or log shape. Hard pellets are considered too solid and if the poop does not hold its form, then it is a little bit too wet. 

If you’re wondering why is your dog’s poop solid/wet/runny, then know that there are a multitude of factors as to why this could be. A change in diet can cause gastrointestinal issues, as could a change in your furbaby’s environment, as any stress or anxiety will affect their digestive system as well. 

If your furbaby has poop that is a colour different to a normal brown colour, then do consider taking a sample in with you to their veterinarian for professional advice. Although some ingredients can change the colour of their poop, like too much grass, it can also indicate a toxin or an illness. 

Risks of Dog Poop to People and Other Pets

Poop removal is important, not just because it is pretty gross if you step in it accidentally, but because there is a potential risk that a stool can carry diseases and parasites. 

Unhealthy dog poop can carry the potentially deadly parvovirus, as this virus is shed in feces and dogs acquire the virus through a fecal-oral route. 

Other potential risks include the presence of many parasites, including intestinal worms or giardia. 

Your furbaby doesn’t need to eat another dog’s poop to pick up these parasites, they can become reinfected from their fecal matter if you don’t clean up your backyard quickly enough. 

Tips to Dispose of Your Dog's Poop

Dog poop cleanup can be easy with some effective dog poop products that pet owners should have. Be sure to check a dog poop colour guide to see whether your dog’s poop is healthy. 

Since your dog’s poop may carry diseases and parasites that could infect other dogs and people, dog poop removal is an important task that any responsible dog owner should always do. 

Use poop bags

You can use bread bags or produce bags to pick up dog poop if you’re looking to give these products a second life, or you can purchase some bags specifically designed for the task.

There are plenty of eco-friendly and compostable options available as well, allowing you to dispose of your doggie’s poop in a way that best suits you.  

You will want to have some poop bags on you every time you head out for a walk. Many people tie a couple of bags to their dog’s leash, or you can purchase nifty attachments that ensure that you always have poop bags with you when out on walks. 

Use scoopers and other others

Around the home, it is probably more convenient for you to use one of the many available scooping tools. 

A lot of these have long handles and thick teeth designed to keep you as far away from the poop as possible whilst getting underneath it and effectively lifting it up and off the grass or concrete.

If you’re on a budget or simply don’t fancy purchasing such items, you can easily make your scooper by cutting up a plastic milk bottle. 

Do not flush dog poop down the toilet

Bagged or unbagged, you should never flush dog poop down the toilet as you risk blocking your wastewater pipes or causing issues with the wastewater treatment process. 

Even if bags say they are flushable or compostable, you should never risk it. It is preferable that you either compost, bury or throw away your dog’s poop

Create a separate pet waste composting system

You can compost your dog’s waste, however, it is advised that you do not put it in your regular compost bin. If you intend to spread this over your vegetable garden, there is a risk of spreading potential diseases into your edible food.

However, you can create a separate pet waste composting system, either by buying one or making your own and choosing to spread this in a safer area. 

Laws Around Not Picking up After Your Dog in NZ

Responsible dog ownership is supported through rules regarding where you take your dog and pick up your dog’s waste. You are legally obligated to pick up dog poop in a public place if your dog is responsible for it.

Poop cleanup involves using a bag for picking up your dog’s poop and then placing it in a rubbish bin or taking it away with you. 

Although many public places that allow dogs provide a station that has plastic bags available for use, these are not required and you need to have access to your bags. 

We love Little Green Dog compostable poop bags, or you can reuse bread bags or produce bags if you wish to help keep waste down.

Conclusion

Your dog will poop several times a day, more when they are young, so it is very unlikely that you will avoid a situation where you will need to pick up their poop after them. 

You are legally obligated to pick up after your furbaby in public places and you must pick up after them at home too, to reduce the risk of spreading diseases, as well as because it is very unpleasant to get dog poop between your toes.

Healthy habits will keep your dog safe, so take a look at these reasons why dogs eat poop to try to break this habit, and these tips to make dogs poop quickly.