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Seeing Spots and Going Crazy

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by technosapien, May 22, 2009.

  1. technosapien

    technosapien New Member

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    Argh!
    One of my dog-owning neighbors is letting their pooch pee all over my lawn and several of my neighbors' lawns. For the third time in less than that many weeks I have found a dead brown spot in my lawn from dog pee. I am getting FED UP.

    I have two dogs, and I have the basic, common courtesy to keep my dogs off of other people's lawns. My dogs DO NOT pee on other people's property. Not only is it rude, it's a violation of HOA covenants.

    I'm not sure who is allowing this but I have a good suspicion, since it started right around the time a new neighbor family moved onto the street with their two new dogs. I'm just about ready to start setting up wireless surveillance cameras around the neighborhood to catch these rudelings in the act so I can have a talk with them.

    Does anyone have any other ideas what I can do about this? I try hard to have a nice looking lawn so that the neighborhood will look nice and it burns me up every time I find a new dead spot in my lawn.

    I thought about posting half-page notes on all of my neighbors' doors politely asking whomever owns the dogs that they're allowing to urinate on other peoples' lawns to please desist and take the effort to keep their pets off my lawn.

    Somtimes I think about making a motion-activated water cannon to hose down any person or pooch that intrudes on my lawn. If nothing else, it will water down the pee and prevent burning of the grass....
    http://www.waterhobo.com/

    I'm at wit's end....
     
  2. napper

    napper New Member

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    I wonder if we have the same neighbor? We are having the same problem. They let their dogs out of the house without a leash, let them wonder all over everyone's back yard, peeing and pooping wherever they please. Even when they are walking their dogs, it doesn't register that they shouldn't allow their dogs to do their business in other peoples yards. I, too, have a dog, but I walk her to the common area to do her business. AND, I don't let her do her business in other peoples yard. It's common sense! The thing is, I know who these people are. I'm just waiting to catch them in the act so I can say something nicely.
     
  3. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    It's possible that what you consider to be common courtesy other people don't think about. People let their dogs pee/poop on my lawn all the time. I think they figure they're doing their part by walking their dog and picking up the poop and the fact that it's in someone's yard isn't a consideration. They may not think they are doing anything wrong.

    Maybe some dog owners are unaware that their pet is causing a problem for you. I'm not a dog owner but if I got a dog I'm sure there are many things that I might let my dog do (hey, I just said dog doo!) that I shouldn't simply because I've never owned a dog before to know the etiquette. Actually, that may not be true since I read these forums so I know what's what! :)

    Go ahead and ask the people about it and let them know it's a problem. Maybe they don't realize that their dogs have certain spots they like to use over and over and it's killing your grass. I wouldn't think they're doing it deliberately - some people are just oblivious.

    {{{ which begs the question: what do I do that annoys people and I'm simply oblivious to???? I'm sure there must be something... }}}
     
  4. napper

    napper New Member

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    You're right, some people may not know. That's why I'm going to ask "nicely". :)
     
  5. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Techco - I can empathize with you, as you know I have a corner lot with lots of foot & 4 paw traffic. Below are a few home remedies I have used over the course of 4 years

    1) You sprinkle a little baking soda (which while neutralize the acid in the dog urine) on the burnt spots and then put top soil down with new needs. The issue is once they go once, they will go again in that spot.

    2) Blend 5-6 habenaro/scotch bonnet peppers with 3 cups of water (add whole peppers or chili powder), pour this mixture on your lawn and near the sidewalk.

    3) Go buy a box of moth balls and scatter them on your lawn.

    4) We have a sprinkler system set up with a remote and yes I take GREAT pleasure in activating my sprinkler system when a dog owner allows their pet to do their business on our property or allows their dog to dig in my landscaping. Our system has an extra feature that allows me to crank up the strength and zone (eg it can pump 5 gallons per minute, so some owners have been drenched).

    Items 2 & 3 will are an active nasal deterrent for the dogs and other wildlife critters.
     
  6. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

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    I LOVE #4. Where can I get a sprinkler like that???
     
  7. teak

    teak New Member

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    How about a small sign that says "Keep pets off lawn". Or get a sign that says "Toxic Chemical Applied. Keep Humans, Animals, Cars, and Insects off lawn".
     
  8. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    It's a Hunter Rainbird system and LOVE LOVE the remote.:devil2:
     
  9. Brassy

    Brassy Hiyah

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    i've used Chili pepper mixed with Old bay seasoning on the grass around my post box and the dogs still sniff that go by , but no longer do anything other than that.
     
  10. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    That would explain why folks who walk by your place have a sudden urge for some Maryland crabs... ;)
     
  11. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    I' ve seen several cute signs lately that say "no deposits" showing squatting dog, "no pets please" and other signs that ask nicely for people to pass their lawn on the walk- i would DEFINITELHY adhere if i saw one!

    i like to think of myself as a considerate dog owner- i don't let him pee or poop in yards- i make him go on the strip between the street and sidewalk. he marks a lot and it's mostly tiny dribbles- he usually does his main biz before we leave our yard. i've stopped him from peeing on flowers too- see an old post about this where i changed my ways!

    especially well kept lawns where i can tell a neighbor cares about their lawn. now and then i may slip on paying attention, and i apologize to any of you to whose lawns the little guy has tinkled on! i hope this thread serves as a good reminder to all of us dog owners. :)
     
  12. VoiceGuy07

    VoiceGuy07 Member

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    Have the same problem w/ neighbors and their dogs. If we're not around, the dogs (w/ owners) are using our your yard like a toilet. When they know we're home, they take their dogs to their backyard and the dogs do what they're supposed to do.

    We've mentioned the problem w/ the nuthouse, banged on the window when said dogs are using are yard like their own. Nothing has seemed to work. I just don't get it. Not sure how to make the point without escalating.

    Although, I'd have to say that I very much like the sprinkler approach.
     
  13. kmjtt

    kmjtt New Member

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    My parents have a sprinkler that is motion triggered. My Mom bought it, and it initially worked to keep the deer away from her flowers...now the deer just twitch when they are hit with the water. May be worth a try though...if nothing else, you may get a good laugh or two.
     
  14. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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  15. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    I will be changing the way I walk my dog.... when I can get off my duff to walk her that is. I can fully understand people getting upset with their lawn turning yellow because of dog pee.

    One solution would be for people walking their dogs to walk in the direction of vehicle traffic. Since your dog should be walking to your left, this would put the dog closer the the "strip" between the road and the sidewalk.

    Since it is tough to interupt a dog in mid-pee, it is better for the dog not to be on the lawn side if at all possible.

    This can be a problem when there is only one sidewalk on a street though. When that happens I will try to walk in the street with my dog, always on the left, on the strip.

    We can't really expect the dogs to care about our neighbour's lawns, but the humans sure can. And with a simple change in walking direction, this problem can be mitigated.
     
  16. JLC

    JLC Member

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    Why is it ok to use the strip between the sidewalk and the street? It's hard enough to keep that area halfway decent looking without the added stress of dog urine.
     
  17. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    Dogs tend to want to pee on grass/dirt and not pavement/asphalt I would imagine.

    There is no perfect solution to this problem. I just believe that dog owners need to take reasonable steps to limit the damage to our neighbour's yards.
     
  18. latka

    latka Active Member

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    Ok...so what are people who walk dogs to do???? They will urinate. I can understand not letting them urinate in the same place all the time but expecting dogs not to ever urinate when they walk...really????
     
  19. JLC

    JLC Member

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    I don't know much about dogs. One of the main reasons I don't want one is because I don't want to have to deal with their "business".
     
  20. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    When you gots pets you gots poo and pee. :)
     

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