5 Things Not to Do When your Dog Eliminates in your Neighbor’s Yard

Neighbours Yard

As an owner, you might find it highly convenient and satisfying if your dog sometimes chooses to relieve themselves in the neighbor’s yard, especially if the neighbor has absolutely no objections to it.

However, a lot of people don’t appreciate animals treating their carefully maintained properties as their personal toilets, and the situation can lead to some ugly confrontations if handled wrong.

Can you really blame them? Perhaps you don’t mind animals taking a whizz every now and then in your garden. But you’ve got to appreciate someone’s right to have their yards to themselves, or at least, not being spoiled willy-nilly by the neighbor’s pooch.

In such situations, owners must recognize their duty to reign in their dogs, and train them to avoid eliminating in others’ lawns.

Let’s look at some important “don’ts” to keep in mind when your dog takes to eliminating in the neighbor’s yard, and maintain healthy relations in the neighborhood.

1. Letting Confrontations Get Out of Hand!

Number 1 rule! When faced with an angry neighbor, try to diffuse the situation as best, and as quickly as possible to avoid ill-feelings between you two, and especially towards your dog.

Explain to the neighbor you were unaware of your dog’s habit, and reassure him or her that you would be taking steps to ensure that it stops.

Aside from being the courteous thing to do (after all, your dog is in the wrong) dealing with the issue nicely also avoids future problems.

An aggressive confrontation could lead to your neighbor taking ill-considered measures against your dog’s trespassing, or even taking legal action, in addition to spoiling your relations.

2. Allowing Repeat Incidents

This follows naturally, but it’s important to keep your word once you’ve agreed to correct your dog’s habit.

Apart from training, supervision, and changing up your dog’s routines so he doesn’t wander off into the neighbor’s yard, you can come up with other (harmless) measures in agreement with your neighbor.

These can include anything, from simple fences, wireless electric fences, to motion-sensitive sprinklers. The matter of who bears the cost, is, of course, left to how you negotiate among yourselves!

The important thing is to ensure that you and your neighbor come up with a solution that is agreeable to both of you, and you arrive at it through a cordial and healthy exchange.

3. Not Cleaning Up or Covering the Odor

Cleaning up after their dogs is something all owners must do, irrespective of where the dogs eliminate.

But it is obviously the decent thing to do when your dog messes up the neighbor’s property. Otherwise, it’s just plain rude, and you’re inviting your neighbor’s wrath – and justifiably so!

It’s also important to note that aside from cleaning up the poop, you should take measures to see that no lingering odor remains in the spot. Using dog poop bags are a great idea for these types of mess.

A lot of dogs and other animals tend to eliminate in the same general area, which they identify by its smell. They will also most probably frequently mark the area as their territory.

Thus, it’s wise to mask or remove any lingering odor – however slight – using an appropriate, eco-friendly product. A number of sprays and other deterrents are available in the market which you can make use of.

4. Letting Your Dog Roam Around Outside Unsupervised

Allowing dogs that cross over to neighboring properties to roam freely, unsupervised, is not a good idea unless owners have further trained them sufficiently to remain in their own yards, or used fences or other means to do so. If you need to, search for an electric dog fence that’s made safe and prevent your dog from leaving your property.

In any case, it’s better to keep an eye on dogs when they run out the door and outside, lest they cause or get into any trouble, be it soiling the other garden, or facing off against other animals or people visiting the neighborhood.

Have a designated dog-sitter, or a friend looking after their needs whenever you must travel and can’t take them along. You can rest easy knowing that there is some company for your pup to keep trouble and loneliness at bay.

5. Blaming the Dog

This is always a bad move, and never helpful. Sometimes owners on being confronted by aggrieved neighbors tend to shift the blame on their dogs.

Without dog training and direction, a dog can’t possibly know better! A dog can’t process property lines and ownership – when he sees a nice spot to go and do his business, he will, unless stopped by something, or trained not to.

So taking it out on your dog will only serve to hurt and confuse him, and achieve nothing.

Instead, work on taking measures to change his habit, or at the very least deter him – be it getting him used to eliminating in a free spot, using fences, or other tried and tested methods.

Have you ever had trouble with your dog eliminating in neighboring yards and gardens? Did you manage to change-up your dog’s roving toilet-habits? If so, do share your experiences in the comments section below, so other readers may pick up on some tips!

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