Curb Your Dog

How do I say to dog walkers, “curb your dog?”

Glancing out the window I spy a woman looking the other way as her dog did his business in the narrow flowerbed that separates our house from the one next door. I ran out to tell her that the dog can’t poop there.

She said she didn’t know what he was doing because she wasn’t looking. On a leash, she had stopped walking to let him do his business.

I told her to pick it up. She reluctantly found a poo bag and pretended to be picking up her dog’s stool.

Going back into the house I turned my head to see her allowing her dog to continue and asked her once more to get it out of my flowerbed. She pretended to be looking in the foliage.

Back in the house I saw her sticking the poo bag back in her pocket while her dog continued pooing.

I ran outside again and told her that there was a dog park half a block up the street. Indignant I asked, “How can you let your dog do that? I’m the one who weeds this garden?

Now, in a rage, SHE said, “I live in this neighborhood and other people’s dogs do their stuff in my yard all the time.”

I don’t want to get a Curb Your Dog sign for my driveway. What do you recommend?

–EP, Newport, RI

You can say to them just that: Curb Your Dog.

And you can sprinkle a dog repellent. Any product made to deter critters (deer, rabbits, and dogs) along the border of your flowerbed.

Dogs will step up their pace as they walk by in disgust. The scents of previous dogs will disperse.
Look at the weather forecast before laying it down so that rain doesn’t immediately wash the deterrent away.

In the meantime, find out what the fine is in your town for not cleaning up after your dog.

Next time you spy an interloper, tell the dog walker that there is a $400 fine for not cleaning up after Fido.

Why do dog owners feel that their pet can do anything?

Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs.