The last thing you would think about when you get a new dog is dog poop. The things that most people think about are; food, bed, water dish and more except its poop and how it can be disposed of. Dog waste is disgusting and can sometimes attract parasites and cause diseases. Even though it is the last thing one thinks about, it is the first thing you will notice once you start living with your dog. And this requires proper planning to have a healthy living with your dog.
What to do with dog poop in the yard?
Bin it
Most dog owners may prefer bagging their dog’s poop to dispose of it in the nearest bin. While this is a great way of removing this poop from your yard, but what many people do not consider is what happens to that poop when disposed of in the bin. The bags used are plastic, and these bags take time to decompose hence affects our environment negatively.
Flushable bags
Flushable bags are nowadays available; this means that you can simply flush off the waste to the sewage plant. The manufactures of these bangs say that they are not harmful to the environment and can breakdown quickly. However, these bags are very expensive; therefore, not every dog owner can use this bag. You can as well choose to pick up the dog poop using a toilet roll and flush it off; this is another cheaper and environmentally friendly approach.
Composting
If you have a compost bin, you can utilize it by putting small amounts of your dog’s poop into the compost bin. If possible, you should avoid using bags; this is because most of these bags are plastic. Ensure that you use bags that are suitable for home composition. When composting the waste, you have to be very strict on hygiene. You have to make sure that the compost bin is correctly layered and regularly filled to maintain the high temperature.
Wormeries
Avoid using wormeries just after the dog gets treated with worms; this may just kill your dog. The compost, as well as the liquid fertilizer produced, should never be used near the food crops.
Bokashi system
Bokashi system involves fermenting the waste then burying it in the ground where it will be able to break down quickly.
How to pick up dog poop?
Scoop it
You can do this by using a pooper scooper. Using this tool is the easiest way to pick up dog poop. It will also prevent you from wrapping your hands around your dog’s poop. If you have any physical ailments, this is what you should go for because you do not have to bend to pick the poop.
Use newspaper
If you are trying to minimize the use of plastic bags, you can make use of a news paper. This is an excellent alternative to plastic bags. Newspapers decompose naturally, and it is also a great way to reuse it.
Dog potty box
Rather than wandering around looking for your dog’s poop, why not make use of Dog potty box. This can be used on old dogs who find it hard to comfortably move down the stairs. Can also be used on puppies who live in apartments that are highly raised. Most people prefer going for disposable boxes that contain real grass.
Poop bags
These may include biodegradable poop bags or dog bag dispensers. This is a very simple and easy method. You are only required to put your hands inside the bag as if you are wearing it then pick up the poop. You should then turn it inside out so that the poop will be able to go inside the bag then you tie it.
Short handled dustpan with a rake
You should always have this affordable equipment in your back yard. You can use the rake to rake the poop into the pan. Use this equipment to scoop the poop using the pan then manually rake it and dispose of it.
Litter trays
Although this is mostly used on cats, dog owners can as well use it. Especially those who live in high apartments, this is because taking your dog down the stairs two times a day can sometimes be tiresome. The only thing you are required to do is to create a designated area and place the litter tray there for your dog. You have to train your dog to use the tray any time he or she feels like releasing himself.
Where to dispose of dog poop?
Flush it
Poops go into the toilet, the same way; dog’s poop can also go into the toilet. So flushing off the poop is an effective way of getting rid of the dog poop, ensure that you do not flash it using a plastic bag, this is because it may damage the drainage system. You can make use of a scooper or shovel to transfer the poop to the toilet.
Bury it
Burying your dog’s poo is the most efficient way to clean up the mess. However, while doing this, you have to be very careful with where you burry the poop, if it is not properly buried, then it may cause some environmental damages.
Compost it
Composting dog poop is also an effective way of getting rid of dog poop. It helps in eliminating germs, pollutants, and it also helps in safely breaking down the waste. If your home doesn’t have compost, then you can easily create one or buy a composting bin which is specifically meant for dog poo.
Doggy drain
Install a dog drain in your yard; you have to make sure that the drain leads directly to the sewer; this will help in making the job easier and also help in eliminating the need of using plastic bags.
I hope this article has addressed all the things you wanted to know about getting rid of dog poop. There are plenty of environmentally friendly options which you can use to dispose of your dog’s poop.
