Foo - Walking the dogs is messy business

Ok, I need some help! How do you deal with this? I have 4 dogs and I walk them together all the time (3 years now). They're 45-70 lbs so the mess they leave behind them is no small thing. I always carry a roll of poop clean up bags and pick everything up out of people's yards. It's not uncommon to have 6-8 bags from one walk! I am sure that I am carrying about 5 extra pounds of "cargo" at the end of a walk. I have the dogs leashes threaded through my belt so I don't have to touch the leashes unless I'm directing someone. When I use a bag, I tie it onto one of the handle loops on a leash. Then they're flinginng all around, bumping me in the thighs, sometimes my hands and even occassionally getting squeezed between my thighs for a step. It grosses me out! And then there's the smell!! I can handle it until we get to about bag 4. Then the smell is just too concentrated and literally floating around under my nose. How do I deal with these bags?? I won't just leave it on the ground, especially in someone's yard because it's just rude to do. We do pass a gas station with trash can outside but I have two aggressive dogs so if anyone is there, and there usually is, I can't go and use the trash can. I carry a camleback on my back with their water and the belt I use is wide, padded and stiff (a special dog walking belt) so I have no room to carry a bag on my back or waist to tuck them in and I refuse to put the bags in my pockets (even if there was enough room). I have to keep my hands empty because the same two aggressive dogs. I have to be able to grab the two dogs at a moment's notice in case a dog sneaks up on us or someone quitely runs around us and surprises the dogs. Any suggestions/ideas?

Tiff :)

Have you thought about a doggie back-pack? I used one for longer hikes with my (at the time) 3 dogs and used to put the poop bags in there. Didn't seem to bother the dogs any and we never had any smell problems, although I suppose you could double bag them if that's in issue.

Just make sure you get one that fits the dog(s) properly.

Put the poo in your pocket till you get home.

I see many people tie the poop bag to the leash near the collar. I have a pretty strong stomach - and do side jobs where I clean (and man alive I've hit some doozies!) but it was when I was at Couch's house and took his dog for a walk - and for the first time in my life - did the scoop up - which went OK.

But it was when I had to EMPTY IT out of the bag and into the toilet that I dry heaved. <shudder> I'll take my cat litter any day. ;)

Take your dogs out to drop anchor in your yard before the walk. The power of suggestion when one sees another pooping...
Plan your walks around other dropoff points --schools, parks, anyplace with an outdoor trash can. As long as you're able to tie a knot in the top of the bag the odor isn't too bad. Or even a hidden place just to stash them and come back later, just so you aren't inconvenienced by the smell, bulk, etc. I only have two dogs and it's common for one of them to poo on the walk.

I plan my walks to hit a city park at the end of the street. Any bags of Sparky and Rascal droppings are placed in a trash can there if possible.

You can and should train dogs where to go. Otherwise, they'll go wherever they want to (all over the place, especially in the best looking yards). Once they learn the expectation, life gets a lot easier.

I do a fair amount of dogsitting and I always have to work on new guests. Once they get with the program, they don't go nearly as often and when they do, it's in proximity of a trash can.

I see many people tie the poop bag to the leash near the collar.
OP mentions having a couple aggressive dogs, so this would not be a good solution. A good correction runs a significant risk of making the bag explode.

Have you considered adding a monkey to your herd? He could ride on one of the larger dogs and dismount to fling poo as needed.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r162/jsharr/Monkey20riding20dog.jpg

How bout a portable trebuchet to be towed by the dogs?
Thirty-Foot Trebuchet Fires Chicken Poop at Potential Thieves
(mildly NSFW--mentions chickensh*t)
http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2008/03/CatapultPA0503_468x336.jpg

^Yup,I think we have a winner.
A poo flinger(out of sight,out of mind):thumb:

Feed them large quantities of cheese. They will become constipated and be unable to poop.

Random dumpsters and trashcans on the route.

I see many people tie the poop bag to the leash near the collar. I have a pretty strong stomach - and do side jobs where I clean (and man alive I've hit some doozies!) but it was when I was at Couch's house and took his dog for a walk - and for the first time in my life - did the scoop up - which went OK.

But it was when I had to EMPTY IT out of the bag and into the toilet that I dry heaved. <shudder> I'll take my cat litter any day. ;)

What? Why? That's what garbage cans/dumpsters are for...

I used to muck horse stalls, clean a chicken house and clean out the alpaca/llama barn. I can deal with the smell...but that doesn't mean I enjoy it by any means.

And you emptied the bags??? No way! I throw mine out when I get home. They don't come in the door for anything.

Now the dog backpack is an idea. I actually have one for my biggest dog. Hmmm.... we may have a winner here.

But it was when I had to EMPTY IT out of the bag and into the toilet that I dry heaved. <shudder> I'll take my cat litter any day. ;)

This intrigues me. Why would you empty the bags? What did you do with the empty bag afterwords? Inquiring minds want to know.

This intrigues me. Why would you empty the bags? What did you do with the empty bag afterwords? Inquiring minds want to know.

She uses them for food freezer bags of course.

Sounds like a Dirty job, Maybe you should ask Mike Rowe.

Take your dogs out to drop anchor in your yard before the walk. The power of suggestion when one sees another pooping...


This. My problem though is that my beagle finds it irresistible to crap while on a walk. She won't crap on pavement, so as long as I keep her confined to the sidewalk, I *might* be OK. My favorite is picking up the embryonic not-yet-crap piles of poop that she just HAS to squeeze.

I use the doggie backpack with my dog to hold bags, snacks, water, and used poop bags. It also helps keep him calm, he has a sense of purpose on the walk & that allows me to lead him.

Tude is the master of Extreme Recycling......................

Get rid of them one at a time. Listen, if you want the work and upkeep of four big azz dogs, then just do it and do not complain. If not, become a non-dog owner.

Get rid of them one at a time. Listen, if you want the work and upkeep of four big azz dogs, then just do it and do not complain. If not, become a non-dog owner.

I can't say I was monaing and complaining about my lot in life having four dogs. I was merely trying to figure out a better way. I don't have a problem with the upkeep. I walk my dogs 3-5 miles a day (even when it means I have to stay up later than I want or forgo biking to get it done in the winter when there's so little light. I don't have a problem taking my dogs to the vet, or feeding them, or cleaning out the back yard, or bathing them and keeping them groomed. I don't have a problem doing the physical therapy for my dog who just had a surgery. I can't see how it would be considered unreasonable to ask for suggestions on not having to smell their poop while on a walk. I can't imagine you've never had a question about a bike. If so, why not just give it up and become a non-biker.

Kudos to you for regularly exercising your dogs with such commitment! :thumb:

Too many dogs are put down or given away because the owners do not give the dogs the opportunity to burn off the energy. That's when "behavioral problems" arise. The real behavior problem lies with the owner, not the dog(s).

I'll be walking the dogs in the rain this morn...albeit a shorter walk, they'll appreciate it. Besides, it's funny watching the puppy jump around biting at the raindrops :)

I shoot for 2-3 miles in the morning and my wife usually gives her a mile or so in the afternoon with the baby. Sometimes I go nuts and walk 4-5 miles... one time I did 7. Also, there are regular trips outside to potty. Not a bad life for a 40-pound indoor dog.

But for poo disposal... random trashcans and dumpsters. Various major tech firms have handled my dog's poo.

You could be walking four of these and driving one of these to clean up:

http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2009/10/08/778385/bigdawg420-420x0.jpg

http://www.allstatesauctioneers.com/09.%20Skidsteer.jpg

We are babysitting a JRT for 6 weeks, and this mutt runs INTO the house to pee, and INTO the garage to poop. Why it can't just go outside (135 acre farm, here!!) with the rest of the dogs is beyond us! Can't wait to give the little rat dog back to my son!!

Anyway, I'm sure the homeless dumpster-diving and trash can sorting folks just LOVE the doggie bag drop offs!