I came into this situation and before I do something out of rage, I needed to know your opinions.

I have a big yard, and it extends to a sidewalk and then grass and an oak tree. All the property belongs to us (the design is same for all houses here). My neighbor brings his dog out, and today while we were chatting with him and his wife outside, their dog (without a leash) came and peed on the oak tree in our yard.

Now I am not a fan of dogs, and I just absolutely hate dogs peeing and pooping some place where I may be laying my picnic basket in summer. We didn't tell them anything and of course the neighbor also showed no reaction.

Now I had a good talk with my husband alone. We both are not aware of the pet rules here in US, and the neighbor is also Indian so I'm not sure whether he will be knowing them. Is it acceptable for dogs to be ting in other people's yards during their walks? My husband had also seen this dog doing the same thing in other people's yards in the cul de sac. Would it be appropriate to tell the neighbor to watch his dog and not let him in other people's property?

Or am I just overreacting?

Please advise.

It's not acceptable, but I'm not sure it's illegal, at least with regards to urinating.

I do have to ask, according to your post this is the first time the neighbors dog has peed on your property, or have you noticed him doing it more often?

I would let it slide and see if this is an ongoing problem, or a one shot deal.

Remember one thing, even though you don't like dogs, it's not the dog's fault that his owner isn't controlling him, it's the owners responsibility, and the dog shouldn't suffer because of the owners actions. Please don't do anything rash, especially not to the dog.

Good Luck.

Hi Shasha,

No, not at all. You can very nicely knock on your neighbor's door and tell them you just want to let them know that you will be treating your grass this season, which is harmful for dogs to walk on (which, by the way it is) and you just wanted to make sure they were aware of it.

You may also let them know that probably all the neighbors treat their lawn and they should not be letting the dog on their lawns either.

This should help the situation.

Allheart, I had to spread the rep. Wonderfully worded, kind and efficient way of dealing with the problem. You are such a sweetie, have I told you that lately?

Thanks Alt, right back at you :)

And wonderful to point out that the beautiful dog is not to blame at all.

(hugs to you )

Thanks for your replies.

Altenweg, my husband told me that he had seen this dog peeing on other's properties too sometimes while watching out the window. So this ia an ongoing problem. However the other neighbor's may not hve noticed as it was cold and rainy and everybody stays indoors.

What do you mean by telling me "dog shouldn't suffer because of the owners actions. Please don't do anything rash, especially not to the dog." ? Do you tink I am not aware that it's not the dog's faults, did I sound that stupid? Or do you take me as an inhuman who would harm another innocent creature for something it doesn't even know it's doing. Remember, when I say that I do not like dogs that does NOT meaan I want to "kill" dogs. Please DO NOT JUDGE people by giving such answers. And what I meant by my rage is thrashing out at my neighbor and giving him a piece of my mind.

Allheart, that is a very nice way to put it. I will wait for other's responses too before deciding on anything.

Shasha, Whoooa slow down. Okay? People who love animals, LOVE animals and usuallly fall on the cautious side of things.

Your second post cleared your thought process a whole lot better, but it was not as clear as you made it now.

Alt was trying to help you, so please don't take it the wrong way.

Sasha, please calm down. I love dogs, I love all animals, I was simply stating that this is the owners fault, not the dogs fault.

I have seen people do terrible things to animals because of them peeing on their property, or digging etc. I never said that you were going to do anything bad to the dog. I was reacting to your sentence "before I do anything out of rage" and "I am not a fan of dogs", and I just wanted to advise you before you did do something out of rage towards the dog. Please don't take it the wrong way, that was not my intention, I was simply stating a fact, and the fact is that the dog is not to blame, it is the owner, although I wouldn't direct my rage towards him either. ;)

Allhearts advice is the best, that way you don't have to get into an argument with him, and hopefully (if he cares about his dog) he'll keep him of the lawn to protect him. If that doesn't work then maybe sitting down with him and explaining that you don't appreciate his dog peeing on your property will do the trick. I had to have that conversation with my neighbor, he would actually bring his dog over to our house to potty because he didn't want to wreck his grass. My own dogs weren't allowed to potty on the front yard.

Again, I didn't mean to imply anything, I hope you understand that.

You can always call the health department and they will send out a letter, at least they will in my neighborhood. The letters that our health department sends out gives the city ordinance, the danger to the general public and the fines that will be imposed.

Check with your town and see if they have a lease law. Many states do.
That would mean the dog has NO business being in your yard because it should be chained or fenced.
Also if it is making a habit of peeing it may start doing its poo there too which is also a law in many states that says an owner has to pick it up after their dog.

NoHelp, I had to spread the rep. Great advice.

Thanks for your replies. I cannot call the state dept or have him get a letter on this as he is our neighbor, and although not our friends but still I would like to keep a neighborly relationship. Of course, if it gets out of hand then I would definitely do this.

What really irritated me was his dog peed right on our oak tree when we were talking with him. We were standing in my garden. And instead of being apologetic or saying sorry he simply ignored it as if it is the most natural thing. His saying sorry will not change anything but at least it would have given me an assurance that he knows it is bad pet ownership. My greater concern is our not saying anything should not send him a message that we are OK with what his dog does to our yard.

Most people I know laugh and say he is watering the tree, grass or whatever.
Many American's think nothing of a dog peeing in natural environment stuff like these.

Thanks for your replies. I cannot call the state dept or have him get a letter on this as he is our neighbor, and although not our friends but still I would like to keep a neighborly relationship. Of course, if it gets out of hand then I would definitely do this.

What really irritated me was his dog peed right on our oak tree when we were talking with him. We were standing in my garden. And instead of being apologetic or saying sorry he simply ignored it as if it is the most natural thing. His saying sorry will not change anything but at least it would have given me an assurance that he knows it is bad pet ownership. My greater concern is our not saying anything should not send him a message that we are ok with what his dog does to our yard.

It's possible that he thinks you're okay with it because you didn't say anything. Now would be the time to let him know that it's not okay. Allot of people think it's fine for their dog to pee anywhere they want, if it's not okay with you, which it obviously isn't, then you have to make yourself heard and understood.

Another thing to consider and advise him of, is that dog urine can destroy your grass and or kill a tree over time. He should only be letting his dog do it's business on his property, it's his choice to own a dog and only his property should suffer because of it, not yours.

I understand that you don't want to cause bad feelings, but if you say in nicely and calmly it shouldn't be a problem. He's probably not aware about your feelings, and once he is hopefully he won't let it continue.

Good Luck.

Thanks Altenweg. Great advise. We did not say anything as we both were not sure about pet rules and whether it would be appropriate to say it. That's the reason for this thread. Ya, will have a talk with him in a friendly manner in a few days.

Now husband left for work on a Sunday morning :( so have to wait for him till evening to discuss this.

Good Luck Sasha, I hope it goes well.

Take care. :)

It's possible that he thinks you're okay with it because you didn't say anything. Now would be the time to let him know that it's not okay. Allot of people think it's fine for their dog to pee anywhere they want, if it's not okay with you, which it obviously isn't, then you have to make yourself heard and understood.

Another thing to consider and advise him of, is that dog urine can destroy your grass and or kill a tree over time. He should only be letting his dog do it's business on his property, it's his choice to own a dog and only his property should suffer because of it, not yours.

I understand that you don't want to cause bad feelings, but if you say in nicely and calmly it shouldn't be a problem. He's probably not aware about your feelings, and once he is hopefully he won't let it continue.

Good Luck.

Had to spread the love Alt, but great and wonderful advice and great way of considering
All things involved. :)

You could do what I saw several neighbors do in a ritzy neighborhood do. They got one of those wooden cut outs of a dog who was in a pooping posture and had a big balloon like in cartoons above the cut out's head saying the word "NO" in huge letters. This is not only amusing but clearly effective (not for the dog) but for the dog owners and dog walkers to notice and comment on. They had this sign in their lawn near the sidewalk. I guess they kind of got fed up with dog poop on their lawn and decided to deal with the topic with some humor. And no, I have no idea where they got the sign. They probably made it themselves.

Thanks for your replies. I cannot call the state dept or have him get a letter on this as he is our neighbor, and although not our friends but still I would like to keep a neighborly relationship. Of course, if it gets out of hand then I would definitely do this.

What really irritated me was his dog peed right on our oak tree when we were talking with him. We were standing in my garden. And instead of being apologetic or saying sorry he simply ignored it as if it is the most natural thing. His saying sorry will not change anything but at least it would have given me an assurance that he knows it is bad pet ownership. My greater concern is our not saying anything should not send him a message that we are ok with what his dog does to our yard.



Well, if you said nothing unless your neighbor is a mind reader he probably thinks it didn't bother you. He obviously thought nothing of it.

I would NOT mention what the dog does on other lawns, what other neighbors think - let them speak for themselves.

I think the "my lawn is treated so keep your dog off so it doesn't get sick" suggestion is wonderful. Thumbs up!

Now if I can figure out how to keep the neighbors' kids from bouncing their basketball into my driveway -

Judy, one word, electrified fence. Kidding.

Judy, one word, electrified fence. Kidding.


It's out in front of the fence so I was thinking electrified driveway - or a shotgun. Or both.

Yikes, I'd steer clear of the shotgun. ;)

Yikes, I'd steer clear of the shotgun. ;)


Probably good advice. Okay, only the electrified driveway.

Hee, hee, I hope you're kidding. ;)

I probably would not have said anything, especially if it was a one time occurrence. It could be the dog came over there because the owners were over there. Now if the dog had pooped in my yard, if the owners had not taken steps to get it up, I would have said something.

I am a dog owner and have lived in the city and surrounding suburbs for a number of years.
As a dog owner, your dog needs a place to urinate and poop.
There are often not enough parks in local neighborhoods for your dogs to go to the restroom, so when someone has grass-- it is customary for dogs to urinate and poop in other neighbor's yards.

If you don't want dog to do this-- I think the person above who mentioned going to the neighbor's door and telling them that you've just fertilized and that the chemicals may be harmful to their dog's paws... would be the most tactful way to do this.

I take great offense when a neighbor comes out and demands that my dogs do not pee or poop on their lawn.
If they didn't want pee or poop in their yard, then you should landscape with something like rocks -- or just cement the whole darn yard.

Yes-- I always pick up the poop--
I'm one of those conscientious pet owners that always carries baggies and picks up behind both of my dogs.

If someone is letting their dog poop and not pick up-- that would be another issue entirely.
But urination -- or pooping and then picking up... that's just part of American life.

People are going to have dogs-- and walk them in YOUR Neighborhood.

If you have grass, that's just going to draw more pet owners to your property.

Check with your town and see if they have a lease law. Many states do.
That would mean the dog has NO business being in your yard because it should be chained or fenced.
Also if it is making a habit of peeing it may start doing its poo there too which is also a law in many states that says an owner has to pick it up after their dog.


Question: Don't you mean "Leash Law"?

If so, a Leash Law states that the dogs in the area must be contained on a leash while out of the house or car. There are a number of states that will arrest pet owners if they find that the dog has been chained to a post.

Yes, you are right-- most states have laws about picking up poop after a dog has "done their business".

To each his own - that having been said this is a thread from 2008 and OP has not been back to check comments.

Let me see, a new poster and out of 100's of dog posts, they pick one two years old to post on ?

Closed