Common sense varies for everyone… which makes common sense not so common…
Keep reading if you:
- are curious about simple dog person etiquette
- are not a fan of scooping poop
- have dogs that play a role in your life.
Top 5 ground rules for dog people
Are you a responsible pawrent? What about a courteous animal lover? No these things are not the same thing.
Being a responsible pawrent means that you are doing good by your dog. So feeding, playing, potty breaks, clean living area, and paying attention to your furry buddy amongst the common “tasks” that responsible dog people do.
You don’t have to have a dog to be a responsible dog person.
For everyone’s safety [dog safety too], I guess it boils down to being a courteous and responsible human being.
I do receive a small commission if you purchase from one of my affiliate links [and then I use those dolla dolla bills to advocate for rescues and keep WigglyButts.me going strong!]
Whether you click on a link, or not, is between you and your furry buddy 😉 For what it is worth, the recommended products and services truly make a difference in life!
5 uncommon common sense rules
Common sense varies for everyone… which makes common sense not so common… so here goes!
//1//
Keep an eye on your dog!
Okay. Who likes paying their mortgage/rent, cleaning ceiling fans, or washing dishes?
“OOh! I do!” Said no one ever.
You do it because it is important and needs to get done.
The same goes for picking up dog poop.
So what about that neighbor that has the dog that poops in your yard all the time?!?!
This is just one of the things that every animal person should be considerate of!
Okay fine, you’re not an animal lover, but you happen to have the responsibility to taking care of dog… well as a human being respecting other people and their property is an unspoken to do.
My neighbors and I have a great relationship [Rewind: HAD a great relationship]. We live out in the sticks. But it’s the pretty kind of sticks: each person has an acre of land, neighbors are few and far in between, cows moo in the distance, and watch out for deer, boar, and gators.
That description is deceiving, trust me it’s nice. [If you like the country]
No one has a fenced yard [yet] and you can enjoy the outdoors peacefully. That is until the neighbor’s dog comes barreling through your yard, and starts jumping on the screen to get the steaks you’re grilling on your patio!
Do you like having a clean car?
There is a sense of accomplishment after washing and detailing your car. Somehow it always seems to drive much smoother when it is bug free.
Then the neighbor’s dog waltz’s over, looks you in the eye, raises his leg, and put his own brand of tire shine on your fresh wheels!
All of this frustration can be avoided if responsible dog owners are watching their dogs.
It is one thing if your dog breaks out of their area a couple of times or you are training them to be better canine citizens… but time and time again people neglect to think about their dog’s safety.
“Oh, don’t worry, Fido is friendly! He means no harm and always returns home.”
Think about the danger you are exposing your dog and other people to by not keeping a close eye on your dog:
- Hit and run car accident
- Dog napping
- Poisoned by someone’s harmless garden
- Cost of damaged property
- Additional vet bills
Do not for a moment think that your dog will NEVER bite someone. Mix in a few ingredients to make the perfect shituation situation and add teeth, you will realize your dog can always bite someone or something.
Remember that dog’s do not speak our language and when that is coupled with their high pain tolerance, you may not know that Baxter was bitten by a snake out in the yard.
Get to know your dog. Understanding their habits makes keeping an eye on them easier.
Before you get frustrated with your neighbor and comeup with creative methods to rectify the situation, talk to them. Lay out te issue and find out if your neighbor is aware of the problem. Make sure and have a simple suggestion to fix the problem. [Emphasis on the simple]
Who knows, it may be an easy fix.
If you find out they just do not care the problem will persist after your chat, then it is time to get creative [I’ll leave these safe legal solutions up to your imagination].
Lastly, if your innovative solutions are failing you and you need to go a step further, check with city ordinances, HOA bylaws, or lease agreements to see if the specific requirements for dogs in the neighborhood.
Here in America, there is a fine for everything. #SorryNotSorry
//2//
If you poopie, please scoopie!!
If you are keeping an eye on your dog, then you will be aware when they poop on someone’s property or pee on their mail box.
When you are out on a walk, your dog should not be dictating that they want to mark every twig! It is disrespectful to let your dog pee on someone else’s mailbox, car, plants, etc.
Be a responsible pawrent and take control.
Responsible pawrents also pick up after their dogs. If I pick up after my dog, what makes you think you should let your dog drop a deuce on my lawn or driveway?!
Is your dog on a raw diet?
Probably not.
The majority of dog are not fed a raw diet, so their feces cannot be compared to that of a coyote. So don’t ever tell me it is fine… it is probably a coyote turd.
Aside from human responsibility and respect for other people, picking up after your dog is very important.
You wouldn’t want your dog to contract a disease or parasites because someone else neglected to scoopie after the poopie!
Some WigglyButts are not as happy as others [think the squirts].
According to the Georgia Clean water campaign, “a single gram of pet waste contains an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, some which can cause disease in humans.”
Some diseases and parasites that humans can contract from dog feces include but are note limited to :
- Worms
- Giardia
- Salmonella
- E. Coli
- Campylobacteriosis [Yes, this is a real thing]
BTW wastewater treatment plants are not all designed to filter dog waste that enters our ground water system.
Dog poop is not a fertilizer either, it is actually a pollutant!
According to the EPA dog poop is the third highest cause of water pollution.
Mmm Delish!
I’m pretty sure you don’t want drinking or swimming water overrun by bacteria.
Spoiler alert… pet waste is a huge contributor to fast replicating, nasty, toxic, algae blooms. Enjoy the lakes, bays, and beaches this summer!
If bending down to pick up poop is too much of a hassle, invest in a pooper scooper. This one could be the one that changes your life [wink wink].
Did you know if you are caught not picking up after your dog, then you can receive a fine for not picking up after your dog in many areas.
Other cities use DNA testing to determine who the poop fine belongs to. [no getting away from this pile of crap]. Everybody poops… there is a whole book about it.
Dog poop is an environmental conmaninant and not many people realize how bad it really is for the environment.
A common misconception is “eh animals poop outside all of the time. Nature will do its thing.”
It isn’t the same because dogs are not local to the ecosystem, they do not eat local wild life, and therefore their feces introduce harmful bacteria and pathogens into our environment that are poorly filtered.
I hope this sheds some light on the shituation.
Side note: as I am writing this I see my neighbor’s dog pooping in my yard and she has diarrhea.
Seriously?!?!
Where the heck is my neighbors? Do they even know their pupper is not feeling well?
Ughh!! Frustrating on so many levels!
//3//
Respect people’s space
“Aww your doggo is so cute,” says the woman who is pinching my dogs cheek flaps. She may as well have done a doggie dental cleaning.
It is not the best idea to approach a stranger’s dog in good faith and start petting them. They all have seductive puppy eyes.
To you, Fido may seem calm and have an inviting personality, but when you pass your hand across their face, Sir Snarls-a-lot makes an appearance.
Or as you start petting Fido, he jumps up to give you a chest bump and a high five [Fido in this scenario is a great dane].
In both scenarios, you did not expect the outcome. The obvious thing is that someone could have gotten injured.
It is respectful and good practice to seek permission before petting someone’s dog for reasons that are really quite simple.
- Service animals are in work mode. Do not distract them.
- Some everyday pets are in the zone with their training and may not be ready for distractions.
- Other dog parents need a friendly heads up that you are going to touch their dog so they can better control the situation.
- Set an example for the children around you as well. It isn’t safe for children to run up to strangers and their dogs all willy nilly.
Whether it is a city ordinance or for situational control, many people have their dog’s on a leash in public space. While some people welcome your off lease dog and their WigglyButts, others may see this as a distraction and it can illicit poor reactions from hoomans and doggos alike.
//4//
Ask pawrents to treat
Although, everyone is walking their dogs on this one strip downtown don’t be that rando feeding the doggos.
Yes, you have a dog with you and everyone is getting along, but everyone’s dog is different.
Just because you have a kid, you’re not going to go up to someone else’s kiddo, stroke their ponytail, and offer them a cookie. So why is this any different for a dog?
Dogs have allergies too and what may be good for one dog can severely harm another pooch. Be respectful, and simply ask “may I give your doggo a treat?”
Warning: Don’t use your creeper voice.
In asking to pet someone’s doggo or treat them, one of two things will happen:
They say yes… Yay, smiles from a happy doggo always seem to brighten the worst of days!
Or
They say no and you carry on.
Trust me, if someone doesn’t want you to pet their dog, they usually have a good reason. [They don’t need a reason, it’s their dog.] What if they are still working with their doggo on taking trets nicely. I am sure you want to keep all of your fingers.
//5//
Be mindful of your surroundings
Dog’s wait for you to come through the door all day. Seriously, it is like it has been years since they have seen their best friend.
Those WigglyButts go in hyperdrive and the reunion festivities begin! Jumping, prancing, trotting, howling, and to top it off – turbo-itis/ zoomies.
I love when Pi is in this mood. Knowing how happy, healthy, and excited she is, reduces my work day stressors.
On the flip side, if I lived in an apartment, I’m sure the neighbors under me would hate it if they heard rumbling, tumbling, WWF smack down happening just above them [on and off for a couple of hours].
Be aware of your surroundings. Not everyone works “normal” daytime hours.
You may think you are sneaking into your own house, but you have a dog. Your doggo’s spidey senses and vocal chords are activated as soon as you turn the corner, close the car door, and our walk toward the door. They have no shame in waking up the entire neighborhood.
Some dogs are yappier than others. Work with them. Train them. Help them understand.
Don’t get mad especially if you are not working on their training.
Don’t punish them by putting them outside at 3 am/pm. The underlying problem is still present, and you, your dog, and everyone else will suffer. They will continue to bark… and probably get into more mischief!
Work with your doggo and they will work with you!
summary
There are bigger issues in life than scoopin’ poop, misguided enthusiasm, and uncommon common sense. It is not a bad idea to be aware of your actions and how it may be impacting your life and those around you. [wink wink]
Please be mindful and take action! Help others understand the impact of their actions.
Invading someone’s space, petting their animals, or feeding their animals without permission can be similar to tickling a stranger’s child, or asking a child to take candy from a stranger [insert shifty eyebrows here]. Not a good idea.
Are there other pain points you may experience? Leave a comment below with your pet peeves, suggestions, and solutions.
