No More Mess: Proven Tips to Stop Your Dog Pooping in Unwanted Areas!

How to stop dogs from pooping on the lawn

If you want to stop your dog pooping in a certain area we have training for that! In this guide, I will help you know how to stop a dog pooping in a certain area.

Most dogs do this behavior out of boredom to seek attention or when they are not appropriately trained on where to go potty. This kind of behavior is easy to tackle if you know what needs to be done. This is why potty training is a must for your dog.

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If you’ve already given your dog the proper potty training, then maybe there is something else you need to do to tackle your dog pooping in an area where you don’t want them to. So, without wasting time, let’s learn 13 methods to stop your dog from pooping in a specific area.

How To Stop A Dog Pooping In A Certain Area. A dog laying on green grass.

7 Reasons Why A Dog Poops In A Certain Area

1. Out of boredom

Boredom can cause your dog to do destructive things. If you are not giving your dog proper attention or care or not providing them the toys, or other things that can keep them busy all day long, maybe this is why your dog has started this kind of behavior. 

Give your puppy appropriate items to chew on.
A colorful, pastel-toned DIY snuffle mat with a purple bone-shaped dog toy placed on top.

2. Sand on Ground

Dogs love sand because it makes them crave to dig. You might have noticed that most dogs love to dig into the sand and pee/poop on it. Sand on the ground can attract a dog to pee or poop. This could be the other reason for your dog pooping in a particular area also. To tackle this problem, you can use citrus peels because the smell of the citrus is irritating to a dog’s nose. Alternatively, you can also remove the sand from the ground. 

A German shepherd is digging in the sand on the beach.
A German shepherd is digging in the sand on the beach.

3. To seek attention

Some dogs tend to be very clingy and want their owners to be by their side. This could be the reason why your dog has started to poop in a particular area. If you have noticed your dog changing his behavior and beginning to poop in a specific area, he may be looking for your attention or love.

A dog tends to live in the moment, and they will never understand why you are angry unless you make them aware of what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

Husky Clingy

4. Keep a dog outdoor

Your dog is like a family member, and you shouldn’t keep your dog outdoors all of the time. If you have been keeping your dog outdoors most of the time, this could be the primary reason your dog has started pooping in a specific area. The dog also wants to feel loved. 

If they feel that you or your family member has ignored them, they can start misbehaving. To stop your dog pooping in a specific area, you will need first to give your dog some attention and love and then acknowledge the problem.

5. Ignoring potty training

If you have ignored the potty training basics given to your dog, they will never learn where to go to pee or poop.

6. Getting scared

You should first check the area where you have trained your dog to go potty. In the past, if your dog used to poop in the designated area where he was introduced, his behavior changed suddenly, then maybe something scared him.

7. Absence of poo-zone

If you haven’t created a poo-zone for your dog, this could be another reason your dog has started pooping in a particular area. The first thing you need to do is prepare a designated area for your dog to poop and then retrain your dog.

How To Stop A Dog Pooping In A Certain Area/ Two dogs outside.

9 Easy Ways How to Stop a Dog Pooping in a Certain Area

1. Mulch and Plants

Many species of mulch and plants are available for sale online and offline that often irritate your dog’s paws and nose and make them stay away from it. You can keep that kind of mulch and plant in the area where your dog has frequently been pooping. This could be the best way to eliminate this problem and alter his behavior. 

Many dog breeds hate walking on mulch or any ground that has been covered with something that could irritate them or scare them. The best plant to keep in this kind of area could be a thorny plant. 

If your dog has been pooping in a particular area where the ground is covered with sand, this could be another reason. The first thing you should do is remove the sand from that area so that the dog’s behavior of digging up the sand gets stopped because sand always encourages the dog to dig, pee, and poop. 

Mulch and plants are the best methods to keep your dog away from a particular area. You can also pick pretty plants like barberries, aloe vera plants, huckleberry plants, and prickly pear plants. 

2. Show discouraging signs

If you have a problem with your neighbor’s dog, you should install a signboard showing or indicating that they will be found if their dog is caught peeing or pooping in your area. 

This could be anything. If you notice your dog again going to a particular area to poop, you can start pointing your finger toward where they should go. You should also cover the area by standing in the place where your dog is frequently pooping. This will gradually make your dog aware that you do not like his or her habit of pooping in that area. 

However, you must make a designated area for your dog to pee or poop so that you can also make them aware of where and how to go whenever they feel like pee or poop.

How to prevent dog pooping in a designated area.

3. Fences/Barriers

Alternatively, you can install some barriers or fences to keep your dog away from that particular area. This will be the fastest method to stop your dog pooping in one specific area. 

A barrier will cost you more compared to the fences. If the particular area is a garden, front yard, or backyard, then this is the method through which you can stop your dog from pooping and make your garden or the backyard escape-proof.

4. Repellents Products

Suppose you have some extra bucks in your pocket and want an effective and reliable solution. In that case, you can also consider investing in good quality dog repellent products that can help you keep your dog away from any designated area. This is the most frequently used method by most dog owners who want to stop their dogs from visiting or pooping at a particular site. 

Plus, this method is safe for dogs and other pet animals by preventing any damage to the pet or the property. However, I would recommend you look at the dog-repellent products that have been derived and prepared with organic natural ingredients rather than chemicals. 

Most of the dog repellant products available in the market state that they have been prepared using natural ingredients, but most are treated with chemicals.

[amazon bestseller=”dog repellent spray for peeing and poop” items=”3″ template=”table”]

5. Use natural dog repellent mixes

Another alternative to the repellent product is using natural dog repellent mixes prepared at home by yourself. You can take help from the below DIY method or follow the steps as I say.

How To Prepare Natural Dog Repellent Mix?

  • Mix 4 tbsp of the white vinegar with 8 tbsp part of the apple cider vinegar.
  • Add 2 tbsp of lime juice.
  • Mix it well.
  • Sprinkle or mist a particular area.

The very first thing you must avoid is sprinkling the mix on the plants because the vinegar is harmful to mulch and plants.

How To Stop A Dog Pooping In A Certain Area. A golden retriever laying on grass.

6. Sprinklers

If you don’t want to invest in a dog-repellent product or are not looking to install any fence or barriers because it won’t suit that area or is not suitable for them, maybe sprinklers will help you out. There are lots of automatic sprinklers available in the market that can detect the movement of any pet animal as they detect light. 

Within a few days of using automatic sprinklers, you can make your dog aware that the specific area where they have been pooping/peeing now needs to be avoided, and they have to seek an alternative. Automatic sprinklers will make your dog seek out another place to pee or poop. Here are a few sprinklers according to the specific area helping you to stop your dog from pooping in a particular site.

[amazon bestseller=”motion detecting automatic sprinklers” items=”3″ template=”table”]

7. Create a designated area as a pee zone and poo-zone

If you haven’t indicated or made your dog aware of where they should go for a pee or poop, this could be the primary reason your dog has been pooping in a particular area. In this scenario, the first thing you must do is create/prepare a designated area where your dog or other pet should pee and poop. 

Once it is created, you can start retraining your dog from where to poo. The potty training basics help you and your dog, making them aware of this kind of thing, and helps you in raising your dog into a well-mannered pup. If you have already trained your dog to go potty outside, you may also have to retrain your dog.

A Bulldog standing in the grass.
An Akita Bulldog Mix standing in the grass.

8. Retrain Your Dog

If you have already trained your dog with the basics of potty training, you will need to retain them to make them aware of why they shouldn’t do it in a particular area and where to go. On the other hand, most veterinarians and experts always recommended training the basics should be done when a dog is a puppy. 

If you have to train your dog when they are adults, you may face this kind of problem. Consider teaching your dog using the proper guide like this, or hire a good pet trainer who can help you with that.

9. Seek professional help

The last option would be to seek professional help or hire a good pet trainer if you cannot keep your dog away from pooping in a specific area. Many people have asked me how to keep a dog pooping in a particular location, so we have gathered all the data and information to help you understand the ways and methods to stop a dog pooping in a specific area. 

How To Stop A Dog Pooping In A Certain Area

Diy To Stop A Dog Pooping In A Certain Area

Vinegar tends to be the most effective way to stop your dog from visiting or pooping in a certain area. Most dogs are highly sensitive to the smell of vinegar and hate it. So, just spraying the vinegar over that area will keep your dog away from it. To keep your dog away from it and make them aware that they need to stop it, consider spraying the area once a week continuously for a few months.

If your dog is pooping in a certain area outdoors, then don’t use vinegar on your plants. It could be harmful to the grasses and the plant. If you are looking to stop a dog pooping in a certain area in the house then the vinegar smell can again be effective.

If you are comfortable with the smell then consider using it but not on the furniture otherwise. The main advantage of using vinegar spray is that it is cheap, eco-friendly as well and considered a harmless substance

Plus, Its scent is detectable to the human nose only from nearby. The smell of the vinegar dissipates quickly as it doesn’t contain any kind of harmful chemical like repellents available in the market.

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