How to Keep Neighbor’s Dog Out of My Yard: Top 9 Methods

Have you ever found yourself in this scenario: You are backing out of your driveway into the road when you see your neighbor walking his dog. What should you do?

If you find your neighbor's dog pooping in your yard or damaging your carefully managed garden, you need to contact your local animal control center immediately and file a complaint, and you should fence your property. It is best if you can provide clear video or photographic evidence of such a situation. In this post, we will learn to learn several effective and legal "how to get my neighbor's dog out of my yard" solutions.

Is It legal for Neighbor’s Dog to Poop in My Yard?

“Is neighbor’s dog in my yard trespassing on my property? Is it against the law for my neighbor’s dog pooping on my lawn? Can I shoot my neighbor’s dog on my lawn?”

In fact, these are never easy questions (killing neighbor’s dog is never your first choice!).

It depends on the ordinances addressing this issue, which vary among states and regions.

For example, states like Maryland and Virginia have launched strict animal control regulations that pet owners need to keep their animals in constrained when in public areas. It is also the owners’ responsibility to stop dogs from pooping in neighbor’s yard.

In other countries like Netherland, as a Redditor suggests, people who leave their dogs trespassing and pooping on other’s lawn may face a heave fine up to 245 euros.

So, it is best to check local regulations and laws concerning the dog poop issues before dealing with neighbor’s dog on your lawn. If you are not sure how to find out the corresponding ordinances, you may consult the police or local attorney for legal advice as well.

What to Do When Neighbors Dog Poops in Your Yard

When neighbors lets dog poop in your yard, you may plan to do something for revenge:

• Mail the dog shit back to your neighbors;
• Throw the droppings to their gardens;
• Or kill neighbor’s dog in the yard with poisons or guns!!!

Hold on there! SERIOUSLY!

These actions will get you involved in more legal troubles. All are infeasible. (BTW, pet dogs are cute and it is not the dogs’ fault but their owners’. A responsible dog owner shall follow certain rules of etiquette.)

Keep in mind that your neighbor won't let dog poop in your yard. If this constantly happens, try the following methods on how to keep dogs from pooping in your yard:

• Communicate with the Neighbor: Politely inform your neighbor about the situation and request their cooperation in preventing it from happening again. They may not be aware of their dog's actions or may be willing to address the issue.
• Install Signs: Place visible signs indicating that the area is private property or requesting dog owners to clean up after their pets. These signs can serve as a gentle reminder to neighbors passing by.
• Use Fencing or Barriers: Consider installing fencing or barriers around your yard to prevent dogs from entering. Fences and barriers can help deter dogs from wandering into your property in the first place.
• Use Dog Repellents: Apply natural or commercial dog repellents in the affected areas to discourage dogs from relieving themselves there. These repellents emit scents or tastes that dogs find unpleasant.

How to Keep Neighbor’s Dog Out of My Yard: 9 Most Effective Methods

To deal with a neighbors' dog on my property, you can try the following methods:

Method 1. Set Up Warning Signs to Keep Dogs Out of My Yard

To stop the neighbor’s dog from pooping in my yard, I have set up noticeable warning signs in front of my garden with word descriptions like “No Trespassing” and “Leash & Clean Up After Your Dog”.

This is among the most polite and effective way to express my dislikes about the neighbor’s dog on my lawn - neighbors will be more cautious when they walk the dog around my garden next time.

Method 2. Negotiate with Neighbors Dog on My Property

After seeing neighbor’s dog pooping in my yard, I will knock on my neighbor’s door, tell them what I have seen and ask them to stop letting their dogs poop in my yard.

In my experience, most kind neighbors are sorry for that and promise me that they will be careful next time.

To make your negotiation go smoother, the following tips may help:

1. Find the right time to talk. Most people will be exhausted after a long day at work. So, it is best to talk to your neighbor at weekends, when they are in a peaceful state of mind and both of you can give and take easier.
2. Get to know more about your neighbor’s true interests. Generally speaking, your neighbor let dog poop in your yard because it is easy and convenient without scooping the poop or walking the dog to an appropriate dog defecation position at a distance.
3. Share how you feel and your suggestion. You can tell them how you dislike the smell and messy lawn with neighbor’s dog in your yard. But that’s not the end – also offer some solutions like using doggy bags and inform them about the nearest pet waste stations.
4. Be gentle during the talk. It is best to avoid blaming or threatening your neighbors during a talk.

Here is a possible scene:

At Sunday morning (a right time) –

• You knock on your neighbor’s dog and he/she answers the door.
• You may start the conversation with common interests like how to manage the garden etc., (rather than going straight to the theme too fast; note that small talk counts).
• Then you may start telling them your recent concern – the dog poop in your yard – and how bad it is to your life and also to other neighbors’ (sharing your feelings).
• Next, you may put forward some possible solutions to solve this issue (sharing your suggestion as well).

And, that’s it!

A quite easy and effective solution, huh?

By doing so, you are able to express your own feelings and get the problem solved without neighbor disputes arisen.

Method 3. Install 4K HD Security Cameras to Catch the Dogs in the Act

“Even if I have witnessed my neighbor’s dog pooping on my lawn, they may deny my words and refuse to make any changes.”

In such a situation, all you need to do is to collect as much as evidence and fight back. To catch neighbor’s dog peeing in your yard in the act, you may install outdoor security cameras to keep an eye on your property when you are away.

A good choice for a security camera is the Reolink Argus 4 Pro. It’s a powerful camera that works on batteries and can record in 4K quality. It has two lenses that let it see everything in a 4K UHD 180° blindspot-free view, so it can catch every move your neighbor’s dog makes. At night, it can record clear, colorful videos to make sure you’re safe.

For consumers that require full-color night vision without apparent spotlights, the Reolink Argus 4 Pro is an excellent choice. Alternatively, if you want an inexpensive solution that still performs well, the Argus 4 standard version is worth considering.

Note: Argus 4 Pro vs. Argus 4：Which One You Need to Buy?

Conspicuous security cameras set up in your garden is capable of discouraging neighbors who walk dogs on your lawn and even letting dogs poop there.

Why?

They don’t want to be caught in the act.

Moreover, you may put a surveillance sign, with the word description “This yard is under 24/7 monitoring”, as a warning to your neighbors. And it deters thieves and burglars as well!

Here is a video sample captured by a Reolink user, showing that someone let her dog pee on the user's property.

Such CCTV footage can be served as strong evidence when you confront neighbors about the dog poop on your property. Even neighbors that are hostile to you will soften their attitude and stop their dogs from random defecation.

Method 4. Establish Neighborhood Watch to Stop Neighbor’s Pooping in My Yard

A survey shows that dog poop ranks the 6th place on a list of Americans’ biggest everyday annoyances, which indicates that the dog feces issue is a common concern.

To “keep neighbor’s dog out of my yard”, you may unite with your neighbors to start a neighborhood watch program, which is a lot easier than you may think. Here are some of the major steps:

• Step 1. Contact local authorities and consult them about the local ordinances on the neighbor’s-dog-in-my-yard issue.
• Step 2. Organize meetings to establish etiquette for dog owners and how to deal with the neighbor’s-dog issues at a regular time.
• Step 3. Spread the words around your neighborhood.
• Step 4. Be visionary to the problems that the program will meet now or in the future, such as how to settle neighbor disputes and how to guide new neighbors.

By doing so, you are able to reduce dog trespassing, excessive barking and the other relevant nuisance in your neighborhood.

Method 5. Offer Doggy Bags for Dog Walkers

This method is inspired by a Redditor.

During a walk in the morning, her dog pooped on a neighbor’s lawn but she had used up the only 2 doggy bags that she took with her. As a responsible dog owner, she knocked at her neighbor’s door and ask him for a doggy bag to scoop the feces.

Her neighbor felt surprised and grateful that the dog owner has ever asked. No dog feces, no disputes, what a good solution!

So, to stop neighbor’s dog pooping on your lawn, you may offer the dog walker some bags to collect and dispose of the dog waste next time!

Method 6. Use Dog Deterrents to Discourage Neighbor’s Dogs from Defecating on Your Lawn

Generally speaking, dogs with excellent senses of hearing and smell are on the alert of any sign of trouble.

Why not take advantage of their nature to scare off neighbor’s dog on your lawn?

Some useful dog deterrents:

• Garden water sprayer
• Motion-activated watering system
• Ultrasonic dog repellent
• plants (that dogs don’t like but won’t hurt them) including rue, citrus & citronella etc.,

Method 7. Enhance the Fencing Around Your Garden

Many homeowners complain that neighbor’s dogs find their way to the yard through broken fences or holes under the fences.

Therefore, to avoid neighbor’s dog coming into your garden, it is best to add height or locks to the fences around your garden.

Also, you’d better check whether there are any holes near the fences dug by neighbor’s dog in your yard. If yes, you may have to block the holes in time.

With enhanced fencing and repair, neighbor’s large breed dogs won’t be able to come into your garden any longer.

Method 8. Contact Local Animal Control Authorities

Sometimes, even after so many efforts to negotiate and set up warning signs, you may still find it hard to stop neighbor’s dog shitting in your yard.

You may ask yourself: “It is time to give up and leave neighbor’s dog in my yard doing their business as they want?”

Definitely NO!

Call on your neighbors and report to local animal control authorities near you via phone calls or emails with the following details:

1. Which neighborhood are you living in;
2. How often do you find neighbor’s dogs in your yards;
3. Are there any other neighbors in the same block experiencing the same problems;

After receiving a certain number of complaints, local authorities will keep a closer eye on your neighborhood and save you from the dog poop issue.

Method 9. Seek Legal Advice to Keep Neighbor’s Dogs Out of My Yard

“If a neighbor’s dog poops in my yard or my neighbor walks the dog on my lawn, can I sue?”

The answer is a big YES if the following things happen:

• Neighbor’s dog come into my garden without permission
• Certain damages are caused to my yard or lawn

Under such circumstances, the pet owners shall be liable for the cost of repair.

If you have talked to your neighbors for a thousand times but nothing works, you may turn to local attorneys for more legal advice. Some copies of evidence will be helpful, such as the CCTV footage, photos of the damages caused to your garden and so on.

How to Prevent Your Dogs from Peeing in Neighbor’s Lawn/Yard

Your naughty dogs may find their ways to your neighbor’s lawn and even do their business there. To avoid any disputes between neighbors, as a responsible dog owner, you may follow the tips below to prevent your dogs from pooping in neighbor’s lawn.

Tip 1. Always Keep Your Dogs on Leash & Attended

In some places, there are strict dog control ordinances requiring that dogs within the city shall be on leash or under control. So it can be against the bylaws that you let your dogs run free to poop in your neighbor’s yard.

To prevent your dogs from defecating randomly, it is best to keep them leashed on a walk and also confine them indoors or within certain areas when you are not at home.

Tip 2. Train Your Dogs to Poop in Appropriate Sites

In fact, dogs will use their urine and droppings in specific sites as markers to confine their territories. And this explains why your dog poops in neighbor’s yard: they treat the lawn as their domains.

However, you can train your dogs to urinate at appropriate sites like specific areas in your yards or dog litter box. By doing so, they won’t get back to pee on neighbor’s garden anymore.

Tip 3. Bring 3 or More Doggy Bags with You When You Walk the Dog

Even after training your dogs to pee in your own property, you may have to deal with dog feces during a walk sometimes. A handful of doggy bags will be very helpful and reduce your concerns when your dog poops in neighbor’s lawn suddenly.

Takeaway: Top Troubles That Neighbor’s Dog Feces May Bring to Your Lawn

In addition to the labor of picking them up, dog droppings cause more potential troubles to your family and even the environment (it is one of the water pollutants!).

Trouble 1. Cast Great Effects on Your Lawn & Plants

Dog feces contain multiple nutritious materials that may lead to dark green spots and conspicuous taller grass on your lawn. When left in your yard for a long time, dog poop may result in brown patches on the lawn.

Trouble 2. May Introduce Pests & Bacteria to Your Yard

Undoubtedly, dog waste attracts insects like breeding flies to your garden, which may transmit diseases to your pets as well. Moreover, if neighbor’s dogs in your yard carry any diseases or bacteria, such germs can also be found on the feces and it will take great pain for you to remove them from your garden.

Trouble 3. Cause Health Threats to Your Children & Family Members

When your children and pets are having fun in the garden, they are exposed to the diseases brought by neighbor’s dog poop on your lawn. Without washing their hands after playing in the yard, young kids are prone to diseases between dogs and human.

FAQs

What can I use to keep neighbor's dog out of my yard?

Consider installing a sturdy fence or barrier around the perimeter. Utilize natural or commercial dog repellents to deter the dog from entering your property. Communicate politely with your neighbor about the issue and work together to find a solution that respects both parties' concerns.

What repels dogs from coming in your yard?

Try natural or commercial dog repellents that emit scents or tastes unpleasant to dogs. And keeping your yard clean and free of food scraps or other attractants can discourage dogs from lingering in the area.

Conclusion

Learning how to stop neighbors dog from pooping in your yard is essential for the well-being of yourself and your loved ones. Do you have any unique and useful solutions to keep neighbor’s dog out of your lawn? Please share your experience in the comment section. I am hoping to come up with a nice sized list and help out all the new readers!

Resources:

① A Reddit poster’s question: Neighbor’s dog is always in my yard and they don't care. Does anyone have an insight into all this madness?

② Quora posters’ question: How can I legally keep a neighbor’s dog out of my yard? What are my rights when my neighbor’s dog came under our fence and tried to kill my dog?

③ A City-Data poster’s question: Neighbor’s dog is always in my yard. Is there any way I can keep my neighbor’s dog out of my yard?