Are "keep off lawn" signs obnoxious?

[dexteroni]

Jan 2, 2014 11:38:21 GMT -5 y4m said:

Jan 2, 2014 11:34:16 GMT -5 @ojo said:

I'd probably look into a motion activated sprinkler. The water will help dilute the urine and possibly startle the dog and owner enough to keep them off your lawn.

Ok now I kind of want other interventions to fail so I can set my lawn up to automatically soak them if they try to use it.

Now that would definitely be obnoxious and assholey.

[y4m]

Jan 2, 2014 12:05:30 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Jan 2, 2014 11:38:21 GMT -5 y4m said:

Ok now I kind of want other interventions to fail so I can set my lawn up to automatically soak them if they try to use it.

Now that would definitely be obnoxious and assholey.

I an totally kidding, but seriously, did you see the picture?

[gt7301b]

Jan 2, 2014 11:02:48 GMT -5 emilyinchile said:

Jan 2, 2014 10:55:11 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I live in a suberban area where pretty much all the land is owned by the individual homeowners.  There are a few patches of land that aren't attached to individual homes, but those are a good distance from my property.  There are lots of dogs in the neighborhood and when we are out I see most of them going to the bathroom while on their walks.  People don't seem to be upset about it because if they were I'm sure it would have been brought up by our HOA.

I added an ETA after you quoted - I saw you said your dog won't pee on the sidewalk, so I don't see why there's a problem. Keep him out of other people's yards, and he just won't pee during his walks. Since you have a yard, he clearly doesn't need to relieve himself during walk time, he presumably just wants to mark.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a dog owner and in Santiago do let my dog pee on privately owned grass because we have so many stray dogs here (like, tens of thousands) that it seems a little ridiculous to restrict non-strays. Maybe in your neighborhood this isn't a problem, and as a male dog he's probably not doing much damage anyway. I primarily reacted to your tone of "but then where would he pee?" which sounded a little entitled to me and as though other people have some obligation to accommodate your dog.

I didn't mean it to come across that way, but I am truly shocked that some people are that dedicated and keep their dogs from peeing on the neighbor's lawns during walks.  I'm glad it isn't the norm in my neighborhood.

I clearly have asshole tendencies and my main point is I don't think signs will deter folks with even greater asshole tendencies from letting their dogs pee/poop on the lawn. The folks who are going to be impacted by the signs were most likely already picking up their dogs poo.

[LoveTrains]

Jan 2, 2014 10:08:53 GMT -5 y4m said:

My lawn is some of the only lawn on our block (but there's also a big park across the street), but yeah there are also the small spots of land where the trees are growing.

I feel for you - I really do. My dog is very particular about where he pees, and IIRC, you live in an urban area. I know that in my life of city living, there is always like one small patch of grass on a block in someone's front yard that all the neighbor dogs pee on. Recently the local dogs have taken to peeing on my hydrangea, which is between the sidewalk and the curb so I figured I can't really complain.

I would bring a picture of the damage to the HOA meeting and see if you can put up some decorative fence edging to keep dogs out or ask what would be allowed in terms of signage.

In my neighborhood, lots of people do have elaborate gardens in the area between the sidewalk and the curb, and then a little lawn in the front. Many people have the decorative edging up surrounding those gardens - which yes, is technically city land.  But I would rather dogs pee on the grass in the front than in those gardens, but that might just be the way my neighborhood is set up. 

Sorry you have to deal with this. The diarrheal dump is truly disgusting. 

[thejen626]

Jan 2, 2014 11:31:08 GMT -5 @ojo said:

When I first moved into my neighborhood I decided to take my dogs for a walk. Mind you, I had a baby strapped to my back, a baby strapped to my front, two dogs on leashes in my left hand, and one dog on a leash in my right hand. I had two plastic grocery bags in the pocket of the baby carrier on my front for easy access. Although my dogs had all pooped in our own yard after breakfast, I know dogs like to catch us by surprise and suddenly poo all over the neighborhood. My dogs are well trained and only get 2' of leash when we walk, otherwise I'd be pulled down the street or have leashes tangled around my legs, and I don't let them stop to mark, lest we stop every two seconds with three of them competing. Two feet of leash doesn't even allow the dog to wander off the sidewalk onto someone's grass.

So, to the story. We looked like a traveling circus, but we did it. We were walking and my dogs were behaving, babies were happy. Then some asshole flung open his front door and started screaming at me to pick up my dog shit. I was confused. If one of my dogs had stopped to poop, I certainly would have noticed. I asked him if he saw my dog poop and he yelled at me that my dog did poop on his yard. I asked him which dog, and he kept yelling obscenities at me. I asked him to come out and show me this alleged pile of poop and I showed him my empty bags, but he preferred to scream at me from behind his screen door.

All that to say, if you do say something to a person walking their dog, please be sure they are actually the culprits. From the looks of your yard, it's possible every neighborhood dog is going there, but on the off chance you holler out at a dog who's sniffing and not contributing, you might come across as the crazy lady. Given the looks of your yard, I can't say I'd blame you though.

What a dick! You should put a cup of poop at his front door.

[dexteroni]

Jan 2, 2014 9:32:10 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I don't really know what the point of the signs is. People who don't pick up their dog's shit are just assholes and a sign isn't going to change that. I can't control where my dog goes to the bathroom, but if I could I'd probably teach him to go in yards with a sign.

So...that means you're an asshole? lol. Just going by the logic in your own post.

[msmerymac]

Well, for those who don't think the sign will work, I guess there's only one way to find out.

I mean, laws against various things don't always keep people from doing those various things, but that doesn't mean we don't try.

[vanillacourage]

I would ask the HOA if you can temporarily put up something like this until the grass recovers.  It just sticks directly into the grass, no install. 

www.amazon.com/Victorian-Garden-Border-Fencing-Pure/dp/B008DRJQ8E/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1388683194&sr=8-16&keywords=garden+fencing


Also, in the course of finding that link, I came across this, which has given my my giggles for the day.

[Deleted]

Jan 2, 2014 9:59:50 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

In my experience, the signs don't work. If people are letting their dog pee in your yard, they'll likely continue to do so. Responsible owners would have their dog pee under the area of the sidewalk with the tree instead of on your lawn.

Since you can't do a fence, maybe a better long term solution is some kind of flower or planting bed with a raised stone/brick edging at the front of the yard. From the damage it looks like your neighbor has a female dog, so not giving her flat space to squat should make your yard less desirable.

I agree, or could you plant a hedge row? 

[y4m]

No changing the yard, people. I don't know how to be clearer.

[Deleted]

Jan 2, 2014 9:32:10 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I don't really know what the point of the signs is. People who don't pick up their dog's shit are just assholes and a sign isn't going to change that. I can't control where my dog goes to the bathroom, but if I could I'd probably teach him to go in yards with a sign.

I purposefully walk my dog in the street. She pees there just fine and poops there too. It is easier to clean up her poop messes from cement instead of grass and I'm not ruining someone else's yard. 

[froggy76]

Your yard looks terrible and I think a sign is a good idea.

With that said, I live in the 'burbs and my dog pees and poops in pretty much every yard in town. All the dogs do. I obviously pick up his poop, but I don't know how to pick up diarrhea. This idea of walking your dog and not letting them pee anywhere is ridiculous to me.

[gt7301b]

Jan 2, 2014 12:18:59 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Jan 2, 2014 9:32:10 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I don't really know what the point of the signs is. People who don't pick up their dog's shit are just assholes and a sign isn't going to change that. I can't control where my dog goes to the bathroom, but if I could I'd probably teach him to go in yards with a sign.

So...that means you're an asshole? lol. Just going by the logic in your own post.

If not preventing my dog from peeing in the neighbor's yard makes me an asshole, yup I am.   For the record, I've never actually encouraged my dog to pee in a yard with one of those signs, but it would cross my mind.

[lasagnasshole]

Jan 2, 2014 12:25:11 GMT -5 y4m said:

No changing the yard, people. I don't know how to be clearer.

So you're saying you can plant a large shrubbery and enclose it with a fence? Got it!

[LoveTrains]

Jan 2, 2014 12:25:11 GMT -5 y4m said:

No changing the yard, people. I don't know how to be clearer.

If garden edging isn't allowed, then I don't see how a sign would be allowed.

I think you need to go to an HOA meeting and discuss the issue. 

[Velvetshady]

I know, start being creative with lawn flamingos (idea)











We have people here that could help
















The HOA could never have an issue with that

[gt7301b]

Jan 2, 2014 12:45:16 GMT -5 @ojo said:

Jan 2, 2014 12:38:44 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

If not preventing my dog from peeing in the neighbor's yard makes me an asshole, yup I am.   For the record, I've never actually encouraged my dog to pee in a yard with one of those signs, but it would cross my mind.

You said people who don't pick up their dog's poop are assholes. Then you said you'd be one of those people who doesn't pick up poop. It had nothing to do with pee.

I'm not really sure how the confusion happened in this post, but I pick up my dog's poop.  I even carry multiple bags

[dexteroni]

Jan 2, 2014 12:10:17 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I clearly have asshole tendencies and my main point is I don't think signs will deter folks with even greater asshole tendencies from letting their dogs pee/poop on the lawn. The folks who are going to be impacted by the signs were most likely already picking up their dogs poo.

But this isn't just about picking up poo; it's mostly about the pee that is killing OP's grass. Most people in our neighborhood are ok with dogs peeing on their yards (well, on the strip between the sidewalk and street). But if I know someone isn't ok with it, either by putting up a sign or mentioning it in person, then I'll avoid that yard, and most reasonable dog owners will, too. Even with the assholes who ignore it or intentionally have their dogs pee there, the amount of pee in the yard should reduce significantly, which will help a lot.

[Deleted]

I think someone else has already said this, but its usually female dogs who damage lawns. They tend to pee in the same spot and then males are drawn to pee there too to "mark it." Its a vicious cycle because then they move to a new "plush" spot. I've also heard there is something about the acidity in female dogs urine and you can feed them tomato paste to help stop this (so you'd have to find the culprit)-I don't know how true it is though. I do know our yard looked lovely until we got a female dog.

I would talk to your HOA about getting lime (counter acts) and replanting grass there. You'll need something to protect the area and you'll also need to water it a lot for awhile to get it to come back. Once it looks ok again, you'll have to water that area a lot still to keep it washed away if the dog starts coming back again.

[aspentosh]

I am learning more and more that there are some asshole dog owners on this board. Geez.

I think the signs are obnoxious, but I think with the damage to your yard (yikes!) it's worth a shot if your HOA won't allow a garden bed at the sidewalk. My HOA sent us mean letters about our yellow grass spots, so I am surprised they don't want you to "fix it".

As a dog owner, I know my dogs need to pee and pee often and a lot. I STILL give my neighbors and other homeowners the courtesy of not allowing my dog to pee or shit in their yard. That is why there is common area. In the 9 years we've owned dogs I've only had an issue with my dog peeing in another persons yard twice. Yes, my suburb allows for this, but come on people. Show some fucking respect.

[halfpint]

I think you should do a nice, discreet sign.

Like this one.

[hbomdiggity]

I would make this the HOA problem. It looks like shit and they prob don't want that, not do they want the constant upkeep and maintenance costs it is going to require. so I would bring it to them and ask them what they can do. Maybe it means they will install some type of fence or raised bed.

[y4m]

I called the HOA and they were basically like "we'll deal with it in the spring--there's nothing that we can do before then"

[dexteroni]

Jan 2, 2014 14:51:15 GMT -5 y4m said:

I called the HOA and they were basically like "we'll deal with it in the spring--there's nothing that we can do before then"

My guess is that means they'll reseed in the spring. But that's not going to stop it from happening and ruining the new grass that grows there.

What would happen if you just put up a sign without asking permission? Would they just make you take it down, or would they fine you?

[y4m]

Jan 2, 2014 15:19:58 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Jan 2, 2014 14:51:15 GMT -5 y4m said:

I called the HOA and they were basically like "we'll deal with it in the spring--there's nothing that we can do before then"

My guess is that means they'll reseed in the spring. But that's not going to stop it from happening and ruining the new grass that grows there.

What would happen if you just put up a sign without asking permission? Would they just make you take it down, or would they fine you?

They would probably not even notice.  The HOA is weird right now.  It's still owned by the builder, so the management isn't residents.  They wouldn't know unless someone told them.

Actually, I should probably just go to the builder.  You have to pass my house to get to all their models, and it looks like crap.

[dexteroni]

Jan 2, 2014 15:30:47 GMT -5 y4m said:

Jan 2, 2014 15:19:58 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

My guess is that means they'll reseed in the spring. But that's not going to stop it from happening and ruining the new grass that grows there.

What would happen if you just put up a sign without asking permission? Would they just make you take it down, or would they fine you?

They would probably not even notice.  The HOA is weird right now.  It's still owned by the builder, so the management isn't residents.  They wouldn't know unless someone told them.

Actually, I should probably just go to the builder.  You have to pass my house to get to all their models, and it looks like crap.

Then I would just put up a sign and (hopefully) stop the pee before the HOA replants in the spring.

[lys]

Have you tried talking to your neighbors about this?

[y4m]

Jan 2, 2014 16:11:11 GMT -5 lys said:

Have you tried talking to your neighbors about this?

So I just caught the main offender on his walk and introduced myself.  Said I was trying to catch everyone with dogs on the block and ask them to try to direct off my lawn, since it's in pretty rough shape.  His answer was that he thinks it's a sewer issue, and he's been trying to talk to the HOA about it. (yeah.  no.)

Anyway, I was clear about the dog thing, so I'm very interested to see if he starts redirecting going forward.

[audette]

Jan 2, 2014 12:05:30 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Jan 2, 2014 11:38:21 GMT -5 y4m said:

Ok now I kind of want other interventions to fail so I can set my lawn up to automatically soak them if they try to use it.

Now that would definitely be obnoxious and assholey.

Why? If she tries a sign and it doesn't stop the animal from peeing on her yard and causing serious damage, then I think she's within her rights to put up a sprinkler, especially if it will also reduce the impact of said dog peeing where it shouldn't.

She did say "other interventions to fail", which means she intends to try those first...

[stephm0188]

Frequently watering the area that is getting peed on will help dilute the urine and keep it from burning the lawn. We carried a bottle of water with us on walks and dumped it where the dog had peed to prevent burning our neighbors grass. I would for sure push the issue with the HOA if lawncare is their responsibility.