Well well well… Today, I'm going to talk to you about a subject that stinks… but nevertheless essential when you have a dog, because there's nothing more annoying than stepping in dog shit! And to prevent that from happening, even with your left foot, there are no easy solutions: you have to bend down and pick up your dog's droppings!

Picking up your dog's poop isn't just about aesthetics. Whether in the city, the mountains, by lakes, or on the coast, dog excrement has an environmental, health, and even legal impact. Here are 5 good reasons to pick up your dog's waste . Whatever your motivation, the result will be the same, and everyone will thank you!

Summary

1. Pick up your dog’s droppings to preserve nature and ecosystems

Dog feces contain bacteria and parasites harmful to the environment. In mountainous areas, for example, they can transmit neosporosis , a parasite dangerous to livestock, causing infectious abortions in cattle. This poses a real threat to herds in the mountains or the countryside, and can jeopardize livestock farms. A dog's droppings left in a field may seem so "harmless"... yet, they are a real scourge for farmers whose fields border busy hiking trails!

In rivers and lakes, bacteria such as E. coli and Campylobacter pollute the waters, threatening aquatic species and biodiversity. 

Additionally, excess nutrients in feces (nitrogen, phosphorus) promote eutrophication, which smothers aquatic plants and reduces fish populations. It can also lead to algae blooms. 

Oh I hear some people saying to me: “it’s not a little poop from my dog ​​from time to time that’s going to change the face of the world”. But let’s do a quick calculation together… There are about 7,5 million dogs that poop twice a day and this 2 days a year! I’ll let you do the math! 

So in some protected natural areas, with already fragile ecosystems, a few poops here and there can quickly have a real impact. This is why, among other things, you are required to tie up your dog in certain areas so that it does not disturb the local flora and fauna and so that it cannot leave excrement everywhere... 

To learn more about these protected areas, I recommend reading the article: National Parks and Nature Reserves: Regulations…

2. Protect public health

In urban areas, abandoned animal waste poses health risks: it can contain parasites (such as Giardia ) that easily infect humans, especially children. This excrement also attracts rats, increasing the risk of other infections. As for bags of waste left in nature, they worsen pollution by releasing microplastics. Using biodegradable bags and disposing of them in appropriate bins is therefore essential. It's the bare minimum!

Oh I can hear some people saying: “Easy there, maggot! My dog’s poop is biodegradable! So let’s not kid ourselves.” Biodegradable maybe, but how many people are going to walk in it before the poop is gone? How many kids are going to ride in it on their scooters? And how many rats will it have fed before it disappears? And they are biodegradable, for sure, but as indicated just above, they fertilize the soil far too much and cause irreversible damage to the local flora.

3. Avoid fines and respect citizenship rules

Respecting your environment, respecting your neighbors… these are not always sufficient motivations. Well, for some people 😉 Then there are the sacrosanct fines! 

Not picking up your dog's droppings can be expensive: in some cities, the fine can be up to 135 euros. Some municipalities install signs and bag dispensers to remind owners of their legal and civic responsibility. Keeping public spaces clean is everyone's duty for better cohabitation.

And then picking up your dog's droppings has its advantages: it's a free yoga session for every poop 😉 Thanks to whom? Thanks to doggie! 

Let's not kid ourselves, no one likes to get their hands in poop, not even their dog's poop. But it's part of the package: adopting a dog means loving it, feeding it, training it, taking it on vacation, playing ball, cuddling it, looking after it... and picking up its droppings!

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4. Pick up your dog's poop to monitor his health

Poop is an important part of reflecting your dog's health. Yes, yes, I'm going to talk to you about the state of your dog's poop! Much like a fortune teller would look at a chicken's entrails to predict the future, you have to look at your dog's poop to check its health. 

If his droppings are well-formed and dark, chances are your dog is healthy. In this case, everything is fine!

On the other hand, if he has diarrhea or the color of his droppings changes, it's not a good sign... If it's temporary, so much the better, he may just have digested something badly. But if it lasts, don't hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

But how can you tell if your dog's droppings are in good condition if you don't pick them up? Many dogs poop in the bushes or a few meters away from their walker. If you're not careful, you might not even notice. So picking up your dog's droppings every day allows you to monitor their health without making too much effort. 

Personally, it allows me to check that everything is going well for Musher. As soon as his poop changes, I am on alert. I monitor if other symptoms appear… 

5. Better acceptance of dogs in public places

Unfortunately, dogs are still not allowed in many public places, such as some beaches, parks, campsites, and so on. And for good reason: when you find yourself in a minefield, having to watch your step, when you were supposed to be strolling and relaxing… it's not very pleasant. This is one of the main reasons why dogs are not allowed on beaches.

Picking up after your dog shows that you are a responsible owner who respects the environment. This simple gesture helps to preserve clean and welcoming spaces for everyone, today and for future generations. By taking care not to leave any trace, you demonstrate that dogs can share public spaces without compromising cleanliness. As long as negligent owners give a bad image, those who refuse to allow dogs will have an excuse to restrict their access to common areas. If everyone does their part, the main argument against dogs in public disappears – for the good of all, humans and dogs included!

In summary: picking up your dog's droppings is a simple gesture with a big impact! Picking up your dog's droppings means protecting nature, preserving everyone's health, and respecting others. At EmmèneTonChien.com, we campaign for dogs to be better accepted everywhere, so we're counting on each of you to do this simple thing!