How To Dissolve Dog Poop

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There's no question that we love our dogs. But dealing with the stuff, shall we say, that they leave behind, is usually not one of the most fun parts of being a dog parent! If you just leave dog poop on your yard, it can take a while for it to decompose on its own and become a breeding ground for flies and other pests. And having to step around the "bombs" every time you want to go outside is not always the best solution.

Of course, there are some good reasons why you may have to leave the dog doo where it's at for a while. During the winter, especially if you live in a place where it rains or snows a lot, it may not always be possible to go out and scoop the poop. In a situation where you're living somewhere where it snows a lot, it can be almost impossible to gather it all. You might want to look for some sort of doggie doo-dissolver.

A few years ago there was a product called Doggie Doo Dissolver, but that product is no longer being made. It supposedly worked as an environmentally friendly, enzyme-based spray that would dissolve dog waste within minutes. Sound too good to be true? Unfortunately, it probably was. There's not really anything that will dissolve dog doo within minutes except a hard rain.

There are other products that use the enzyme-based dissolver concept, like a product called the Waste Terminator. These and other enzyme-based dissolvers can be used by adding the powder to a bucket of water and then placing the dog poo in the bucket, which you then seal.

The Doggie Dooley waste system is a clever septic-tank-style system that works in the same way a home septic system works — you move the poop into an underground chamber that uses the enzyme powder or convenient Waste Terminator tablets to compost the poop and then releases it into the soil around the system.

Once you've picked up the poop and put it into your dissolving bucket, spray the yard with a high-powered sprayer to help disintegrate whatever poo is remaining. Once your yard is clear, try to pick up the poo before it sits too long, or encourage your dog to go in one spot in the yard, which you can then clean up more easily. Use a deodorizing spray used for outdoor use on grass, patio, astroturf and more, such as Amazing Outdoor/Yard Deodorizer.

Lime, which can be used to help dissolve dog poo, can be placed on dog poo right in the yard and it only takes a few days for this to happen. The problem is that lime is caustic and can burn skin if it comes in direct contact with it, so both humans who may be walking in the yard and dogs who may be in the yard should have their feet and paws protected from coming into contact with the lime.

If the most unpleasant part of pet ownership is picking up the poo, there are lots of "pet waste away" companies that will do the job for you. There are also many tools that allow you to scoop the poop without having to bend over or touch it with your bare hands. Of course, paying someone by the hour to do it for you may be a good use of your money!

You can compost dog poop, but because dogs eat meat, the process is not as straightforward as it is for composting only plant-based materials. For one, it shouldn't just be added to a normal compost pile, according to the University of Florida Extension service. The "green" carbon-based layer should be sawdust. It also must reach a higher temperature than normal compost — 140-degrees Fahrenheit — in order to kill off parasites, which you definitely want to do before putting the poop-compost on any plants that you intend to eat.