Question:
Here's my dilemma: My husband and I recently moved into our first new home and it seems the neighbour's dogs have been urinating on the lawn. Certain areas have been re-sodded twice, the offending neighbour politely spoken to and still no avail. Is there a humane,awful scent that dogs don't like to keep them away, something that can be absorbed on a paper towel like vinegar or something? We don't want to continue damaging our lawn but the only way for it to recover is to have the dogs cease this behaviour but without the owner's support, this proves difficult. Also, our other neighbour's have 2 young boys under the age of 3 who often play on our yard because it's shared and we are all disgusted by the dog's relieving itself where children play. We'd rather not put up a fence if there is a way to deter this behaviour.
HELP!

Cee

Answer:
Is there a leash law where you are? If so, you neighbour is violating it and can be reported.

Vinegar won't keep the dogs away. I don't know of any scent that will repel dogs, but someone else here may. A fence might be your only solution and your neighbour should certainly pay half for that side.

Answer:
My parents hated the idea of a fence as well. Shortly before I moved out on my own, they planted bushes around the perimiter of our yard. Although this was not ment to keep intruders out, and was meant more for privacy it started to look nice within a year. It has been over a year since I have seen the yard now, but I am sure the bushes are getting taller, and are serving their purpose. I am not sure how much yard you have or the amount of money you are willing to spend, but it might be an alternative to a plain old fence.
As far as keeping the dogs off your lawn, the only thing I could suggest right now is check the laws on loose pets in your area, and if possible contact the sherriff department and let them know that you are having a problem with the neighbor dogs ruining your lawn. They should talk to you neigbors and warn them to keep their pets on their own property. I know in my home town there were laws that if a dog was loose, and destroying someones property, after the dog's owner and the sherriff department was cantacted about the problem, and it was still an issue, you could shoot the dog. I was against that, but the law did make more people keep their pets in their own yard.

Answer:
There is a spray at Dog Stores that you can spray on your lawn and surrounding area. Have a look or ask about it.

Heather and her 3 Golden Girls

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