Am I being nit-picky to think that this is so wrong/rude?

No, that is definitely wrong. I think I would talk with the children and ask them to have the dogs do their business on the street and then bring bags to pick the poop up. I have 2 labs and that is what we do. We have neighbors who let their dogs roam free and use my front lawn as their poop pen, I started watching for when they let the dog out and every time the dog came on my lawn, I would use an air horn. It learned to avoid me. I also have gone outside with plastic bags when I see the neighbors using my lawn for their dogs and hand them the bags so they could take their mess with them.

You are not being picky. A friend of ours had to go to court because his dog pooped in the neighbors yard and he had to pay a large fine. Have you tried talking to the new neighbor? This might be a way of getting to know your neighbors. The parents may not know the kids are not cleaning up after the dogs.

I don't think you're being nit picky at all. It IS rude to let a dog foul somebodys lawn and not pick up after it. Maybe if you visited the mother and talked nicely with her she'd be understanding. If it was me, when I'd go and talk with her I'd bring her a new box of those cheap latex gloves (like you get at the dollar store 500 for a buck) and some plastic grocery bags, and say something to the effect that in your neighborhood people pick up after their dogs doing their business on other peoples lawns. Besides all that...how does one know if their pet has been de-wormed on a regular basis. Trust me here, the eggs of worms can last for months in the soil from a dog that hasn't been treated, and it CAN affect your kids if they go barefoot (even if it has been picked up!)

I would find a task to do in your yard about the time that they are walking the dogs and then approach and talk to them about it. Chances are the kids don't realize that it's annoying you and if you say something it may stop. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~

I would have a stash of baggies and the next time I saw their dog making a pit stop in my yard I would rush out with them. "Hi! I couldn't help but notice that you forgot your baggies today, here you go you can have these" Just put your hand in the bag pick up the droppings and turn the bag inside out - Voila! ploop in a bag. That way you won't accidently step in it when you walk the dogs tomorrow - nor will I step in it! I would not be a very happy neighbor if I step in dog ploop.... smile, snicker. ---------- maybe that way the children or their parents won't feel threatened and prone to retaliate the correction... you give them an out and an opportunity to see how their inconsiderate actions have placed a burden on someone else.... If they do not change their habits you might have to talk with the parents and nicely ask that the children to pick up the ploop - if there is still no compliance i would pick it up myself and at the end of the week gift it back to them - "Hey neighbor, your kids have been stopping by all week and I am afraid they left this behind, just wanted to return it for you"

Are you kidding me???? There is NO way you are being nit picky!! It is YOUR yard, and you have a right to not have it pooped or peed in by someone else's dogs! When we lived in an apartment before we bought this house, our neighbor had 2 boxers. She would let them out, and they would poop right outside OUR back sliding door where we would have LIKED to sit and enjoy our morning coffee. We couldn't because of the smell. Also, we couldn't even open the door for 'fresh air' because it was NOT fresh!! I was sort of afraid of her so I never said a word, but when we moved out, I made sure I let the managers know that the next tenants might come knocking on their door with a complaint about those dogs!! You have every right to just go over and nicely ask them to please let the dogs do their 'business' somewhere other than in someone's yard, especially YOURS!!

I would definitely go tell your neighbors something. If their dogs go on other peoples lawns they should clean it up.

Does your city have pooper scooper ordinances? Ours do. I would make sure your neighbor knows about it. I can also see me running out with plastic bags and telling the kiddos "Here, this is so you can clean up after your pet." "Feel free to put it in the trash can." Their parents may not even realize the kids are doing this.

This isn't nit picky of you and it is wrong/rude of the neighbours to let their dogs crap in your yard without cleaning it up. You could go over to their place with a big happy welcoming smile on your face and say "hey there, it's crazynurse from down the street...welcome to the hood dudes. (Big smile) Can you maybe not let your dogs crap on my lawn (big smile) or get the kids to clean it up if it does happen? (big smile)That would be great. If you can't agree to this, I'll collect it myself and return it to you personally. Have a nice day. (Big smile)"

The longer you let it go on and become a habit, the harder it will be to say something later. Chances are, if the parents are at all civilized, is that the adults don't realize their kids are allowing this to happen. If you don't want to go "tattling" as a first meeting, you could be really casual about it, and the next time you see the kids letting the dogs go in your yard, take out a couple of bags and hand them to the kids saying, "It looks like you forgot (or "keep forgetting" your bags), so you can use these." The first time, say it with a smile and hopefully, they will get the hint. Give them a couple of reminders if necessary and then, if they continue to ignore you, go to the parents. In the meantime, try to have a casual conversation or two with the parents, without bringing up the dogs, so that if you have to complain in the futre, your first meeting will not start on a sour note. Good Luck.

Try talking them and telling them this is wrong. Talk to the father/mother of the children not to the children. If this keeps happening, talk to the children. If this keeps happening, I'm sure there's some kind of law against this, so I'd suggest reporting to the police...

It is really rude of them. The proper way to walk a dog is in the street or sidewalk right next to you and not let them just pee and poo everywhere and stray. I only let my dog do her business if we are in a public area and I always have something to pick up #2 with if that is the case. They are probably too young to know that so I think it would be ok to mention it to the parents who may not realize what is happening.

You should leep your cool and talk to them first, at least that's what I will do. Try to recommend some other place in your neighbourhood where the dogs can do their "business". I understand your feelings as it onced happened to me as well.

that is very rude of them i would say something when our dog does her business we immediately clean it up weather it is our yard or some one elses even at the park id feel horrible if someone stepped in dog doody!!!

No you are in no way being nit pickey or rude. That is your yard not theirs and thei dogs should not being doing their business in your yard and then leave it there. I would sit down and have a talk with your new neighbors and explain to them that if their dogs do do that they must clean it up.

See, I am much more non-confrontational. I would leave them an anonymous note telling them that the whole neighborhood would appreciate the courtesy of their children taking poop bags and picking up the dogs deposits. Then if that didn't work, I would gently transfer the deposits onto their lawn in a strategic place where it can't be missed. In my neighborhood, you can get a ticket for not picking it up. Videotape the kids and the dogs and take it to the police and ask them to warn them officially.

You're not wrong about this at all. I understand what you mean about not wanting to get off on the wrong foot. Everyone likes to have a decent relationship with the people who live next to them. I would just talk to the parents and mention this in a non-confrontational way. The airhorn is a good idea too.

No.. They shoudln't allow them to do it on your land and if they do they should pick it up. over here if they didn't and you took prove you'd be able to get them fined and that's a good way to teach them a lesson. Go have a word, sometimes a quick word will solve it. Sadly for me one side near me don't care about anything other than themselves. ~Joey

I would get ticked off too. Imagine walking in that stuff yuck. I would be very polite but would explain what has been going on and suggest the kids take a pooper scooper with them and pick up after their dogs also suggest that they guide the dogs to some place other than someone's front yard to do their business. If your neighbors are conscientous they should not be offended by that as they probably have no idea that their kids are letting the dogs do their thing in your yard.

I think you have a legitimate complaint and should talk to the parents. It would be common courtesy for them to have their children take a plastic bag and a pooper scooper with them when they walk the dogs and clean up after them. In some places, this is an actual by-law. Be nice about it, but state your case clearly to them. They may not even be aware that this is happening.