Having multiple dogs brings a lot of joy to a household, but it also brings a massive amount of yard maintenance. Two or three average-sized dogs can easily produce 30 to 45 piles of waste every single week. If you fall behind even slightly, your backyard can quickly become an unusable minefield.
The Reality of Multi-Dog Yards
With multiple dogs, the damage to the grass happens much faster. The high nitrogen content in the waste will burn the lawn, and the constant foot traffic over the soiled areas presses the waste into the dirt, making it harder to clean and increasing the odor. Furthermore, if one dog gets sick or contracts a parasite, leaving the waste in the yard guarantees the other dogs will be exposed to it.
Strategies for Success
1. Increase the Frequency: A once-a-week cleanup is rarely enough for a multi-dog home. You need to be scooping at least twice a week to keep the accumulation manageable and prevent stepped-in messes.
2. Designate a Potty Area: If possible, train your dogs to use a specific, mulched or gravel area of the yard for their business. This contains the mess to one zone and protects your main grass areas.
3. Hire the Professionals: For most multi-dog families, the best solution is outsourcing the chore. A professional pet waste removal service can set you up on a twice-weekly schedule. They handle the heavy lifting, haul the massive amount of waste away, and allow you to simply enjoy your dogs without stressing about the state of the yard.