What is the best natural repellent for keeping mutts from crapping around your shrubs and pathways short of a pellet to the butt?

Anti-personnel-mines

I’d say water, but if there are that many of them, seems like you’d be waiting a long time. Which is why your original plan doesn’t seem well thought out – and, yes, cruel too.

Invest in a fence or a type of cattle grid instead? Or, alternatively, one of those high-pitched noise machines designed to deter teenagers. ~

@longgone Invest in a fence or a type of cattle grid instead?
That is why I seek a natural deterrent, something that can be enacted with items on hand, I don’t want to spend money to keeps some mutts I don’t own from crapping where I am stepping; the owners should train their animals better so it would not be an issue.

Craping or crapping?

Yes, punish a dog for its owner’s actions by shooting it with a pellet. If anyone needs to be shot with a pellet, it’s the owner, but that’s not exactly legal.

Are these dogs off leash just roaming around or are they pooping on walks and the owner isn’t picking up after it?

(repellent)

@Hypocrisy_Central Well, you won’t change random dog owners’ minds. I agree the owners should act more responsibly, but…well, good luck with that.

A crape myrtle?

Lavishly sprinkle white and cayenne pepper around where you don’t want ‘em.

@livelaughlove21 Are these dogs off leash just roaming around or are they pooping on walks and the owner isn’t picking up after it?
That is about the speed of it, dogs off the leash seeking places other than their home, to leave their little “love packages”. |-{

Try what @kritiper suggests or give citronella a go. Works on some cats so why not on
canines?

Remove the shrubs. Don’t give them a place to crap.

A fence.

I noticed a big ingredient in dog repellent is Star Anise. Apparently they don’t like the smell of licorice. And Airsoft is less likely to puncture the skin. A couple of volleys should do it. DO NOT REMOVE THE RED TIP ON THE BARREL!

My neighbor has one of these in the street corner of her beautiful yard. Makes the walkers consider moving along to the next available turf.

@majorrich Apparently they don’t like the smell of licorice.
Black or red? I would consider dicing some up and spreading it about to thwart the beast, cleaner than diesel fuel, which I pondered.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies
That would not be effective as the dogs are let loose, half the time the owners have no idea their precious pooches are defiling someone’s walkway because they let them run wild.

You could try soaking cotton balls with vinegar or rubbing alcohol – the smells are apparently overwhelming to dogs and they hate them. Then just place the cotton balls wherever the dogs go to the bathroom the most. Likewise, you could use coffee filters the same way, but cut them into strips – that way you can sprinkle them in various areas so you get a wider area of protection.

@talljasperman Dogs don’t need shrubs to shit. Mine does it in the middle of the yard, no problemo.

An electric fence. Or a video camera as evidence to sue your neighbor with.

It depends upon how many of them there are and how close your neighbors live.

Do you know which dogs belong to which house/owner?

If you don’t want to spend money on a spy camera to record which dogs are the offenders, then spending a few hours observation time could give you all the info you need.

Just scoop up the offending pooches’ deposits and subsequently leave them on the appropriate owners front doorsteps or car hoods. That will get their attention. A few days of this “return policy” should be enough to get the point across.

You don’t necessarily have to return each dogs droppings to its specific owner. Just distributing them equally among all the offending dog owning neighbors should get the job done.

BTW. Aren’t there any leash laws in your community prohibiting owners allowing their dogs to roam freely? I know of very few areas absent this type of policy.

If there are leash laws then a simple little trip to the dog pound with the offending pooch should likewise put a stop to free roaming dogs. A responsible owner is going to get tired of having to reclaim his dog repeatedly and will likely incur fines.

The basic deal is this. It will cost you a little bit initially (either money or time and effort, your choice) but you can eliminate the problem altogether with a little diligence.

Should you have to be put in this situation. No. But that’s what happens when dealing with the type thoughtless louts you have for neighbors.

Yes, they should care and be more considerate of others and pick up their dogs crap. But sometimes they have to be made to care. So make them care by letting them know that their behavior has consequences.

I never have a problem with dog crap because it is left where I can see it and it is easily removed. I have a problem with cat shit because those sneaky bastards crawl under things and then bury their shit and it starts to stink in places I can’t easily get to. I say, don’t just single out the dog owners, alienate ALL your neighbors with pets.

The animals are just answering the call of nature.

The fault lies with irresponsible owners who allow their animals to roam free. If they’re out in the country, thats different but if they’re encroaching on nearby properties, they don’t have the right to do that.

So whatever their pissed off neighbors do to alienate them is richly deserved. The owners of these pets are clearly the ones at fault so whatever is done to teach THEM (NOT their poor animals) a lesson is a boon to mankind.