It’s the question we get more than any other, usually right after “wait, people pay for this?” The short answer: at least once a week. If you have more than one dog, little kids or a small yard, more often is better.
Why once a week is the minimum
The CDC’s advice for pet owners is to bag and throw away pet feces at least once a week. That isn’t about looks. Dogs can carry roundworms and hookworms without showing it, and they pass the eggs in their poop. According to the CDC, those eggs and larvae can survive for weeks and even years in yards, parks and playgrounds.
The longer a pile sits, the more it breaks down into the grass and soil, and the harder it is to get all of it. A pile picked up within a few days comes up clean. One that’s been rained on, mowed over or stepped on doesn’t.
When to pick up more often
- Two or more dogs. Every extra dog adds up fast by the end of the week.
- Kids who play in the yard. Kids sit on the grass, dig in the dirt and put their hands in their mouths, which is exactly how people pick up roundworms and hookworms.
- Small yards and dog runs. Less space means the same spots get stepped on over and over.
- Turf, gravel and side yards. Artificial turf doesn’t absorb anything, so smell builds up quickly in warm weather.
- Summer. Heat makes the smell worse and brings the flies.
It’s not just about your yard
Rain and snowmelt wash whatever is left on the ground toward gutters and storm drains, which in most cities carry water to local streams without treatment. And it adds up: a single gram of dog waste can contain about 23 million fecal coliform bacteria.
Don’t forget winter
In Utah, snow hides everything. Piles freeze, get buried and then show up all at once in March. If you skip pickup over the winter, you’ll have a whole season of mess waiting when the snow melts. Keeping up through winter, even every week or two, makes spring a lot less gross.
A simple schedule
- One dog, average yard: once a week.
- Two or more dogs, or kids in the yard: twice a week.
- Light use, or a dog that mostly goes on walks: every two weeks can work, but expect a bigger cleanup each time.
Or let us handle it
That’s exactly what our recurring plans are for: weekly, every 14 days or twice a week, with no contracts. We pick up every pile, haul it away, latch your gate and text you a photo when we’re done. See our recurring plans, or text us at 801-913-8032 if you’re not sure what you need.
Sources: CDC, What Every Pet Owner Should Know About Roundworms & Hookworms; Center for Watershed Protection, Pet Waste.