My two dogs go potty in our yard. I pick up after them 3-5 times a week - more when it the weather is warmer. Is it appropriate to ask the sitter to do so, especially when we are going for 10+ days?
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Of course. When sitting dogs, it’s normal to clean after them.
Note: This assumes that you’ve been cleaning regularly and aren’t asking the sitter to clean what was left from before their sit. That would be taking advantage and rude.
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Definitely! They clean my cats’ litter boxes, and clean up while walking dogs, and even rake our duck coop, so surely dog yard clean-up is reasonable. Also I’d guess many sitters don’t want to hang out in a yard full of poop any more than you do. Normal care is part of the equal exchange here.
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Since sitters are asked to pick up poop on walks ( and some CC&R’s require this or homeowner can be fined) I see this exactly being the same request. Instead of picking up on walks you pick up in the yard. Also, hard to play ball with the pup if you are constantly stepping on poop, ha ha. I wouldn’t want to come home to a dirty house or a yard full of poop so definitely a reasonable request.
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Thank you. Should I add this into the homeowner’s guide?
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Yes, I always like to know what the pet parent requires. There may be an unreasonable sitter that won’t like this so you would not want them to sit for you. That person is the exception and not the norm.
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Yes, in the responsibilities on the listing you could mention yard clean up briefly. In the Welcome Guide you can add specific details like where the scoop is, where to discard, and a recommended schedule.
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If it is what you do, yes.
Yes, but make sure they are starting with a clean yard.
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Maybe you are right and my comment didn’t offer anything to the discussion. I just meant to emphasize that it would be really unlikely to find someone who didn’t find this task reasonable. I am happy to delete my post and ignore your assessment on my personality.
I just felt you were judging my comment. I have enjoyed your comments on other posts. Next time just state your opinion in a separate post not directed at me. We have so few people that participate in this forum and I would enjoy so many more. No one will if they feel they can’t feel free to express themselves without judgement.
Thank you!
I’d almost call this a no-brainer—unless someone actively tries to ignore the obvious. I don’t think it’s cheeky to ask, because to me, this falls into the same category as walking or feeding the dog—it’s just a given. Any halfway decent person wouldn’t be too proud to pick up after their dog, because otherwise, we’d be living in a world covered in poop and constantly hopping around… 
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I recently finished a repeat sit. A very rural setting with a senior daschund and lots of snow on the ground. The owner advised me not to worry about picking up the poop in the backyard.
I picked up the poop. I couldn’t NOT do it.
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Absolutely. I’ve even done it when told not to bother — who wants to risk stepping in it?
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Yes that is part of dog sitting .
Please provide the sitter with what ever you use to pick it up ( bags / shovel ) and show them where you dispose of it .
It maybe obvious to you , but every host has their own preferences, so make it clear for your sitter.
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yes, that is why I rarely post.
RE topic: It is totally reasonable for sitters to pick up the dog poop, wherever it falls. hehe.
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I mostly get asked. I have even been given the responsibility of doing it every 2 days. I find that dogs will fenerally poop on the walks as they don’t like to poop where they play. But i did sit 2 dogs that would hold it in for a 4 mile trek in the mountains, then go poop in the back yard because they were usedto that.
That happened to me. It had snowed heavily. While on the sit, the temps warmed up, i was to play fetch in the yard. I took him on regular walks, despite leash aggression, he pooped on walks, not in backyard. Then as snow melted i had to pick up a yard full of poop. I don’t think they had done it for months.
That stinks!
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