Dogs are incredible animals.
They can be trained to accomplish a seeming endless list of feats.
Whether its leading the blind, being a helping companion to the disabled, or fighting crime along side police officers, dogs continue to live up to their well earned title "mans best friend.
" Even though dogs can do many a great thing, we all know that they struggle when it comes to doing their due diligence after they just went doo doo in the back yard.
If only those expert trainers could put their minds together and come up with a way to train dogs to cleanup after they've done their business.
Until that day comes, its up to dog owners to clean up the backyard after fighto.
Not surprisingly, most dog owners dislike this aspect of dog ownership and have spent significant time and effort devising better clean up methods and tools.
Some have even gone as far as to teach their dog to use a littler box.
For those who don't have to time or patience to teach a canine to use a feline waste box, other methods are utilized.
Everything from flat head shovels and buckets, to grabbing the squishy goo with ones hands wrapped up in a plastic bag has been tried and tested.
Ultimately, dog owners find something that "does the job" and use it as infrequently as possible.
The worst part of any typical tried and tested method is the fact that the waste material comes in direct contact with the tool causing cross contamination, the spreading of disease, and dangerous bacteria.
Few solutions, other than frequent cleaning and tool sanitation, have been offered to the general public.
To ensure that fighto's play area, your backyard, and health, all stay shipshape, I suggest following these simple steps during and after each cleaning.
First of all, wear gloves.
Think about it, you're dealing with waste material and just because its there courtesy of your beloved family dog doesn't make it any less dirty than it already is.
Whether you use a shovel, a specially designed rake and tool system purchased from a store, or the well-known bag method; gloves add that extra layer between you and the mess.
If you go the route of a shovel and bucket, after the mess has been thrown away, fill the bucket with 1 part bleach to 5 parts water, and soak the shovel in the bucket over-night.
This simple step effectively kills off any unwanted "nasties" that will inevitably hang around after a routine cleaning of the back yard.
In addition, this process can be safely done with the tools that are available in stores.
You might need a larger bucket to soak them in, but because most are made from stainless steel, they shouldn't be damaged.
Though soaking tools after each use will certainly take more time and money, if you use tools that come in direct contact with the mess, it is a necessary evil to keep bacteria buildup down to a minimum.
If you take these simple steps before and after your routine cleanups, you'll keep your tools clean and ready to be used the next time they are needed.
To top it off, you'll keep your backyard clean and safe for not only fighto, but for any one else who might want to enjoy some time outside.
They can be trained to accomplish a seeming endless list of feats.
Whether its leading the blind, being a helping companion to the disabled, or fighting crime along side police officers, dogs continue to live up to their well earned title "mans best friend.
" Even though dogs can do many a great thing, we all know that they struggle when it comes to doing their due diligence after they just went doo doo in the back yard.
If only those expert trainers could put their minds together and come up with a way to train dogs to cleanup after they've done their business.
Until that day comes, its up to dog owners to clean up the backyard after fighto.
Not surprisingly, most dog owners dislike this aspect of dog ownership and have spent significant time and effort devising better clean up methods and tools.
Some have even gone as far as to teach their dog to use a littler box.
For those who don't have to time or patience to teach a canine to use a feline waste box, other methods are utilized.
Everything from flat head shovels and buckets, to grabbing the squishy goo with ones hands wrapped up in a plastic bag has been tried and tested.
Ultimately, dog owners find something that "does the job" and use it as infrequently as possible.
The worst part of any typical tried and tested method is the fact that the waste material comes in direct contact with the tool causing cross contamination, the spreading of disease, and dangerous bacteria.
Few solutions, other than frequent cleaning and tool sanitation, have been offered to the general public.
To ensure that fighto's play area, your backyard, and health, all stay shipshape, I suggest following these simple steps during and after each cleaning.
First of all, wear gloves.
Think about it, you're dealing with waste material and just because its there courtesy of your beloved family dog doesn't make it any less dirty than it already is.
Whether you use a shovel, a specially designed rake and tool system purchased from a store, or the well-known bag method; gloves add that extra layer between you and the mess.
If you go the route of a shovel and bucket, after the mess has been thrown away, fill the bucket with 1 part bleach to 5 parts water, and soak the shovel in the bucket over-night.
This simple step effectively kills off any unwanted "nasties" that will inevitably hang around after a routine cleaning of the back yard.
In addition, this process can be safely done with the tools that are available in stores.
You might need a larger bucket to soak them in, but because most are made from stainless steel, they shouldn't be damaged.
Though soaking tools after each use will certainly take more time and money, if you use tools that come in direct contact with the mess, it is a necessary evil to keep bacteria buildup down to a minimum.
If you take these simple steps before and after your routine cleanups, you'll keep your tools clean and ready to be used the next time they are needed.
To top it off, you'll keep your backyard clean and safe for not only fighto, but for any one else who might want to enjoy some time outside.