Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings

So my neighbor has these 2 HUGE dogs. Recently I am finding large dog droppings on my property. Now my issue is 2 fold:
1. They arent cleaning up after their dog and I want my property cleaned up
2. This means they are letting these 2 HUGE dogs out without a leash and they are on my property. I have a little girl and this truly FRIGHTENS me. Especially since we had an issue last year with the dog.

How do I approach them in a non confrontational way?
I do not have video of the dog pooping on my property to prove its their dog, but none of my other neighbors have a dog.

Im livid but dont want to approach them in an angry fashion since maybe they dont know. They have an adult son and they are HIS dogs. I just dont know if its him letting them out unattended or them because they dont want to walk the dogs.

Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings

Are the droppings on the curb? Is it possible someone is walking their dog and just not picking it up? (like someone from another street)

Unless I had proof, I'm not sure I would say anything.

Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings

I think you need to know for sure it's them. But if you are able to confirm it, I would approach it as concern that the dogs are unleashed and you would hate to see them in the street where they could be hit by a car. Even if they don't need to cross a street to get onto your property there's nothing keeping them out of it.

Re: Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings

Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings

Well we live on a dead end street. A very quiet 1 where people dont randomly walk around. They are the only people with a large dog. Its truly 1 of those blocks where we all know each other.
We literally do not have strangers just walking on our block.

The thought DID cross my mind like what if its not them, but then I really have no clue who it would be. I have never seen a random dog on my block alone. And the 1 time a few months ago that I did see a man walking his dog on my block he had a baggy with him and I havent seen him since then. That was MONTHS ago. This is happening over the last 2 weeks. And its either happening late at night or very early morning cause Im in and out of my house all day and Im not seeing dogs anywhere.

There is no sidewalk. My lawn goes straight down to the street. And its in the surrounding grass and mulch around my driveway.

Is there a way to approach them as a question and not accusatory?

Message edited 3/16/2016 11:18:26 AM.

Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings

Maybe you can pose the question more along the lines of "are your dogs getting out?" and, if they say "yes," then address the dog droppings. If they say no, then say "have you seen any other random dogs on my property, because I've found several piles of poop on my lawn." That way, you aren't directly accusing them but letting them know about the poop.

ETA: I'd also walk over casually when they are out and not ring their doorbell.

Message edited 3/16/2016 11:37:00 AM.

Re: Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings

Can you put up a fence? I know you should not have to, but people like this usually have no respect anyway, no matter what you say. Is it definitely dog crap? Could it be another animal?

Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings

We have this issue and have thought of two solutions but haven't implemented either yet:

1. Put a sign up in my lawn saying please pick up after your dog or whatever and see if that helps
2. Make flyers saying lets work together as a neighborhood to keep it clean, please pick up after dog, etc and put in everyone's mailbox.

It doesn't single anyone out but hopefully the guilty parties make changes.

Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings

We cant put up a fence its a long driveway it wouldnt work. And thats where the dogs are pooping. Its def dog poop. Def not any other animal.

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I def like the idea of going around and putting a flyer in everyones mailbox about keeping the neighborhood clean.

And I may just approach my neighbor more like have you seen any other dogs on my property. are your dogs going out at all? Maybe more of a questioning way so im not accusing them.

I will think which way is better.

I was thinking of putting up a sign that says curb your dog.

Re: Approaching your neighbor- Dog Droppings