Question
QUESTION: Local dog-walkers pass my house every morning and every night. They usually clean up after the dogs but they do not hesitate to allow their dogs to relieve themselves on the strip between the sidewalk and the curb right in front of my house. Do you have any suggestions that would encourage these people to take their dogs to do their business elsewhere?

ANSWER: A nice sign will appeal to the dog walkers' sense of conscience.  If they have no conscience, amending the sign to include their dog breed and whether they are male or female.  To wit:

'Message to the lady with the black poodle:

Please pick up the poop you left here yesterday [arrow here pointing).  Thank you.'

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Would you happen to have any opinion about the chemicals that you buy to repel dogs and rodents?  I was looking in our garden supply store and considering a purchase.  But they are somewhat pricey.  They don't seem to work very long.  I would like to get the dogs begging to stay away from my house.  Help!

Answer
Most of those MACE-type chemical repellents are water (i.e., RAIN) soluble -- and food grade to keep them safe.  Usually based on Capsaicin (red pepper) and a few other ingredients.

Yes, they are costly, and they don't last long, and they don't work that well on the ground.  There's a reason you have to SPRAY them onto a person.

But there's another repellent, my favorite.  This could be rigged and I guarantee it would work.

What do you think of a Sonic dog repeller?  One that emits ultrasonic tones inaudible to humans and so screechy to dogs it's uncomfortable?  Think of the squeak of chalk across a blackboard.  How long could you take that noise?

They sell it here:

http://www.victorpest.com/mousesonicfaqs.htm

and elsewhere.  Shop around, especially try Craigslist.

Don't stop there.

Get yourself a motion detector.  Something that triggers it as the dog reaches your house.  Something to totally surprise the poor canine.

And I'm a dog lover!

Funny thing is, the dog walker won't know what is going on.  Those noises are inaudible to people.

Make videos and put those on the internet.  You'll make millions.