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We鈥檝e all been there, and we all know footpaths, nature strips, parks, playing fields and front lawns are not good places for dog poo to sit.

Yet, our streets and parks continue to be littered with dog poo. And with the pandemic听听a surge in dog ownership,听听听suggest the dog poo problem has grown only worse in recent years.

Beyond the obvious unsightliness and the likelihood of making unwanted contact with dog poo, there are some other important reasons to pick up after dogs.

Here鈥檚 what you need to know and what the science says about common efforts to deter dogs from pooping on your yard.

Dog poo is linked to illness, pollution and antibiotic resistance

Dog faeces may contain microorganisms that cause illness in humans such as听Salmonella,听E. coli,听Giardia听and听.

Dog poo can also be a potential reservoir for听, meaning humans could develop bacterial infections that are difficult to treat through contact with dog faeces.

A recent Sydney study also identified dog faeces washed into storm water as a significant contributor to听.

This topic, in spite of its relevance and impact, has received little attention from scientists. Thankfully, however, we have a few brave souls who can say they have studied dog crap for the betterment of humanity.

This research has revealed some patterns in where dog faeces is found in public.

Where is the dog poo problem more common?

Dog fouling is significantly听听in parks where dogs are allowed off-leash, and areas close to car parks.

The way dog walkers have traditionally used an area may also be an important factor, with one听听noting:听availability of bins, path morphology, visibility, and path location are key factors in determining the occurrence of dog faeces.

The same study noted that while most dog walkers do the right thing, some are too 鈥減roud to pick up鈥�, while others make contextual judgements about where and when it could be permissible to leave dog waste. Yet others are 鈥渄isengaged鈥� dog walkers, who 鈥渨ill not pick up even if they are aware of the health and environmental consequences鈥�.

Other research has suggested targeting听听between car parks and off-leash areas and providing waste disposal stations on popular dog-walking routes.

This doesn鈥檛 help if you have a neighbour who lets their dog out to relieve themselves on the nature strip (or your yard), or people who walk their dogs without carrying waste disposal bags.

And we all love the ones who bag the poop but leave the bag tied to a fence or by a gate.

What about the old water-bottles-on-the grass trick?

Dog owners who don鈥檛 pick up after their dog can be fined, but it can be hard to catch them in the act, and reporting a neighbour to authorities can often lead to ongoing hostility.

Bottles of water on the grass is a time-honoured strategy to deter dogs, but there is no evidence this is effective and no clear reason why it would be.

Dogs sometimes like to circle and find just the right spot to go, so they may prefer an area that has fewer obstacles to negotiate. Perhaps a yard bristling with lawn ornaments would enjoy some protection. (Interestingly, science听听dogs may circle around like this to align their body to face north.)

There are commercially available dog deterrents, but little evidence they are effective and under what conditions.

Some believe any strong scent may deter an animal with a very strong sense of smell from lingering long enough to take a dump. But scent travels, so heavy and repeated applications would likely be needed (and this strategy could have unintended side effects on native urban ecosystems).

Educating dog walkers is key

Aside from providing bags and a bin and enforcing leash laws particularly around carparks close to off-leash areas,听听suggests education does help.

Messages emphasising that good neighbours and members of the community diligently pick up after their dogs may be most听, as people are responsive to social messages.

If you have tried to appeal to your neighbour鈥檚 sense of community to no avail, and you鈥檙e not keen on a front yard bristling with garden gnomes and flamingos or drenched in possible dog-deterring chemicals, you could try providing bags and a sign promising surveillance.

For all the dog owners out there that do pick up after their dogs, your community thanks you.

The best way to dispose of dog faeces is in the bin. Composting requires high temperatures to neutralise the nasties in dog poop, and home composts are unlikely to get hot enough. And burying it simply allows these microorganisms to build up in the soil.

This article was original published on The Conversation as: . It was written by听Dr Melissa Starling.