Winter was long, and the snow was deep. And if you’re anything like most of us, you were not about to scoop outside in a blizzard every time your dog did their business. 

But now that the snow is melting, what has been hiding under all that winter frost is emerging. Yes, we are talking about dog poop. There will be lots of it.

Now, as the spring season is about to arrive, it’s time to clean it up. Cleaning up dog waste is nobody’s idea of fun, but it’s one of those chores that needs to be done. 

Here, we’ll share some tips that will make this annual spring chore a little less awful and a whole lot easier. 

#1 Use a Rake, Not Just a Pooper Scooper

Your standard pooper scooper? It’s a nice thought, but it won’t be the ideal option for the large-scale mess. 

Those little scoopers are fine for day-to-day clean-up. But when you’re dealing with a whole winter’s worth of landmines, you need something bigger. 

Get yourself a pooper scooper rake to scrape up the mess. A good rake can help loosen up any poop that has been flattened into the grass or frozen in place. 

Opt for a rake with a wider tray and base. DogTime says that it will allow you to pick a week’s worth of poop in one swoop. You won’t have to go back and forth from the yard to the trash can. 

Want to make things easier? Try a poop-specific rake and pan combo—kind of like a dustpan for your yard.

#2 Speed Things up With a Leaf Blower

Your leaf blower isn’t just for fall. If you’ve got a yard full of dried-up dog waste, fire up that blower and let it do the hard work for you.

Instead of painstakingly hunting down each little pile, just blow everything into one big, manageable area. Then, all you have to do is scoop it up and toss it. Boom—way less time, way less effort.

Just a heads up: everything must be dry. Else, wet or mushy poop and high-speed wind will double the work, and you wouldn’t want that, would you?

Another thing to keep in mind is to place the leaf blower at the right angle. Aim low so you’re nudging the mess, not launching it into the neighbor’s yard or, worse—your porch. When done right, this little trick can shave so much time off your clean-up.

If you don’t have a leaf blower and are planning to buy one, opt for a cordless model. 

There are a lot of pros of this leaf blower. According to BBC Gardeners’ World, it’s quiet, lightweight, and environmentally friendly. 

#3 Work in Sections

Don’t tackle the whole yard at once. You’ll get overwhelmed, annoyed, and probably quit halfway through. The trick? Break it up into sections.

Divide your yard into zones and focus on one at a time. Maybe start with the worst area—usually wherever your dog prefers to do its business—and work your way out. Or, if you need motivation, start with an easy section to build momentum. 

Have a huge yard? Mark off small areas with cones, sticks, or mental checkpoints. Finish one? Move on to the next.  

This will turn the job into bite-sized tasks. And before you know it, your yard will be clean, and you won’t lose your mind in the process.

#4 Hire a Dog Poop Cleanup Service

Did your dog have a very productive winter? Your yard might look like a landmine field of frozen regrets. It’s time to call in the pros, then. 

Pooper scooper services, also known as pet waste collection services, can save you the time and effort of cleaning up after your dog, says Scoop Soldiers. 

No scooping, gagging, or stepping in something unfortunate—they will handle all of it for you. They will show up, clear out every last pile, and leave your yard looking and smelling way better.

In Washington, for instance, around two dozen companies offer this service. Say, you’re from Spokane and want a dog poop cleanup service to clean your yard in the first week of spring. 

In that case, search for the “best pooper scooper in Spokane” and tons of options will pop in front of you. Shortlist the highest-rated ones, research reviews, and hire the one that offers top-notch service. 

Whether you’ve got one dog or a whole furry squad, these services can do a one-time deep clean or even come weekly. That way, you won’t have to think about cleaning poop from your yard again. 

Book early, though. There aren’t too many dog poop cleanup services. On top of that, pet parents book dog poop cleanup services for their yards several weeks in advance. You will have to wait for a long time to avail the service if you don’t hire a pooper scooper before spring arrives. 

Cleaning up dog poop in the spring will never be fun. But these tips can at least make it a little less painful. Plus, once it’s done, you can finally enjoy your yard without worrying about stepping in something unpleasant. Worth it, right?