Montana Dog Owners Debate Proper Trail Poop Etiquette

Every time we get ready to take our dog for a walk, there are two things we make sure we always have: one is a leash, and the other is poop bags.

Our dog lives to go on walks. When we take him out, like most dogs, he takes the opportunity to do his business. The crazy thing about our dog is that on a half-hour walk, he will do his business three or four times.

My wife and I debate the “bag of dog poo etiquette” all the time. Once the poo is bagged, the question is, do we carry it with us, or leave it and get it on the way back?

There are a lot of people who leave the bag on the side of the trail, and we assume they will pick it up on their way out of the area. Then there are those who pack it with them for the rest of the hike. Meanwhile, some may conveniently forget to pick up the bag on their way out and leave it for someone else to pick it up.

Why Dog Poop Bags on Trails Upset Hikers

We asked our listeners what they thought about the bag on the side of the trail. Almost every response was that they don’t like it, even if the person takes it with them on their way out. They think that leaving the bag for even a short period of time is rude and disgusting.

Is Leaving Bagged Dog Waste Ever Acceptable?

Some people would rather see the waste left out in the elements than be bagged in the first place. If there are dogs on hikes, there will always be debate about what to do with their waste.

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For the record, if there was ever a situation where we had left a bag on the side of a trail, we always picked it up. But after reading the responses about etiquette, I am going to get a device so the dog can carry his own bags on our hikes from now on.