Scooping your pup’s poop is an inevitable part of being a dog parent (at least a responsible one). But that doesn’t mean it needs to be a harrowing task. Nowadays, there are all sorts of products specifically designed to clean up after your dog. The trick is to find the one that works best for you because there are pros and cons to pooper scoopers.
Finding the Perfect Pooper Scooper
Before deciding on the best way to scoop your dog’s poop, think about your dog’s habits and, well, doody. Does your dog have small or large poops? Do you go on daily walks, or does your pup do most of their business in your backyard? How’s your hand strength? Can you handle a scooper that requires you to squeeze and hold tension, or do you need an easier method?
Do you have one dog, two dogs, or five dogs? Are your pups small or massive, or somewhere in between? What’s your budget and tolerance for environmentally-conscious products?
By now, you’re thinking, “Whoa, I didn’t know there was so much to think about when it came to picking up my dog’s poop.” But that’s okay because we’ve compiled some of the more popular poop-scooping products and put them in one place so you can find the right one for your pup.
1. The Basic Bag
A longstanding classic, poop bags have been the go-to for picking up dog waste for over a hundred years. Dog parks, pet-friendly hotels, pet stores, and similar places typically have doggie waste stations stocked with a poop bag dispenser and trash can.
Pros
- Lightweight and extremely portable, making them easy to bring on walks
- Affordable
- Simple to use
- Scented poop bags available to mask odors
- Attaches to your pup’s leash easily with a dispenser (or stuff a few in your pocket)
Cons
- High risk of touching the poop with your hands if you’re not careful
- Designed to be tossed after one use, so it is not eco-friendly
- Some plastic bags are thin and flimsy, leading to breaks and messes
2. Bin and Rake
A rake and bin are a classic poop-scooping combo. They make it easier to pick up multiple piles of poop without stooping or stopping.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Has an option to use a bag for easier clean-up
- Lightweight
- Long-handle, so no need to stoop to scoop
- Can pick up multiple piles at once before needing to empty the bin or dispose of the bag
Cons
- Not very durable, making it not the best for tougher pick-ups and surfaces
- Not ideal for bringing on a walk or travel because of the size and two-handed design
3. Spring Action Scooper
This spring action scooper gets a lot of praise for its ability to pick up poop without having to stoop. You squeeze the handle to open the scoop and grab the waste. In theory, it sounds great, but according to some users, it has its drawbacks.
Pros
- You don’t have to touch the poop to pick it up
- Affordable at under $15
- Easy to clean
- One-handed design
- Foldable for easier storage
- Extendable design means you can pick up poop without bending over
Cons
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Tension on the handle can make it difficult for some users to use
- Repeatedly squeezing the handle can also lead to pain in the hands
- Doesn’t work well on all surfaces
- You can't pick up multiple poops without the previous ones falling out, so you need to transfer piles to a bag or bin in between each scoop
- Large size makes it cumbersome for bringing on walks or travel
- The teeth on the scoop don’t meet all the way, allowing smaller bits of poop to slip through when it closes
- Poop gets smeared and smushed by the claw - making it messy
4. Portable Pooper Scooper
This portable poop scoop looks like a little purse specifically designed to hold your dog’s waste. It attaches to your pup’s leash and allows you to pick up after your furry friend with one hand.
Pros
- Has an integrated waste bag compartment
- Attaches to your dog’s leash for hands-free walks
- One-handed design
- Lightweight
- Affordable price
- Expandable backside to hold more waste
Cons
- Doesn’t work well on all surfaces
- Even the larger size is too small for multiple piles from large pups
- Nothing keeps previous piles in place when you pick up the next
5. Poop Vacuum
In theory, the idea of sucking up your dog’s poop quickly, no muss-no fuss, sounds great. This cordless dogwalker vacuum lets you banish your pup’s waste in the blink of an eye.
Pros
- Longer-handled design means less stooping
- No contact pick-up and clean-up
- Disposable cups make it easy to clean
- Scented cups help mask odors
- One-handed design keeps your other hand free
Cons
- Pricey for a poop scoop, costing over $75
- Not recommended for dogs over 50 pounds
- You need to remember to charge it, or you’re out of luck
- Replacement cups are pricey, roughly $25 for 30 cups
- Your dog may not like the sound and suction when you’re using it on your walk
- Cup only holds so much poop, so not the best for picking up multiple piles at once
6. The Lift N’ Bag
The Neater Pets Lift N’ Bag is the best tool on the market for scooping your dog’s poop. It easily tackles piles big and small, making it ideal for single or multi-dog households. It’s lightweight, requiring only one free hand to use, so it’s easy to bring along when walking your dog.
Pros
- Can be used with one-hand
- Scoop directly into bag
- Can pick up multiple poops with a single bag - saving you money and reducing plastic waste
- Scented bags help mask odors
- Less messy than some other devices since it won't smear or smoosh poop
- Works on all surfaces
- Comes with extra-capacity bags
- Lightweight yet durable
Cons
- There is an initial learning curve to figure out the best angle to use it
To use the Lift N' Bag, you will want to come in at a slight angle so you aren't stabbing the tines into the ground, but you also aren't skewering the poop. You simply need to slide the tines UNDER the poop and LIFT to BAG it, all in a seamless one-handed motion. If you do accidentally skewer some poop, slide it off in the grass, and scoop again. If the scoop tines are messy after that - give it a quick blast from your garden hose.
Get the Scoop!
Find out more about the Lift N’ Bag, and see how it can totally change how you handle your dog’s business. For more tidbits and tricks on how to be a fabulous pet parent, check out the rest of the Neater Pets blog.