What's the Scoop about Scoops
A Pet Sitter and Multi-Dog Mom shared insights to pooper scoopers and which one she is using now.
Chris the Critter Sitter
7/24/20264 min read
As a long-time pet sitter, I have owned and used many different pooper scoopers. Not really a topic that is glamourous to discuss, but it is an important part of working with and owning dogs.
In this post, I will take a moment to share my thoughts and highlight the one I am using now.
1) The basic, standard pooper scooper. This scooper almost always comes with a spade and a rake. I personally prefer the spade as to the rake. The rake gets caught in the grass and leaves. The rake is also not that effective when picking up pooh that is...well...not as formed. That's just my two-cents worth, some clients and pet owners prefer the rake. The standard, basic pooper scooper usually comes in two sizes, the average size and extra large. They are usually metal which is easy to clean and is more durable. There are plastic options available as well, which are still easy to clean, but may not be as durable as the metal. They average in price from as low as $15 to about $30.
2) The Claw Pooper Scooper. I really have never been a fan of the claw pooper scooper. The only reason is because it isn't really functional for multi-dog families, in my option anyway. The scoop is usually only large enough for one dog's deposits OR if you have picked up one dog's deposits and go on to pick up another one, you end up dropping the first load. The teeth on the claw pose the same issues as the rake in the standard scoop, as sometimes they get caught in the grass and such. I have also found that the claw is hard to empty when the pooh is not formed well. (I told you this isn't glamorous topic.) It seems the claw pooper scooper is more work than it's worth. This is just a personal preference...and again, the review is coming from someone that has to clean up after multiple pets. For single pet or small pet families, the Claw Scooper is sufficient. I have several clients who prefer this option for cleaning up after their pets. The Claw Scooper is priced pretty comparatively to the standard, basic scooper. This particular set runs about $57 but includes two scoopers and a great bin for disposal. Aside from this set, the scoopers usually run from $15 to $30.
3) The Large Industrial Dust Pan. Not really a pooper scooper per se, but I have used the Large Dust Pan on many occasions for multi-pet clean up. I owned a doggy daycare a pet hotel for about 10 years and the large dust pan was my go-to for cleaning up after my furry guests. I also managed the boarding area for a large veterinarian clinic, and this is what we used, and for years, I continued to use the large dust pan at my own house to clean up after my large pack. It is great because you can clean almost the whole yard before filling the pan. It's easy to clean. The only downside I found was when I went to dump the pan, I usually ended up making a mess :) Of course, this option does not include the spay or the rake. There are metal or stainless steal options available. I don't think the pan is as big as this standard, yellow plastic one, but the metal options would be more durable, and easy to clean. This option ranges from $22-$30 for the plastic pan to the $20-$40 for the metal pans. I may actually consider the metal pan once my current pooper scooper needs to be replaced.
4) Pooper Scooper with Bags. As mentioned, I had been using the large dust pan as my pooper scooper. My lawn guy ran over my scooper, so I had to replace it. As I was researching options, I came across this particular pooper scooper set. Since then, I have purchased two. (My lawn guy ran over my first one HA) What I like about it is that it has the option to add a bag so that the deposits are already in a bag and easy to dispose of when full. You can purchase replacement bags. You can actually use grocery bags, but they don't fit as well. What I don't like about it...as mentioned in option one, it comes with the rake instead of the spade. I have intended to replace the rake but have just never done it. I guess the rake is kinda growing on me, except in the fall when I rake more leaves than poop. The pan is larger than some scoopers. With as many dogs that are in my pack or that come to visit, I could use a larger pan but have done fine with this one. So, as of now, this is my top-pick.
Cleaning up after your dog is not a fun task, but is just part of owning a dog. It's good for their health and your, as well as the health of the yard. It also cuts down on flies, ew, and other nasty pest.
Thank you and give your pets extra hugs and pats on the head from me.
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