Pooper App is BullS**t but Pooper Scooper Companies Do Exist

Last week we started to see media coverage pour in for a new app called Pooper.  It's tagline was "Your dog's poop in someone else's hands."  The idea was that when your dog pooped in a public place you could log its location and call for a pooper scooper to come and pick it up for you.  Many started dubbing it the Uber for dog poop.  Newsweek, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Mother Nature Network and many more have covered the phenomena of this app (and/or how it turned out to be fake.)

We were skeptical that such a business could ultimately work.  (How could you keep the price low enough to attract users but high enough to attract would-be pooper scoopers?)  But unlike many, we were not very skeptical that such a business existed.  In fact, we were keeping an eye on it and requesting information about their progress.  After all, who knows better than we Professional Pooper Scoopers about how high the demand is for dog waste removal in a country where there are an estimated 70-80 million dogs in residence?

But, of course, Pooper turned out to be an art project aimed at satirizing our app-obsessed culture.  Does your dog poop?  There's an app for that!  Well, it turns out that there isn't.  But the good news is there is a company for it!  As long as your dog is doing his or her business on your property we will happily come and scoop it up for you.  No app needed.

Interview: Justyna Kuczaj of Waggin' Wheels Express

About a month ago I was driving in Livingston on a poop scooping route.  At a red light I saw ahead of me an extraordinarily eye-catching oversized white and black dog.  Only it wasn't a dog ... it was Waggin' Wheels Express!  The number on the dog/vehicle was 1-844-DOG-RIDE.  A ride? A taxi?  A dog taxi!  I thought, "Well this is AWESOME!"  It's awesome for people who love dogs but are so busy they can't shuttle them back and forth to doggie daycare.  Or for people who just need a break or don't want to get their car dirty.  Or for people who would like their dog to travel in the safest AND hippest dog ride ever... Waggin' Wheels Express is an incredible solution to one of dog owners' many problems.  I had to meet Justyna Kuczaj, founder and owner, and find out more about this unique dog service:

BBS: What inspired you to create Waggin’ Wheels Express?

JK: People always say best ideas originate out of a need and this is how Waggin' Wheels Express really started. I've always been a big dog person and while going through my EMBA program while working full time I realized that the only way for me to have a dog of my own would be  if somebody could help me get him to the doggie daycare. My hours were/are definitely not 9-5: I leave for work prior to doggie daycare opening up (most day cares by me are only 7 to 7) and I come back home after 7 pm. So that's how I came up with an idea of somebody taking care of the pick up and drop off to/from doggie daycare for working professionals whose schedule is not really 9-5 (and let's be honest most jobs these days are not 9-5 anymore). 

BBS: What can clients expect when they make a reservation with you?

Our business is definitely unique and there's currently nothing like that out there. There are services in the city which offer transportation for pups but it's in a minivan usually with no crates, etc. What our customers can expect is a super safe vehicle (Mercedes Sprinter) with custom made crates securely installed (i.e. no risk of movement). Crates are equipped with custom made pads which are waterproof, non-toxic and offer superior support during transport. Finally, unlike any other dog transportation companies, our car is operated by holders of commercial driver's license as they are subject to stringent Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations such as annual medical exam, drug-free history and no recent history of traffic violations and accidents.

BBS: Your goal is to make your clients’ "pooch’s tail wag every time s/he boards the … van.”  We love that!  Is it pretty safe to say that the dogs you serve are the best part of this business?

JK: Without a doubt we are in business to serve all these pups! We don't even see some of the parents of our customers as we do picks ups/drop offs when they are not home so our customer is truly every single pup on board! We have a great pleasure in chauffeuring all of our guests whether they are small or big. Sometimes customers call us asking if we take pitbulls, etc. which is sad they even have to ask this but we keep on emphasizing that we do not discriminate - we love them all. Our favorite part of the business is that through providing services to these pups we get to help homeless pooches as we match every round trip our customers take with us with a can of dog food. In 2 years we've been now in business we already donated approx. 1,000 cans of dog food to Mt Pleasant Animal Shelter!

BBS: What have been some of the biggest challenges that you've encountered along the journey?  Pun intended.

JK: The biggest challenge is getting the word out there about our services. Many people these days are still not even familiar with a concept of doggie daycares so they are having a really hard time understanding what we do when we say we take the pups from/to their houses to doggie daycares. Many people confuse us with mobile dog groomers. I thought the best way would be to describe the business as doggie taxi but then we get random calls from people in a local area asking us to pick them up (they searched for a taxi) and when I say we only transfer pups they tell me: "you've gotta be kidding me, right" and they hang up :-)

BBS: We love being introduced to dogs :-)  Tell us a little about Taffy and his influence on the business!

JK: Taffy is a very special pup! My dad found him at the mechanic garage in Chicago and brought him back with him to our then home in Pennsylvania. Soon after we got him my dad was diagnosed with cancer and passed away within few months. So during these rough few months all of us developed a special bond with Taffy. We would take him everywhere with us, even to Poland for winter holidays where we quickly realized he's not meant for cold Easter European winters. Taffy lives with my mom as I'm unfortunately not home too often due to work related travel. However, anytime I'm home I make up for that time and take him everywhere with me. Taffy used to come with us for pick ups and drop offs; however, because he enjoys barking at every single dog for some reason we stopped taking him with us because some of our customers were scared of him even though he's the most harmless pup you can think of! 

BBS: What are your dreams for the growth of Waggin’ Wheels Express over the next 10 years?

JK: Because of the convenience we bring to working professionals and assistance to homeless pups, I really would like to continue expand the business over next few years. Haven't exactly decided on the expansion strategy though....

BBS: And now for some laughs!  Tell us your favorite funny dog story.

JK: There's so many :-) Dogs are such characters! So many different personalities! I think my favorite to date was when one of the Bernese Mountain dogs we were chauffeuring one day decided he would rather sit behind the wheel than in a crate (despite the fact that our crates can even fit mastiff size dog). He situated himself behind the wheel and would not budge! His owner and 2 of us had to use lots of treats to convince him to take a back seat! It's also funny to see how pups stare at the vehicle (it looks like a dalmatian)...they usually stop and stare and then the moment we play our "Woof Woof" horn (yes we do have a woof woof signal :-) ) they start chasing us thinking it's a big dog! At least they are not confusing us for a mobile groomer!

BBS: Thank you so much!  Good luck always and see you on the road!

So there you have it.  If you have any further questions for Justyna and the crew just head on over to their website: Waggin' Wheels Express.  They are also on Facebook and Instagram.

PooPrints: DNA Testing Matches Dog Poop to Dog Owners

Tired of stepping in dog poop in your community and thinking you'll never find out who was discourteous enough to leave it there?  Well, there's actually a solution for that.  And some communities are already implementing "feces forensics" to catch "poopetrators."  Pooprints is the DNA solution for dog waste that matches un-scooped waste to the canine offender by sending it off to a lab for instant results.

PooPrints works by registering each resident dog in "BioPet Laboratories' patented DNA World Pet Registry by simple cheek swab."  When dog poop is left behind, it can be scooped and sent off to the lab.  Results are returned within two weeks and the community can then decide what steps it wants to take.  Often, residents are fined for the offense.

Who is using PooPrints?  According to their website, they are serving 1500 multifamily communities in all 50 states and Canada.  That's a lot of dog poop DNA!  They work primarily with property management companies and Parks & Recreation Departments whose goal is to reduce damage to common areas, attract more renters, prevent water contamination and more.

With coverage from People, NPR, Huffington Post and more, PooPrints can expect to keep growing!  It wouldn't be outrageous to believe that dog poop DNA testing will become a standard feature offered by multifamily community centers the world over.

But for those who, when stepping in dog poop on their own property, have no one but themselves to blame: have no fear!  You can still hire a professional residential pooper scooper company like us! ;)

Why Pick Up Dog Poop? It is a Toxic Pollutant

There is no such thing as green dog poop (unless it is literally green in which case your dog is experiencing a health issue which we will address in future blogs.)  In 1991 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified dog waste as a  "non-point source of pollution."  Your dog's poop is in the same category as herbicides, insecticides, oil, grease and other toxic chemicals.  So if you've ever said to yourself, "my dog's poop is fertilizing my lawn" ... you might want to think again!  

Picking up your dog's poop isn't only the polite thing to do when he does his business in public.  Dog poop left on your lawn is just as sure to pollute the ground and find its way to your community's water sources.  According to Zero Waste USA, "a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness and serious kidney disorders in humans."  Do you want that kind of bacteria lying around and being tracked into your home?

The good news is that hiring a Pooper Scooper company like yours truly is very affordable.  We have the tools, equipment and experience to locate and safely remove all dog poop from your property.  We bag and double bag dog poop before disposing of it.  And we sanitize our tools in between each stop in order to prevent any spreading of harmful bacteria, parasites and disease.  Contact us if you have any questions about the toxicity of your dog's poop!  We love to talk poop ;)

Interview: Chad Logan of Pick Up That Poop!

This past week we had the great honor of interviewing Chad Logan, founder of PickUpThatPoop.com.  We had previously connected via social media and as soon as we discovered how very passionate he is about dog poop we had to meet him!  After all, it isn’t every day that we connect with someone other than fellow pooper scoopers who is passionate about picking up after dogs!  So we had to get to know more about what he’s all about …

BBS: Okay, so you’re a man dedicated to educating people about dog poop.  There has to be a story behind that.  Tell us about it!

CL: I spent seven years in finance before I became a professional dog walker and now, ten years later, I'm focused on the other end of dog walking: poop.  Before Poop Bag Music, I started PickUpThatPoop.com which was a campaign to get dog owners to pick up after their dog(s) in June, 2012.  The idea for “do the right thing, pick up that poop” all started when I took our dog, Gus (a black lab mix that we adopted 13 years ago), out for his morning walk on June 10th (my birthday).  See, we have grass and trees between the sidewalk and the street outside of our town-home, and I counted not one, not three, but six piles of dog poop left behind.  Five on the grass and one right in the middle of the sidewalk.  I remember thinking, “That's my birthday wish.  I wish that every dog owner would do the right thing andpick up that poop!"  PickUpThatPoop.com became Home of the Walking Yard Sign.  We have over 30 designs to shop from: T-shirts, stickers, tote bags, mugs and more. In February 2015 I wanted a song to raise awareness on poo-pick-up.  Over one year later we now have seven "poo" songs and three songs about dog rescue. 

Yes, I started Poop Bag Music as a way to educate people about dog poop but also as a way to give back by donating 50-100% of the profit from all sales to dog rescue groups.  I strongly believe in and support pet adoption.  It started with Gus, and now Jasper, a German Shepherd mix who we adopted 4 years ago.  We need more people to adopt, and stop buying!  It makes me sad when I hear,  “But we want a puppy.”  Guess what!  There are a lot of puppies that need to be adopted too.  But please consider an older dog.  All dogs matter! 

BBS: You leave for the No Poo Left Behind Tour in early July.  Where can people find you and what can they expect from the Tour?

CL: We will be hitting the open road on July 6th for our No Poo Left Behind Tour.  As we started planning this tour I said, "No matter if we raise $500 or $50,000 the No Poo Left Behind Tour is going to happen.”  But the amount of money raised will allow us to make more stops at local parks, poo-hot-spots, dog parks and dog rescues.  It will also allow us to make one or more donations to dog rescue groups we meet on the road that need help to stay open and/or expand to help more dogs in need. I'll be posting updates and locations as we go to our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.

BBS: There are some great sponsors backing you up for this tour.  How did you connect with these folks?

CL: With help from our wonderful sponsors, we were able to build our "poo" teardrop trailer.  It took about a year connecting on social media (Twitter) posting/tweeting about our No Poo Left Behind Tour and looking for sponsors. With them and people supporting us with downloads on iTunes and walking yard sign sales we can hit the road and spread the word not the poo and help dog rescue groups at the same time. Please check out and support our sponsors.  Their logos and links can be found on our website.

BBS: So what’s the big deal, anyway?  Why is it so important that people pick up after their dogs??

CL: Picking up after your dog(s) is a big deal.  First of all, in most states it's already law and if you get caught you can face a fine of $50 - $250 and up.  Not to mention it's the neighborly thing to do.  Nobody wants poo on their shoes.  I've read that nearly two decades ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified pet waste as a dangerous pollutant in the same category as toxic chemicals and oil.  You may not live near water, but un-scooped poop from your yard is carried by overland water flow or is washed into storm drains, ending up in far away streams, rivers and ground water.

BBS: Why do people have such a hard time with dog poop and how do you think we can we reduce this aversion to picking it up!?  (Besides, of course, awesome poop songs and swag.)

CL: Most people do pick up after their dog(s.)  It's just a few that don't.  Most likely if you are out walking and you see more than one pile left behind it's from the same non-picker-upper (same person, different day/poop.)  One sure way to make people pick up after their dog(s) would be DNA testing.  It's getting bigger every year.  HOA's and apartments/property management companies are signing up for this service to catch non-picker-uppers.  On the market today we have so many tools to help us pick up that poop.  There should not be excuses.  I even talked with a lady that could not understand why people can't pick up.  She said, "If I can do it blind, everyone should be able to do it one way or another!"  Now I know my "poo" songs won't change the world overnight or be as popular as Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift.  Just remember it's to help raise funds for dog rescue groups, and might get a few more people to pick up that poop. 

BBS: Well we are definitely cheering you on!!  How about we say goodbye by exchanging our strangest poop story!  We had a dog client who was regularly eating (and eliminating …) his owner’s cash money - sometimes big bills!  Your turn.

CL: Story time.  I was walking Gus with my mother.  I usually keep the leash short when we walk by this hill full of ivy, but this time we were talking and I forgot.  Well Gus just had to do his business.  He went up the hill as far as the leash would let him.  Mom looked at me and said, “Just leave it.  Everyone else does.  If you go up there you will end up stepping in dog poop.”  Well I had to pick it up.  Not only do I own PickUpThatPoop.com but I was wearing one of my walking yard sign t-shirts.  As I was heading up the hill, mom said something to me and as I turned around, my shoes got tangled up in the ivy and down I went, still looking for the pile of dog poop.  I could not find it … oh, I found it alright … on the backside of my shorts.  Lets just say after that we don't walk pass the hill with ivy anymore!

Thanks again for this opportunity, and helping us spread word, not the poo.

Thank YOU.  Good luck on the tour!

Learn more about Chad at PickUpThatPoop.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  Check out his awesome swag in his store.   And download his poop songs here.  And remember to PICK UP THAT POOP.  (A pooper scooper can help.)

The Zone: Training Your Dog Where to Poop in Your Yard

We've had a few clients ask us if we know how to train their dog to poop in a specifically designated area in their yard.  These are folks who have a large yard and want to reduce the cost of having a pooper scooper walk the entire property or folks who simply want to know where that poop is going to be!  So we thought we'd start finding some answers for them.  

Enter Nancy Schumacher, founder of Best in Behavior and CPDT-KA Certified Dog Trainer.  She uses a positive reward-based approach to dog training and was kind enough to give us some advice on this topic.  And as she notes: summer is the best time to start this kind of poop training!  Read on for her expert advice ...

"Training your dog to take care of their ‘business’ in a specific area of your yard is easier then it sounds. It takes patience and consistency but young puppies and older dogs can be trained to go in a dedicated zone. The area does not need to have any special surface but should be a defined area. An easy way to do this is to cover a small area with mulch or to stake out an area.

If you are working with a young puppy, start first thing in the day by taking your dog out of it’s crate on a leash and quickly walking outside to the area. Do not slow down or stop as it will be easy for the pup to have an accident. Run to the zone and keep the dog on leash. When you get to the area stand still and let the pup have the length of the leash. By running to the spot you have shaken up the dogs bladder and he will most likely go immediately. When he does go give him enthusiastic praise and a treat.

The treats will be used every time for the first few days and then weaning off to a random treat now and then.  Leave any waste in the area so the smell will trigger the pup next time he is in that area. Puppies should not be allowed off leash in the yard during this training unless they have taken care of #1 and #2.  As a new pup owner you will be focused on when the dog has to go. Every time you are taking him out he goes on leash to the zone. If you catch him about to go in a different area when playing, interrupt him and bring him over to the zone. He should equate going in the zone with lots of good things; praise from you, treats and then being allowed off leash.

Older dogs need to learn that going in the Zone makes good things happen as well.  When you are training an older dog who up until now has had freedom to go wherever in the yard it is very important to establish a new routine. When the dog needs to go out, you need to put on the leash and bring him to the area. It is important that all family members are on board with this. If some people are leashing the dog and bringing him to the zone and some are not the dog will go with what he is used to which is going anywhere.  When he goes in zone be sure to make a big fuss with lots of verbal praise and a treat. Most dogs are highly motivated by food treats and will be happy to comply with going in the zone for a tasty treat.

With consistency and positive reinforcement you can train your dog to take care of business in the area you choose. Summer is a great time to start this training as the weather is warm and the days are long."

Many thanks to Nancy for taking the time and care to be our guest blogger on this topic!  If you have any questions for Nancy she can be reached via her website: http://bestinbehavior.com/.

Gate Watchers: We Do More Than Scoop Poop!

Welcome to the first installment of "We Do More Than Scoop Poop!"  There are many reasons why it's good to have a conscientious pooper scooper come to your property on a regular basis.  We often spot things that you might miss (besides the poop, of course.)  And because our job is to pay close attention and search meticulously, we also see things that other lawn care workers like landscapers might simply not notice.  

We use a lot of gates and latches in a work day.  From a simple rusted out latch to a gate knocked off its hinges to boards coming loose in a fence ... we've seen it all.  But we realize that there is a very good chance you haven't seen it.  You may regularly enter and exit your yard from a side gate rather than the house but we don't like to make assumptions.  

So if we see a problem with your gate we report it immediately.  Your scooper will ring your bell and/or we'll give you a call.  But no matter what: we will not leave your property if your gate is not secured properly.  Even if that means rigging something temporary ourselves.  

All of this just comes with the service.  Because we care about your dogs and want to make sure they're safe as well as enjoying a poop-free yard!

A Parasite Called Giardia and Your Dog's Poop

Giardia are protozoa that prey on the small intestines of animals including young puppies and older dogs.  They are transmitted when your dog comes into contact (direct or indirect) with infected feces.  This most often happens by drinking compromised water but can also happen by grooming after contact with feces that contain Giardia cysts.  The best ways you can protect your dog from this parasite are to provide him with safe drinking water and to keep him away from the feces of unknown dogs in dog parks and other public places.  

The resulting infection of contact with Giardia is called giardiasis and is often asymptomatic.  But when it does show, it can cause diarrhea and sometimes weight loss.  An infected dog's feces may be lighter in color, have an abnormally funky odor and look somewhat greasy.  We'll watch out for that for you and alert you as soon as we discover any warning signs.  And we will also be happy to bag a fecal sample for you to take to your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment options.

For more information on Giardia we suggest visiting Pet Education's thorough article on the subject.  And as we learn more we'll be sure to continue sharing!

4 Favorite Puns about Working as a Pooper Scooper

When you work as a Pooper Scooper you are inevitably bound to have some interesting conversations with people you just meet.  "Scooping dog poop on the regular" isn't exactly an answer most people might expect to hear when they inquire about how you make a living.  But before we scoopers can explain that not only do we actually do this but we also enjoy it immensely, we have to get over that awkward hurdle of just establishing it as a fact.  Yes, we pick up dog waste.  

What better way to overcome anything than to make awkward puns??  Right?  Right???  So, without further adoo, our top 4 FAVORITE (among maaaany) Pooper Scooper Puns:

ONE

"What line of work are you in?"

"The line of doody ..."

TWO

"How was work today?"

"Crappy ... literally ..."

THREE

"What do you do?"

"I'm a pooper scooper."

"Really?"

"Yeah, no shit ..."

FOUR

"How's the business doing?"

"It's picking up ..."

5 Qualities of Dog Poop that We Regularly Check

So you've hired Big Business Scoopers to clean your yard of all your dog's poop.  What a relief!  Now you never have to look at or smell that stuff again!!  (Well, that is except for those rare occasions when bad Fido decides your living room rug looks like a great toilet.)  But did you know that we do more than just clean the poop?  We check it for signs of poor health as well.

If he or she hasn't already, your veterinarian may ask questions about the quality of your dog's waste.  Professional pet health providers look for five main qualities in your dog's stool: Color, Shape, Consistency, Size, and Content.  Because your dog's poop can speak volumes about your dog's health you want it to be the BEST POOP EVER.

We at Big Business Scoopers care very much about your dog and your dog's health.  We keep these five poop health qualities in mind as we clean your yard.  After all, we're often the only ones who see your dog's poop on a regular basis!  If we notice anything out of the ordinary we make sure to notify you immediately so that you can look out for other indications of a health problem and know when to notify your vet.  

No, we won't call you every time we see a slightly soft deposit.  (Everyone has a bad day once in a while!)  But if we do notice a pattern or something particularly worrisome then we won't hesitate to let you know.  And if you ever need a stool sample to bring to the pet clinic, just let us know.  We'll be happy to bag a sample for you.  

Here's to healthy dogs and healthy dog poop!