When it comes to dog poop composting, you have to be careful.
You should never add dog poop to your regular compost bin or compost pile. It will just contaminate the rest of the pile or bin. Dog poop can contain pathogens that are unhealthy.
However, there are ways to compost dog poop. Most of them involve specifically designed in ground composters that work sort of like a septic system. Part of the bin will be buried into the ground, where it can break down over time and keep any potential pathogens away from the rest of your yard or garden.
The Doggie Dooley Dog Poop Composter Model 3000 is designed just like a mini septic tank. It has a galvanized steel tank with small drainage holes in the bottom. You bury it in the ground, where you only see the lid. You dig a hole 48 inches deep so that there is additional drainage room underneath the unit. It comes with a special digester enzyme that breaks down the poop and keeps the unit empty. It should never fill up if installed and used properly. This unit is not a good choice for clay soils with poor drainage, but a good choice for other types of soil. It is suitable for 2 large dogs or up to 4 smaller dogs. It costs in the $49 range, and comes with 6 months worth of enzyme. You can buy additional enzyme inexpensively. You have to keep everything moist and add water regularly to make it work.
The Deluxe Doggie Dooley Large Pyramid Dog Poop Composter is similar to the Model 3000, except that it uses a leech bed style system instead of a septic style system. That means that you don’t have to dig as deep of a hole underneath the unit when you install it. Once again, it comes with 6 month’s worth of enzymes, and is suitable for 4 small dogs or 2 big dogs. This dog poop composter also does not work well with heavy clay soil that doesn’t drain well. You have to add water regularly to keep everything breaking down correctly. It costs around $57 or so.
Hi, thanks for the article… very useful. I recently threw a months wort of dog poo in my girlfriends compost bin…… ouch, she’s not very happy about it. Is it really that bad? what is we use the compost for non editable plants only? thanks
@Ian Cremona, Since dogs are carnivores their food typically has meat in it and therefore its typically not added to compost bins to decrease the chances of harmful bacteria, etc being introduced. Yes, not using the compost in a vegetable garden will likely be ok but buy her something nice and beg her for forgiveness to smooth things over.
We have a 50-acre farm on clay soil and have a large dog. I was wondering if I could dig a deeper and/or larger hole and add a better draining base material? or do you think there is a way to access the septic system as you would a conventional city-type sewage clean-out access port?
Or, any other ideas
Doogie Dooley makes a large model designed like a septic tank that it suitable for up to two large dogs, so you might consider that model.
https://amzn.to/3eJ8aXV
I am going to build a digester with a salvaged air compressor tank that holds approx 60 gallons. Overkill but it’s what I have available. My soil is clay soil but I have an idea that should solve that problem. I’m going to dig the hole deeper and wider than needed and in the bottom dig down with a post hole digger as deep as I can. Then I’ll fill the bottom with crushed rock, so it should drain well.
I will back fill the sides with base gravel instead of dirt to allow rain to get in easier.
Having good drainage like this and the 60 gallon size should allow for adequate break down even if it is slower.
We only have 1 dog who should not be much bigger than 60 lbs when he’s fully grown so I think we should be ok for a while anyway.
My hope is that I can train the dog to poop and pee all in the area that I install the digester so all the mess and smell is in one spot. I will be putting a seal under the lid and making it so it actually closes right so if I clean up the mess fast enough the smell should only come out when the lid is opened.
I’ve also heard several ideas that help break down the solid waste. Septic starter, yeast, rotten tomatoes!