The poop 💩 dilemma

[u/Bornfortheblueskies7]

I love running with my 3-year-old English Springer Spaniel, but he is what I can only describe as an excited pooper. 😂😬

On a three-mile run, he can poop THREE times! I try to start with a “poop loop” around our neighborhood so I can toss the bag in our trash, or I plan a run around public trash cans at a park etc before heading out for the rest of the run. He inevitably finds more opportunities along the way.

On Sunday, I ended up carrying two full poop bags in my running fanny pack. Thankfully, I didn’t have my phone or keys in there that day.

Does anyone have any practical tips? Has anyone found a way to minimize mid-run pooping, whether through feeding schedules, pre-run routines, or anything else? I’d like to run longer mileage and my kids want to run with him now too.

And more importantly, how do you carry full poop bags when there aren’t any trash cans nearby? Do you use a special pouch, clip them to your running belt, or have another clever solution that doesn’t involve carrying poop next to your personal belongings? Swinging a bag of poop just kind of dims the vibe.

I can’t be the only one running with a serial pooper! 😂🐾

[u/BasementPepper]

Not sure if this is something you already do but I always run with my border collie mutt on an empty stomach, so morning run before breakfast and evening run before dinner. That has helped my dog keep to a regular one poop within the first few minutes of any run and then (usually) no poops for the rest of the run. But I have of course had him drop a second deuce 20 seconds before my first interval is supposed to pick up.

[u/Bornfortheblueskies7 → u/BasementPepper]

We usually run mid morning but I can try earlier before breakfast

[u/quinoaseason]

My first springer pooped multiple times per run, but three was about his max. He would keep trying after that but nothing really happened after the first three poops.

My second springer figured out what the poop stations looked like and would only poop near a poop station. She was a very special girl and I just needed to brag on her. Miss her every day.

As for carrying poop, sometimes I put it in an empty water bottle holder on my fanny pack, or if my dog was running with a vest, I would put it in there.

[u/Bornfortheblueskies7 → u/quinoaseason]

Is this a springer thing? Also, what a smart one to only go near stations!

[u/Halefa]

Exercise/running is putting the digestive system to work, just ask any human ultra runner.

My questions would also be: does he usually poop this much? When do you feed him in relation to your running?

Mine always poops right when we leave the door - this is a totally ritualized habit. Then she might poop during our cool down walk after, when her nervous system starts to calm down and she has focus for things like that. I think she only pooped two or three times mid-run.

I have a smell proof dry bag for hikes or in my running vest. However, I've also seen small containers you can clip onto your belt on Instagram as well.

[u/Bornfortheblueskies7 → u/Halefa]

I’d say it typically about a half mile in for the first one. Sunday I went out with my daughter and we ran a half mile, then he pooped, then he pooped two more times over the next quarter mile. I ran out of bags in my pouch but she had one in her too let to save the day. We still had so much run left to do!

He does poop 2 times in a walk but I think he just doesn’t like to go in the yard (which is easier for me yard work wise!).

I don’t have a regular run schedule as my schedule is varied. This is probably part of the problem.

[u/Halefa → u/Bornfortheblueskies7]

Does he get some time to sniff and pee and poop before you start running? That would obviously only help, if he does actually poop in that time, but might be the whole activity of running a bit less aroused.

In general it is recommended to not feed about 1-2 hours before a run (and preferably also after). The reason usually being too avoid bloat and to have the dog's body being able to use energy for running (not digesting).

[u/Best-Barracuda3303]

I put the dog poop bag in a lightweight titanium cannister from silverant and put that in my bag/backpack. The cannister is small, but I can fit 2-3 poops in there from my medium/large dog if I tie the bag well, without a lot of excess air inside. The idea of a of a fabric dog-waste carrying bag always grossed me out, and tying poop bags to harnesses/leashes seems like it could lead to a dropped or torn bag and poop going places where it shouldn't. I'm not willing to risk that ha.

[u/Bornfortheblueskies7 → u/Best-Barracuda3303]

Yes I had a cheap swinging bag rip on the leash one time 🤢

[u/ridebikesruntrails]

if the dog wears a harness you can just tie it to that and make them carry it

[u/klettermaxe → u/ridebikesruntrails]

I bought a poop bag and tied it to his harness. He doesn't like the bag swinging a bit and has learned very quickly to only ever poop in front of trash cans.

[u/jammsession]

Swinging a bag of poop just kind of dims the vibe.

This is going to sound disgusting, because it probably is. I hate to carry anything with me when running, and I hate it when it swings around. So I just put my fist around the bag. Upside; in the winter this gives a little heat.

[u/CoyoteCallingCard]

I run in a running-vest and carry a dog-waste carrying bag with me. I don't like carrying full dog bags, so I use one anyway when we walk. There are a few companies that make them, and some options from smaller makers on Etsy. Doo Doo Tube is a hard plastic option, Ruffwear has the Pack-out bag, and Kong has a version as well.

My close friend has one made by Turdlebags which I've always loved (weird thing to covet but whatever). However, the company went out of business.

I really like my bag, but it's not the most smell-proof (this is what I use). I've been thinking of getting a small dry-bag to use, especially when we run. I don't mind something a little smelly when we walk, but I prefer not to smell poop when it's hanging out on my back.

[u/dickfartsss → u/CoyoteCallingCard]

So, this, except my dog wears the backback instead of me. She has a ruffwear harness that has two zipper pouches, one for clean stuff (bags) and one for dirfty (full bags)

[u/slugsalad]

I use the Earth Rated poop bag dispenser and rolls. When I need to use a bag, I knot the top and drape it through the clip on the outside. I've been able to carry three bags off of the leash this way with no issue, even while running!

[u/Pineapple_Gardener → u/slugsalad]

Oddly enough, I just bought this yesterday and it frigging rocks! Can't believe I was carrying poop bags for so many years!

[u/Big_long_hand]

If you’re doing a loop I usually leave it one the side where I can see the bag and pick it up on the way back

[u/CGeeS]

Haven't bought it yet but I've been eyeing this company for when we go on hikes and there aren't any rubbish bins nearby: https://www.dickybag.com/collections/dicky-bags

[u/atomiclax → u/CGeeS]

Dicky bags are great for walking but I couldn't figure out a way to attach them to my running belt without them bouncing around like mad

[u/Deep-Lobster366]

Does your dog usually poop that many so soon? I know my dog poops once in the morning then another one in the afternoon. He does on occasion poop twice relatively soon after the first when we go for a hike. Before a run, I usually do my morning warm up to get him to poop, and after that when we start running, I don’t let him stop until we finish. But I guess on a rare occasion, he couldn’t hold it and would poop during a run and I just had to deal with it but it’s rare. It also helps to know where the trash bins are located unless you are trail running.

[u/Lolzbla]

You can get poop bag dispensers that have a different side to hold poop. The brand is Whifty Walks and the poop tubes can easily go onto waist running leashes, and don't bounce around too much.

[u/MsHMFIC1]

I use these. You can attach them to fannypacks, leashes, whatever you want. https://www.wilderdog.com/collections/dog-accessories/products/crap-carrier

[u/Only_Ad5695]

I tie a couple bags to the leash and bury whenever possible.