All dogs occasionally have an accident indoors, but the way you clean it up can determine whether your little dog does it again. Even if the spot looks clean to you, your dog's powerful smelling ability will enable it to find its own scent there and lead it to use the same place again. When your dog makes a mess indoors, use an enzymatic cleaner to wipe it up. Such products contain bacteria and enzymes that actually digest the proteins in the waste, neutralizing the odors rather than just masking them. Using homemade solutions or store-bought products containing ammonia will make matters worse. Urine itself contains ammonia, so rather than deterring the dog, this smell calls it back to the same spot. Using a steam cleaner to remove urine is not a good idea either — the heat from the machine can permanently set the stain in your carpet.

Soak the area with the enzyme cleaner for about ten minutes before blotting it up with paper towels or a soft cloth, and then allow it to dry naturally. Stubborn stains may need to be treated more than once. If the dog dirties scatter rugs, blankets, or other bedding material, use baking powder or dry bleach along with your regular detergent when you launder these items to ensure that you eliminate the odor completely. Stool stains on the carpet may be removed with a solution of liquid dish detergent, warm water, and vinegar.

Outdoor cleanup is also vitally important. If your little dog has been snacking on its own stool, regular cleanup will remove the temptation. Keeping your dog on a leash when you take it out will also help. Pooper-scoopers and doggie bags are readily available where pet supplies are sold to make this job more manageable.

In addition to keeping your yard clean, it's a good idea to get into the habit of picking up after your dog because you'll need to do it everywhere you go with your dog. It's part of being a responsible dog owner. Not picking up the poop when you and your dog go walking can lead to major problems with your neighbors. You may also be violating the law. Some municipalities fine owners who neglect to pick up after their dogs.

In heavily populated areas, the runoff from dog waste can pollute lakes and streams. In addition to soil and water contamination, it causes foul odors and attracts disease-carrying insects and rodents. In outdoor areas, including your own backyard, dog feces may be infested with microscopic organisms that spread diseases to humans. Salmonella is the most common bacterial infection present in dog excrement, causing fever, muscle aches, headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea. Hookworms found in dog stool are transmittable to children who run barefoot or handle dirt in such contaminated areas. Roundworm is another danger, capable of causing damage to the lungs, liver, and eyes of humans exposed to dog waste.