Scooping: actual technique, the flat instance

I mentioned briefly in my last post, the usual scoop technique, which I call the Claw. Fingers are slightly spread with a curve to them, like a rounded rake. In some instances (such as for large dogs like rottweilers), a two-handed system is required, with the two claw hands coming together and allowing grass to slip out of the grabbed material. This works for piles in tall grass.

Flat piles:
If you have not scooped your yard in a long time, and you live in Seattle where it rains a lot, you will need to handle piles that have been spread flat. There is still enough material that you need to scoop it. Another case when you might encounter a flat pile is when your dog is not feeling too well or has eaten the wrong thing, if you know what I mean.

For these you will need a two handed technique. The two hands come together from opposite sides of the pile, through the walls of the bag. When the hands meet, the bag and hands are inverted so the poop falls into the bottom of a fresh bag. (I suggest using this technique with fresh bags until you have enough experience to be confident and adept at using a bag for multiple piles.) When you are scooping a flat pile, use the side of your hands, though the bag of course, and try to get under the pile as much as possible. If it is totally melted into the ground, you will at best get a squigi effect. It's still worth scooping because you can get most of the material. Using the pinky-finger side of your hands, squigi the two sides of the pile together.

bag position:
Position the bag with the opening pointing down toward the pile and your thumbs pointing up toward the closed end og the bag. Make sure the sides of your hands are still on the plastic! A good choice would be about half way down the side of the bag. You'll need enough space to contain the material, with plenty of room for closing the top of the bag. Place the bag over the pile, squigi your hands together, and invert the bag. This may sound easier than it is.

Sometimes I give a little toss to get the material to go into the bag, and then scrape the ground again with my fingertips to get the rest. Again, through the plastic of course! There will probably be some material you cannot get, so don't worry too much about it. Once the bag is right side out with the poop inside, don't try to get any more with that bag. I mean, feel free, but be prepared to go inside and wash your hands with soap without touching anything on the way. Also note, with any use of fingertips, to mind that your fingernails do not puncture the plastic.

checking hands for contamination:
First look, and then smell. Sometimes eyes miss what the nose doesn't. For an accurate reading you may have to walk several steps from the pile and the bag.

Bag management:
Immediately after inverting the bag with poop inside, squeeze the bag together at the lowest clean point on the sides of the bag. The technique includes squeezing the air out to prevent tears from popped bags. Then twist the plastic tightly at that point. Assuming your handles are clean enough, go ahead and twist up the bag and tie a knot in the twisted rope-like section. Getting the bag twisted ASAP will significantly reduce the odor, and makes scooping much more bearable.