9 Great Ways to Keep Flies Away From Dog Poop

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Flies love nothing more than zooming in for a feast on that fresh doggie doo on the lawn. Before you know it, those dive-bombing insects could end up in your patio or house.

Thankfully, there are a few ways you can stop this from happening. In this post, I highlight some handy homemade and store-bought deterrents that will help keep flies off your dog’s poop.

Stick around!

1 – Portion and Prevention

In my experience, the easiest and most effective way of making sure that flies aren’t swarming around your dog’s defection sites is to prevent them from popping up in the first place.

While there is sadly nothing you can feed your dog that will make their fecal matter unattractive to flies, you can still take a few preventative steps to ensure that flies don’t swarm around them.

First, you’ll want to make sure that you aren’t overfeeding your dog. The combination of dog poop along with leftover dog food will be a one-two combination flies can’t resist.

Once your dog goes, you’ll want to make sure you pick it up as soon as possible, too. The longer you leave it out there, the longer flies will have the chance to swoop down for a fecal buffet.

Once those flies stop by, they can be difficult to get rid of, even after the first batch of dog poop is gone. They can lay eggs in and around the dog poop, which can then hatch, eat new dog poop in the days to come, and repeat the process.

You’ll thus want to make sure to scoop up dog poop as well as flies’ eggs as soon as you see them.

2 – Sticky Tape and Bait

If you are still having trouble with flies buzzing around your dog’s leavings, you’ll want to consider more involved action, and that means sticky tape and bait.

Flies are attracted to your dog’s poop because of its odor, and while they may be pretty alone in their appreciation of its aroma, once they get a whiff it can be hard to stop them from coming.

However, one way to cut down on the amount of flies buzzing around your dog’s poop is to trap them once they do arrive, and sticky tape and bait bags can do just that.

Fly tape is strips of sticky tape coated in scents that attract flies, trapping them once they swoop down expecting food and instead finding themselves hopelessly stuck. Due to its odor and the structure of the tape, you’ll want to hang the tape someplace where there isn’t too much wind.

It can also be beneficial to place it in a spot where there is plenty of sunlight. If you live someplace where there is a lot of rain, you might want to consider other options.

Instead of tape, sometimes these traps take the form of adhesive sticks.

In addition to the sticky tape, you might want to consider bait bags to further entrap the flies.

3 – Fly Lamps

These are yet another fly prevention method that relies on attracting flies before capturing them. They feature a double whammy of bait inside as well as a white light that is sure to attract flies.

Even better, these fly lamps are reusable, so if you’re sick of or don’t like the idea of having to constantly buy more fly tape, or live somewhere with a lot of wind and rain, these may be another option to consider.

4 – Apple Cider, Vinegar, and Dish Soap

If you are any kind of DIY fan, you’re probably not surprised to see vinegar on this list. It’s about as big a DIY mainstay as you can imagine, and yes, it can also help you deal with fly problems as well.

Pour the apple cider and vinegar (or an apple cider vinegar concoction that has already been blended) into a bowl, and then add a bit of detergent. Don’t feel the need to overdo it – just a few drops should do – and then place the bowl near the place where your dog poops.

Flies should be attracted to the smell of apples before being trapped by the detergent, resulting in them drowning.

5 – Insect Repellent Incense

Are you someone who loves a good incense candle? Well, this may not exactly be the way you imagined using one, but it can certainly be an effective one if done right.

There are indeed incense sticks and candles that are made from materials that, when burned, release a scent that will ward off flies.

Most of these incense sticks and candles take a couple hours to burn away and are chemical-free, but some can last for up to 30 hours.

6 – Lavender Oil

Another DIY mainstay, lavender oil, is another option for shooing away flies from dog poop.

Take a sponge or small piece of cloth and dip it into lavender oil – you should need about one-half to one full cup – and then place it in a tin for a day.

The day after, remove it from the tin and place it near your dog’s food, someplace where they can’t get to it.

This recipe also works with other oils, such as eucalyptus, peppermint, and lemongrass, but unlike lavender, these should be diluted with water to a 1:3 ratio.

7 – Spray Options

You might decide that it’s just easier to spray the site of the poop to stop flies from congregating. 

If so, you’re in luck, because there is a wide range of different organic sprays that can be used for this purpose while being dog-safe.

Check different organic sprays to see if they work as fly repellent.

8 – Fly Repellent Plants

Do you have a green thumb? Do you hate flies?

Well, once again, you’re in luck because those two things taken together can plant the seeds of an ingenious way to keep flies away from your dog’s leavings.

There are plenty of plants that, once planted, are naturally fly repellent while being safe for dogs.

Among these are basil, marigold, lavender, and more.

9 – Ziplock Bags with Water

If this seems like a somewhat random option, remember that both light and water can attract flies. Here, the two things are working in tandem to trap them!

Fill the ziplock bag halfway with water and hang it where flies are a problem.Light refracting through the bag can attract the flies to the bag and, once there, they should drown in the water.

No one likes having to deal with their dog’s leavings, even more so when they are infested with swarms of flies. By following these basic fly prevention steps, you can get rid of flies around your dog’s poop and keep them from pestering you or your four-legged friend once and for all.

10. Install a Fly Zapper Device

Another thing you can do to keep flies away from your furry friend’s poop and, ultimately, away from your patio or house is to use a fly zapper. 

Fly zapper devices use ultraviolet light to attract flies. When the fly gets close, they are instantly killed by an electric charge!

You want to position the zapper about 10 feet or so from where your dog typically poops. You’ll also want to mount it about 5 feet off the ground on a wall, fence, post, or stand. 

I recommend buying a waterproof/weatherproof zapper so that you can leave it outside even if the weather is harsh. 

11. Put Up a Fan Near the Poop Zone

Putting up a fan near your dog’s pooping area has been, in my experience, extremely effective in keeping pesky flies away from that area. 

You see, flies are weak flyers and don’t like wind too much. Even a gentle fan will make it tough for them to land on poop!

For best results, I recommend using an oscillating fan that rotates back and forth. This will help you cover a wider area. 

I also recommend hanging fly paper strips near the fan. The wind will blow the flies towards the traps once they enter the fan’s breeze.

Final Thoughts

While flies will always be a nuisance around dog poop, you’re not helpless against those pesky bugs. With the tips shared in this post, you can win the battle and keep flies far away from your pup’s business. Good luck!

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