Dogs, dog dirt and the fells

Where, as the old joke goes, do you stand on dog dirt?

Messy issue: Some say education is the answer in the battle against dop fouling and other are only to happy to spell out their message

In town centres, the answer to dog dirt is now clear: you must scoop it up and put it in a bin. But what about on the fells?

Fellwalkers have become aware over the last few years of the increasing number of plastic bags left hanging from trees or left beside rocks like some votive offering to the gods. Dog owners have tried to be sensible and put the dog dirt into bags but then find there's nowhere to put the bags. And the idea that councils would supply and regularly empty poop scoop bins throughout the Lake District is, of course, nonsensical. One of my friends did, very bravely, tie the bag to their rucksack and waited until they returned to civilisation to dispose of it. Hats off to them. But my feeling - and that of many other folk - is that on the fells it really doesn't matter. Just leave the poop on the ground and it will disintegrate naturally along with sheep, cow and poo from other animals. However, I did notice one couple last weekend come up with perhaps the perfect answer. Their dog pooped (on the side of the Cumbrian Way footpath) and they sought out a large piece of shale with which to cover it. This ensured no one else stood in it but left it for nature to recycle. Is this the best way to handle dog poo (that's not what I mean!) or is there a better way? Answers please...

* I have been off ill lately so apologies for not posting for a while. I'm still bravely fighting for the bug but will hopefully be back to posting regularly.