Best Dog Poop Scooper for the Yard (and How to Keep It Clean)

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A good pooper scooper lets you clear the yard standing up, without a bag over your hand for every pile. This guide covers why yard cleanup matters for your family’s health, the main types of scooper, what to look for, the two yard scoopers in our catalog and others that reviewers tried.

How we wrote this: hands-on notes come from Spots.com, which says it tested 14 pooper scoopers in the yard with its own dogs (filmed in 2022 with host Tara Lynn, picks rechecked on 9 October 2026), and from Consumer Reports, where writer Debbie Wolfe, who has two dogs, evaluated three scoopers (published August 2024, updated January 2026; the full results are for members, so we also use a TV segment on its picks from November 2024). Health advice comes from the CDC and the Companion Animal Parasite Council. Product facts come from the makers’ own pages, checked on 1 November 2026. We did not test these scoopers ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Why picking up the yard matters

It is easy to let a back yard go for a few days, but the CDC is clear: “Dog poop should be picked up, even in your own yard, and especially in areas where children may play.” It warns that dog poop can carry germs that make people and animals sick.

• Roundworms. The CDC explains that toxocariasis can spread to people through contact with the poop of dogs and cats with roundworm, and that the eggs can get into people’s mouths through contaminated dirt or unwashed hands. The Companion Animal Parasite Council adds that roundworm eggs may build up in large numbers in the soil where pets leave feces, and that children should not play where animals have passed feces.
• Pick up every time. The CDC’s advice is to pick up your pet’s waste every time, bury it or bag it and put it in the trash, and wash your hands after handling pet waste.
• Wash your hands, even with a tool. The CDC says to wash your hands after contact with dog poop, even if you use a bag. A scooper keeps your hands further away, but it does not replace hand washing.
• Your dog’s health too. CAPC advises keeping your dog’s living area clean and removing feces regularly, along with a parasite prevention and stool check plan. Ask your vet what your dog needs, and see your vet if you notice worms in your dog’s poop.

There is a neighborhood side too. Consumer Reports notes that leaving dog waste on your lawn or the pavement harms the local watershed, and that a single dog can produce up to 274 pounds of solid waste a year.

The main types of pooper scooper

Rake and tray

Two long-handled pieces that work like a broom and dustpan: the rake pulls the poop onto the tray. Spots.com liked this style best for yards because you can walk around and pick up several piles before you empty the tray, and it says you control how much you scoop, so you take less grass with it. The trade-off is that you need both hands.

Rake and swivel bin

A rake plus a lidded or rotating bin, often lined with a bag. The Arm and Hammer Swivel Bin and Rake works this way: you rotate the bin to tip the waste out, and its bags hook onto the bin so you do not touch the waste (Petmate).

Jaw or claw scoop

One tool you squeeze to open a pair of jaws that close around the pile. Spots.com found this style picks up cleanly from underneath, but it holds one pile at a time, so for a whole yard you carry a bag and empty it as you go. Spots.com also warns that jaw scoops can struggle in taller grass and may not close well on rocks. In the owner posts that Spots.com read, durability was the big complaint about plastic jaw scoops, with hinges and handles that broke.

Handheld bag scoops

Small scoops that hold a poop bag, made for walks more than yards. They keep your hand away from the pile, but as Spots.com points out, they need a new bag for every pile, so they do not cut down on plastic. For walks, plain bags are often enough; see our guide to the best dog poop bags.

What to look for in a yard scooper

• Handle length. If bending is hard for you, look for a long handle. Pawler’s handles are 36 inches or more (Pawler); the Arm and Hammer’s adjustable handle is 32 inches (Petmate).
• Capacity. A big tray or bin means fewer trips to the trash, which matters with a large dog or several dogs. Pawler’s tray is 9.5 by 9 inches.
• Your ground. Check what the maker says about grass, gravel, dirt or pavement, and remember Spots.com’s warning that jaw scoops can struggle in long grass and on rocks.
• One hand or two. Jaw scoops work one-handed; rake sets need two hands but hold more. Spots.com notes that squeeze handles can be hard for people with limited grip or range of motion.
• Material and cleaning. Metal sets can be rinsed off; Pawler says its set is rust-proof metal and aluminum. Plastic is lighter, but owner reports gathered by Spots.com point to breakage over time.
• Bags. Some bins use bags, some do not. A rake and tray can be emptied straight into a lined trash can.

The yard scoopers we list

Pawler Rake and Extra Large Tray Set: best for big yards and several dogs

The Pawler Pooper Scooper Rake and Extra Large Tray Set has a rake and a 9.5 by 9 inch tray on handles of 36 inches or more, made of rust-proof metal and aluminum. Pawler says it works on grass, gravel, dirt and garden beds, it puts together with push pins and no tools, and the handles have holes for hanging it up (Pawler).

Spots.com named it best overall. Host Tara Lynn compared it to a broom and dustpan for the yard: you can collect several piles without walking to the trash after each one, and the long handles mean no bending. The one drawback Spots.com lists is that it is a two-piece set, so you need both hands. Spots.com has not re-tested it since 2022, but rechecked that it is still sold.

Arm and Hammer Swivel Bin and Rake: Consumer Reports’ Editor’s Choice

The Arm and Hammer Swivel Bin and Rake pairs a rake with a large swivel bin on a lightweight 32 inch adjustable handle. You rotate the bin to empty it, and it comes with two easy-tie bags with baking soda odor control that hook to either side of the bin. Petmate says it works on grass, dirt and pavement (Petmate).

Consumer Reports named it Editor’s Choice. In a TV segment on Consumer Reports’ picks, vet technician Lauren Anthony said it suits large dogs or multi-dog homes, scooped straight into the bin and dumped into the trash, and will get the job done if you go a few days without picking up the yard. Its handle is shorter than the Pawler’s, going by the makers’ figures.

Other scoopers reviewers tried, not in our catalog

• Nature’s Miracle Non-Stick Advanced Jaw Scoop: Spots.com’s best design pick. A one-handed jaw scoop that gets under the pile; one of its testers uses it at home. It holds one pile at a time. Nature’s Miracle does not list it on its own site, so we name it without a link.
• DogBuddy Pooper Scooper: a small bag scoop that clips to a leash, for walks rather than yards. The reviews disagree: Consumer Reports named it most portable, while Spots.com found its bag compartment kept flinging open and wrapping a bag around it took too much effort.
• Pooch Approved Products GoGo Stik Catch-N-Go: named most ergonomic by Consumer Reports, according to TV coverage of its picks. We could not confirm its Amazon listing from an independent source, so we name it without a link.

How to keep the job clean

• Pick up every time, and always before children play in the yard, following the CDC’s advice above.
• Bag the waste and put it in the trash, as the CDC advises.
• Rinse the scooper after use. Pawler says its metal set rinses clean in seconds.
• Wash your hands with soap and water afterwards, and supervise hand washing for children under 5, as the CDC advises.
• If your dog uses a kennel or dog house, the CDC says to clean it regularly so poop does not build up. See our guide to choosing an outdoor dog house.

FAQ

How often should you pick up dog poop in your yard?

Every time, if you can. The CDC says to pick up your pet’s waste every time, and CAPC advises removing feces regularly because roundworm eggs can build up in the soil. If you miss a few days, a rake with a large tray or bin makes the catch-up easier.

Is it bad to leave dog poop in the yard?

Yes. The CDC says dog poop should be picked up even in your own yard, especially where children play, because it can carry germs that make people and animals sick. Consumer Reports adds that it harms the local watershed.

Can you get sick from dog poop in the yard?

You can. The CDC explains that roundworm eggs in dog and cat poop can reach people’s mouths through contaminated dirt or unwashed hands. Pick up promptly, wash your hands, and ask your doctor if you have health concerns, or your vet about your dog’s parasite prevention.

What do you do with dog poop after you scoop it?

The CDC’s advice is to bury it or bag it and put it in the trash. A swivel bin with a bag, or a tray you empty into a lined trash can, means you never touch the waste.

Is a rake or a jaw scooper better?

For a whole yard, Spots.com preferred a rake and tray, because it holds several piles and takes less grass. A jaw scoop is quicker for one pile and works one-handed, but it holds one pile at a time and can struggle in tall grass and on rocks.

For more on keeping things clean, see the best dog poop bags, the best enzyme cleaner for pet urine and how to clean a dog crate.