Picking up poop is an essential part of life with a dog, but having the right pooper scooper makes the job easier. To find the very best pooper scoopers, we bought 18 popular options and sent them to volunteer testers. While picking up after their dog, our testers evaluated the ease of use, performance, portability, and quality of their assigned pooper scooper.
After weeding out the scoopers our testers pooh-poohed, we found our favorite: the Arm & Hammer Claw Scoop. There were also several other pooper scoopers our testers loved that may work even better for you and your dog’s butt.
What We Like
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Handle extends up to 27 inches
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Lightweight
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Stands on its own when not in use
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Works on grass, gravel, and concrete surfaces
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Easy to clean with a hose
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Able to operate with one hand
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Can be stored outside
Despite being a lightweight plastic tool, the easy-to-use Arm & Hammer Claw Scoop is durable enough to withstand hard use, making it perfect for the backyard. “It’s easy to store because it stays upright, so I don’t have to worry about it falling over,” shared our tester. The handle on this claw-shaped pooper scooper, which opens with a one-handed squeeze, can extend up to 27 inches, so you don’t have to bend over every time your dog does their business, and it has wide teeth which are effective on lawns without tearing up your grass—plus, it works well on gravel and concrete surfaces.
While its light weight made it possible to take along on walks (rather than carrying bags you can just leave the poop in the scoop), it’s a little too bulky to be truly portable, so if you’re looking for a pooper scooper to take on walks or road trips, then you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. But if you have a backyard, our tester highly recommends this tool, calling it “the best scooper I have ever owned.”
Dimensions: 27 x 6 x 6.8 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Material: Plastic
What We Don’t Like
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Bulky design is challenging for storage
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Must pick flat or tooth style, they are not interchangeable
The Activedogs Best Ever Pooper Scooper is a hinge-style device, made in the United States of rust-resistant aluminum. Our tester selected the tooth version to pick up dog poop from grass, gravel, and dirt, but there is also a flat-edge style made for flat surfaces like concrete, tile, and wood flooring. You can pick the style that works best for the surface you plan to clean.
Our tester was able to quickly and easily clean up after their husky using this pooper scooper and a trash bag and felt the dung-focused device could handle waste from a much larger dog. “It works quickly and doesn’t have tons of complicated moving parts,” our tester said. With 38-inch handles, you won’t have to bend over when you’re scooping—plus, the tops are molded with rubber for comfort and an easy grip.
Dimensions: 38 x 8 x 8 inches | Weight: 3 pounds | Material: Aluminum, rubber
What We Like
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Works on grass, sand, dirt, and gravel
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Large tray
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Long handles make it easy to reach the ground
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Sturdy, rust-resistant tines
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Easy to clean
The Pawler Dog Pooper Scooper has a sturdy rake with durable tines and a large tray for picking up poop, fresh and old, in all shapes and sizes. Our tester found the long handles beneficial when reaching for waste around their yard. “I didn’t have to stoop to an awkward angle to scoop, and the rake made it easy to scoop over different types of grass and weeds.”
The two-piece contraption is easy to carry and safe for use on grass, sand, gravel, and dirt, but cannot be operated with one hand.
Dimensions: 37.8 x 9 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Material: Aluminum, stainless steel
What We Like
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Securely locks in odors
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Fits dog waste, poop bags, training pads, dog diapers, and dog litter
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Lightweight and portable
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Sturdy plastic with UV protection means it can be used outdoors
The Pet Genie is designed to fit practically every form of dog waste—poop, poop bags, litter, dog diapers, and training pads—and can hold up to two weeks of dog poop, though emptying the pail weekly is recommended. It has a sliding lever that locks in odors, a top handle that keeps the lid shut securely, and a wide pail that makes for mess-free waste disposal. The portable, lightweight yet sturdy plastic pail has UV protection, so the Pet Genie can be used indoors and outdoors—however, it’s not suitable for extreme cold weather conditions (below 14 degrees).
The Pet Genie comes with a 14-foot refill bag made with multi-layer odor-locking technology that can last up to two months for a single dog. You simply tie a tight knot on the bottom end of the bag and use the built-in cutter on the underside of the lid to lop off the appropriate length of bags. Bear in mind that sealing in the odors will also make them stronger, so if you don’t want to get hit with a blast of noxious smell when you open the lid to drop in the waste, keep the slider shut until you close the lid.
Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.75 x 18.5 inches | Weight: 4.41 pounds | Material: Polypropylene
What We Like
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Able to operate with one hand
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Can hold multiple pieces of dog poop
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Effective on turf, grass, and gravel surfaces
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Folds for compact storage and carrying
With the Szhlux 28-Inch Pooper Scooper, you only need to use one hand to pick up your dog’s number two. The handle makes it easy to activate the spring-loaded claw mechanism, which opens and securely closes around your dog’s latest dump. While we did not test this one, it is virtually identical to a discontinued pooper scooper we did test, the DogIt Jawz Dog Waste Scooper.
This lightweight device is portable and folds up for convenient and easy storage. The serrated jaws are effective on turf, grass, and gravel surfaces, and while you can hose them off should anything get stuck, the brand offers two recommendations for picking up the poop more cleanly: using a waste bag on the scooper or putting toilet paper over the waste before picking it up. And, there’s no need to bend down to pick it up, either, since this scooper is 28 inches long.
Dimensions: 28 x 5.3 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Plastic
While it does take two hands to operate, the Arm & Hammer Pooper Scooper Swivel Bin & Rake gets the job done and works on both grassy and sandy surfaces with no bending over as the pooper scooper handle extends to 32 inches and the bin swivels up to keep the pet waste in with a simple lifting of the handle. It’s also made of plastic so you can spritz off any residue that gets stuck with a hose. Snap the two pieces together with the attached connector on the bin or use the hanging loops for easy, convenient storage.
To keep the bin cleaner, the manufacturer recommends lining the bin with an Arm & Hammer baking soda-scented pet waste swivel bin bag that fits securely inside the bucket—two of which are included. While we have not tested this exact model, we have tested multiple Arm & Hammer pooper scoopers and found them all to be reliable and high-quality. However, we do think this rake would probably work best for larger dogs because petite poops might slip through the tines.
Dimensions: 32 x 9 x 7 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Material: Plastic
Final Verdict
For all the fecal matter that matters, our favorite pooper scooper is the Arm & Hammer Claw Scoop. It’s easy to use with one hand, effective (yet gentle) on a variety of surfaces, and can be stored standing upright. Another great choice is the Active Dogs Best Ever Dog Poop Scooper. The aluminum hinge-style tool is rust-resistant and made in the United States.
Additional Pooper Scoopers We Tested
Doody Digger Pooper Scooper: Resembling a vacuum hose, this pooper scooper takes a bit of getting used to and we found it to be rather large. The novelty of it might intrigue some (like kids learning to do chores), but once that wears off, the log tube will be difficult to thoroughly clean out.
Snagle Paw Dog Pooper Scooper: This pooper scooper set comes with a rake, a wide scoop, and a heavy-duty spade. Overall it’s reliable, but very large. If you are cleaning up after multiple large dogs you might find this one convenient.
How We Tested
We researched and selected 18 poop-picking-up products and sent each one to a home with a dog for real-world testing.
Each of our canine participants handled their business as usual—launching new “product” for testing whenever and wherever they liked. Our canine testers’ human companions followed closely behind with their assigned pooper scooper. Over the course of two weeks, they gathered insights and then provided feedback in the following categories: ease of use, performance, portability, and quality. They were also asked if they would recommend the pooper scooper they tested.
Equipped with this first-hand information, we ranked and categorized our top picks to weed out the duds and spotlight the studs. All of our recommendations received very high marks from testers.
What to Look For in a Pooper Scooper
Size
If you don’t want to bend and stoop, choose a device that is long enough for your height. It may not matter if you’re picking up the occasional pile. But if you have a week or two’s worth of deposits from a couple of dogs, you’ll be glad you have a product with a long handle.
Portability
Are you planning on using the scooper to take on a walk or to use in your backyard? Some products are heavy and awkward and would be way too bulky to take with you. Others are lightweight and easy to clip to a leash.
Hands-Free Disposal
The optimal pooper scooper for most will allow one’s hands to say free of fecal waste. A reliable lever to smoothly open up the claw is paramount to keeping your hands out of that area, and we also strongly recommend using dog poop bags to manually address any left-behind bits. And if your dog is having frequent bouts of diarrhea, we strongly suggest taking them to their veterinarian as soon as possible. This will also help you streamline your scooping.
The Spruce Pets
FAQ
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How do you clean a pooper scooper?
By the very nature of its function, a pooper scooper is going to get dirty. However, some scoopers don’t make direct contact with piles because they have a bag in the middle, while others do a lot of dirty work. In most cases, they just need to be hosed off. You can let them air dry or pat them dry with an old towel, especially if they’re metal and you want to make sure they don’t rust.
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Do pooper scoopers work on grass?
Scoopers with rake-like edges work better on grass than those with flat sides. That allows the tool to reach down between the grass blades to grab piles. However, some runner-type grasses like St. Augustine can be a little harder because the runners get caught in the rake.
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Is it okay to leave dog poop in a yard?
No, it can harm plants and grass in your yard if you leave your dog waste. The naturally occurring bacteria and acidic nature of dog poop will not convert to fertilizer. Plus, the stench will quickly build and foul odors tend to attract pests, rodents, and wildlife you likely want to avoid.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
This roundup was updated by Anna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets. Mejorada can often be heard exclaiming “good potty” at her local park while cleaning up after her happy Pomeranian named Gidget. Before researching and writing about pet products for a living, Mejorada embarked on a self-mandated, ongoing quest to find the optimal items for her dog. She is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.
A previous version of this article was written by Mary Jo DiLonardo, who has covered animals and pets for several decades. DiLonardo has fostered more than three dozen puppies and is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products, foods, and treats for them. She has also cleaned up after all of them!
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