The 5 Best Pooper Scoopers Tested With Real Dogs

Best Overall

Arm & Hammer Claw Scoop

$23 At Amazon $21 At Walmart $23 At Home Depot

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Quality
  4/5

Quickly tidy up your outdoor space with the Arm & Hammer Claw Scoop, a lightweight plastic tool that can nevertheless withstand hard use.

"It's perfect for the backyard. Lightweight, easy to use, and stands up," shared our tester, who tried out the Claw Scoop with their corgi. "It's easy to store because it stays upright, so I don't have to worry about it falling over."

The handle on this claw-shaped pooper scooper can extend up to 27 inches so you don't have to bend over every time your dog does their business. The scoop has wide teeth which are effective on lawns without tearing up your grass, and it also works well on gravel and concrete surfaces.

A one-handed squeeze is all it takes to open the scoop. Weighing just one pound, everything else is doable with just one hand too. Despite its easy-to-handle weight, our tester felt confident about its lasting durability, and found that it worked well even after leaving it outside in the elements.

Since it's so well-suited to storage in a garage, the Arm & Hammer Claw Scoop is best for yard work. 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. If you're looking for a pooper scooper to take on walks or road trips, then you'll probably want to look elsewhere.

"This is the best scooper I have ever owned," our tester said. "I would recommend this to anyone with a dog and a backyard."

_{Dimensions: 27 x 6 x 6.8 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Material: Plastic}

Best Budget

SZHLUX 28-Inch Pooper Scooper

$13 At Amazon

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 it 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 also provides two other options to make it cleaner while picking up the doo; recommending 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 in length.

_{Dimensions: 28 x 5.3 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Plastic}

Best Rake Scooper

Pawler Pooper Scooper

$25 At Amazon $28 At Walmart $28 At Target

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Quality
  5/5

The Pawler Dog Pooper Scooper has a sturdy rake with durable tines and a large tray for picking up poop, both fresh and old, and of all shapes and sizes. Our tester found the long handles to be 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," our tester said.

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}

Best Budget Rake Scooper

Arm & Hammer Swivel Bin & Rake Pooper Scooper

$20 At Amazon $20 At Chewy $20 At Walmart

While it does take two hands to operate this scooper, using one hand for the rake and the other to hold the bin, the Arm & Hammer Pooper Scooper Swivel Bin & Rake gets the necessary duty done. It uses a rake to get the waste up and into the bin, which makes it easy to pick up the pieces your dog leaves behind.

It works on both grassy and sandy surfaces. And no bending over is needed as the pooper scooper handle extends to 32 inches and the bin swivels up to keep the pet waste in it with a simple lifting of the handle. To keep the bin cleaner, the the manufacturer recommends lining the bin with Arm & Hammer baking soda-scented pet waste swivel bin bags which fit securely inside the bucket. Two waste bags are included, but additional bags need to be purchased separately. 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.

This easy-to-hold rake-style pooper scooper is made with 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 on them for easy convenient storage. This rake would probably work better for larger dogs because petite poops might slip through the tines of the rake.

_{Dimensions: 32 x 9 x 7 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Material: Plastic}

Best Heavy Duty

Activedogs Best Ever Dog Poop Scooper

$68 At Amazon $88 At sears.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Quality
  5/5

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 top tips are molded with rubber for comfort and an easy grip.

_{Dimensions: 38 x 8 x 8 inches | Weight: 3 pounds | Material: Aluminum, molded rubber}