How to keep my dog from eating his own feces?

Question

We got a 10 month old puppy at the shelter a few weeks ago and we are trying to get him fully potty trained. We tried him in a crate at night and he cried for two weeks hysterically. He repeatedly messed his crate and ate the remains. Now we gate him in a small bathroom and the hysterical crying/barking has stopped, but he still messes on the floor and eats the remains once per night. He is fine all day, but at night he still loses control. How can I help him get through this and, if nothing else, keep him from eating it?

Answer 1

This is an important question because it can be very dangerous to the dogs health to do this.

As stated in other answers, I read two dog journals a month, about dogs and caring for my dog. One of them had an article on this a few years ago, but I can't remeber which one. I will tell you what it said though.

Dogs who do this sometimes have health problems. They are missing something in their diet, and can not find what they are looking for in their normal diet. But, if they eat the feces of another dog who is sick, they can get that other dog's health problems. Worms are on of the thing they can get.

There is a cure through. There is a powder you can sprinkle on the feces to make it taste aweful. After a while of aweful tasting stuff they won't want to try any other stuff.

I do suggest you take your dog to the vet, to see if there is a medical problem that is causing this.

Answer 2

when my dog was a pup I was told two things. First was that they eat their own or others because they smell it as something just partially digested meaning their diet needs to be changed. the other was that they eat it because they fear being scolded for crapping in the wrong place and haven't learned the right place.

Answer 3

OK Trust me -- and just try this -- I worked at a vet for several years and the Dr always gave this advice to frustrated owners of animals (esp. dogs) who insisted on eating their own feces.
Put Meat Tenderizer on his KIBBLE. . . .He won't notice it or taste it -- then when he goes to the bathroom - that's when it takes effect -- the next time he eats the feces -- he will HATE the taste -- Keep this up for a while until he "gives up" on wanting to eat it. . .he'll get there. . .
It's very common. . . .
?????'s --- Email me!!!!!!!!!!

PS - You DO NOT need a more expensive food or all this other stuff. . . .Purina Dog Chow is FIne. . . And he is NOT lacking vitamins and minerals -- Trust me -- Purina or Iams or something other than "Kibbles & Bits" is a nice balanced dog food

Answer 4

little dogs do this the most. A vet told me they are lacking something in the food they eat. Try changing his food to a little bit pricey one.They will also not go to the bathroom as much. Don't feed them food if the first five ingredient's say corn.

Answer 5

I just saw this question on Oprah - she had the "Dog Whisperer" on the show. He said two things, first the dog may be missing some vitamins so check with the vet for some quality dog food or extra supplements. Next he said they get bored, he said to try and swap out different toys and put treats inside toys (they sell them at pet stores). Also keep your dog on a regular walking schedule so he knows he is supposed to go outside. In addition, if the crate is too big they will mess in it, make sure it is big enough to hold him but not big enough that he can make a mess and go to another area to sleep. If there is enough room for that, the crate is too big. I know crate training is the best way to get them to know not to mess in the house, the crying is tough (I know) but try to be strong. Good luck! You may want to check the website for the Dog Whisperer. He has lots of great ideas and they all work.

Answer 6

If anyone can give a real answer to this, I would appreciate it too! I have two boxers and a rat terrier. The female boxer has to have her food cooked, and the rat terrier eats a combo of cooked food and Solid Gold which is fed to the big male boxer. Now, the female boxer and the rat terrier eat the female boxer's feces, but not the male boxer's or the rat terrier's. What up with that?? I have tried different things, short of beating them and nothing will work for too long.

As far as the pooping in the crate at night, or whereever your puppy is gated, you may have to get up during the night to get him outside to do a poop. He might have separation anxiety, knowing you are home, but not where he can access you.
It's almost like re-housebreaking, but only at night.
Be as patient as possible and remember, he is still young. If you have to, bring the poop outside and after you have put it in the area you want him to poop in, tell him, "Poopy goes outside. Good boy, doing poopy outside." It has taken me a while with the rat terrier. He was 3 mo when I got him and he had a hard time learning the "outside" thing because his origional owners did nothing with him for the month they had him first.

Good luck,

Answer 7

for starters, make sure you are cleaning his remains constantly. I don't know many dogs that will eat their fresh poop, but they will do it if it has been sitting there a while. Make sure you are not putting his food in the same area where he defecates. Dog's hate that. You haven't mentioned taking him for walks? You sound like you are just locking him up in small confined spaces..so then why are you surprised he is acting out?

Answer 8

There is a product called "Deter" that you feed to them that's supposed to stop them from doing that. You can find it at any pet store.

Answer 9

how can he eat his face? Put a muzzle on him

Answer 10

You eat it before he does and then lick his face see how he likes it.