I have a Jack Russell who eats her own feces....?

Question

How do I stop her from doing this, and why does she do this?

Answer 1

Say "no" Loudly and squirt her with water.

A lot of times dogs do this because they are not properly digesting their food. Make sure you are feeding your dog a high quality food.

Answer 2

This annoying and just plain nasty behavior is called Coprophagia. There are several reasons why it is thought dogs do it. One is just plain being bored, "Oh look a turd! SNACKTIME!" In some animals it indicates a nutrient diffencency, but not very often the case. Studies conducted theorize that it is a natural instinct to cover their smell from preditors. Every dog will eat the poopies at one point in their life. There is a product called Forbid that makes the taste of the mookie sticks unplesent, lets face it dogs wouldn't eat it if they didn't think it tasted good. You can also try walking the dog and making it sit after it goes and then giving it a reward this might help to replace eating the poo. I was told about meat tenderizer in the food that has an effect similar to the Forbid (after a couple of months that did the trick) I have also read that booby trapping a nugget can sometimes help, yeah I mean actually handling the booty cake and putting something in it like a hot pepper and then putting it back has been used. I wouldn't really recomend that because spicy food can give dogs the squirts, not to mention you would actually have to touch the dookie. I hope this helps, I love Jack Russells the are on some kind of natural crack! So cute!

Answer 3

Can be many things. Coprophagia is a condition (not dangerous, just gross) often found in puppies that causes a dog to eat feces, whether it be his own or unknown. Feces (especially fresh feces) resembles the food a mother dog would feed her young (soft, warm, regurgitated food), so it seems natural for a dog to eat it. Adding a bit of meat tenderizer, a teaspoon of pineapple, or a teaspoon of spinach to her food can help stop this behavior.
Dogs don't see this as disgusting ... humans do, though, which is why it's such an issue. Behaviorally, mother dogs would often eat their own feces, and the feces of their young, to ward off possible predators (the smell of the feces could attract predators). Sometimes puppies follow that behavior.
There are over-the-counter products, like Deter, that help stop the behavior, as well.

Answer 4

Puppies eat their own feces because they lack a certain enzyme which is found in their feces.

Consult a vet and they may be able to give you a supplement.

DO NOT SMACK the puppy in the face. Ever! It will not help and only cause to confuse the puppy not to mention lose respect for you or fear you. If you have hit your dog for "accidents" she may be trying to hide the evidence.

Answer 5

Some dogs just do this. There are products you can buy at the pet store that you add to her food. It makes the stool taste bad and she will stop eating it. Also, be vigilant about picking it up quickly so she'll have less opportunity.

Answer 6

I have a Jack Russell!!! And I can't stop her from doing that either.

Answer 7

I have heard that putting hot sauce on the poo will deter them from eating it, you can also try the stuff they sell at pet stores to keep them from chewing on things they shouldn't be. If you catch her doing it then yell no. Try to clean it up as soon as possible to keep her from getting the chance to eat it.

Answer 8

Add a spoonful of pineapple to her food. This makes the poo unappetizing. It also helps to clean up and dispose of the poo in a timely manner.

Answer 9

A vet told us to put cayenne pepper on our puppy's food...that stopped her from eating hers....

Answer 10

If she's a puppy, she does it because she doesn't know any better. You might want to try gently smacking her on the nose the next time you see it. If she's an adult, you might want to try obedience training.