He is a 3yr old choccie lab. I have had him since Dec 06 as he belonged to my sister but she didn't have time 4 him with 4 kids.He is a lovely dog but he keeps eating poo when we go on walks.I don't let him off the lead now as I feel I have better control of him when he's on the lead but he still manages to do it.I have tried a muzzle but he freaks out and gets very distressed with it so I end up taking it off.I have 2 other dogs his father and brother and they are no problem.My sister says he didn't do this with her but I'm not so sure.Does anyone have any advice on this as its driving us mad as it is disgusting.He has been wormed and is on a good food and gets the right amount for his breed and weight any ideas!
2007-03-14 08:24:26 · 19 answers · asked by Lynne M 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
My Cocker Spaniel did this. I agree it is totally disgusting! My vet told me that it was from boredom. So he told me to play with him more and walk him more. He said if that did not work, then every time he would eat it, flick him on the nose (not too hard) and say in a stern voice, NO. Until he learns better.
2007-03-14 08:31:26 · answer #1 · answered by Beth 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dogs have one of the most efficient digestive systems around. They can get nutrition from other animal's "poo." I would expect that if you dog does this, he is either not getting enough food now OR when he was a puppy, he was not getting enough food and got into a bad habit.
Try the following.
First make sure he has food available all the time. That way he will learn that there is food available and he does not have to eat whatever becomes available.
Second, before you go for a walk, feed your dog. That will make sure he is not hungry during the walk. If he tries to eat "poo" during the walk, jerk his leash, yell "NO" and pull him away. Do NOT give him a treat while you are doing this as all you will be teaching him is "poo" = food.
Another trick is to make the dog carry his own toy in his mouth. If his mouth is occupied, he will be less likely to eat "poo". Sometimes you have to start with a rawhide chew as that is food also. He will be less likely to drop one kind of food to eat "poo" he finds along the way.
2007-03-14 16:21:32 · answer #2 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My dog did this also. The vet said it was lacking some nutrients in it's diet but it was on a primium dog food so I didn't agree with him there. The other dog we had at the same time on the same diet never did it. One thing did seem to explain it though, before we got her she was owned by a couple who were out at work all day and had no time for her so she spent all day alone in the yard, that's were she picked up the nasty habit, probably through boredom. Unfortunately it was a difficult habit to break and the only way we succeeded in some measure was to watch her like a hawk when she was off her lead and head her off before she wolfed it down. I don't think we ever "cured" her but we did manage to control it mostly. Lots of TLC and a good doggy toothpaste is my best advice. Good luck.
2007-03-14 22:05:25 · answer #3 · answered by irisheyes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can make his own poo and that of your other dogs very unpleasant to eat by putting pineapple juice on thier food. For some reason they enjoy pineapple and the juice but after it has passed through thier system it becomes un-palletable to re-eat so discourages this habit.
Obviously you cannot help with poo that you encounter from other dogs, so you need to find out what your dog finds more rewarding than his prize of poo. Try a toy that your dog loves. Take it out on walks with you but don't let your dog have it til he does what you want, when he heads for a poop call him to you with an exuberant happy voice and show him the toy, when you have his attention start a game with him and he should quickly forget about the poo and start to focuss on you as you are now far more fun and rewarding than poo hunting.
When you have a good recall from your dog you will have no problems with him doing anything you don't want him to.
DO NOT as someone has suggested, feed your dog before taking him out. This can be very dangerous as a full stomach topped with excercise can cause Gastric Torsion and this is often fatal.
2007-03-14 19:07:59 · answer #4 · answered by ionadiva 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
My lhasa apso did this from a pup till about a year ago, i tried the loud noise option so everytime he did i or i caught him i banged 2 bits of wood together it made him jump and he assosicated the loud bang with doing it then he stopped. The vet said it was boerdom that can cause it, so maybe longer more stimulating walks.
Also when u take him out hold the lead up high so he cant sniff but it looks like he walking tall and proud, and dont let him wee untill u choose.This shows u r the boss and not him! So on a walk he will be concentrating on u and not on wot he can smell and eat!
Labs r really intelligent so he should learn quickly!
Rx
2007-03-14 15:40:42 · answer #5 · answered by Renee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you've asked the vets advise I'd guess you've been down the whole problems with his diet route. So it looks like a behavoiur problem.
Try carrying a water pistol and squirting him everytime he eats the poo, keep him on the lead at first (unless your a good shot) and let him have enough lead so as he can reach the poo, then when he goes to eat it squirt him.
This will either put him off because he doesn't want to be squirted, or distract him because he wants to play with the water.
My Jack Russels will both occasionally eat poo, most rabbit poo, when they think i'm not looking, it just seems to be a case of carry on trying.
2007-03-14 19:04:27 · answer #6 · answered by The_Crazy_Canoeist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brothers dog eats her own poo, and horse poo, rabbit poo, sheep poo, any poo. My two will eat horse poo, sheep poo and cow poo, and even cat poo if they get the chance. It's just something some dogs do. All dogs will have a nibble on some poo at least once. I think people worry too much about poo eating. If your dog is wormed regularly and eating other foods then maybe just accept it as a quirk?
Apparently some ruminants poo has good bacteria for a dogs gut.
Never ever push a dogs face into poo, it's disgusting and ignorant.
2007-03-14 16:14:47 · answer #7 · answered by ♥ Divine ♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of dogs do try to eat feces at one point in there lives, its usually a phase they grow out of
You have only had this dog for a few months he could be still stressing out from the change and developed this habit
Preventative measures will help him get over it Never let him off leash unless you know the area is poop free. On a walk you must have an eagle eye to avoid any chance he will have to access poop. In your yard you must pick up the poop almost immediately after it is deposited
That's about all you can do it more you being attentive and setting him up for success than a behavior that you untrain him of.
good luck and be consistent
2007-03-14 15:35:34 · answer #8 · answered by o0ph930o 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a dog secret. My puppy used to do this but grew out of it when he was about ten weeks old and housebroken. I believe he learned to do it because he was crated before I brought him home and he was just cleaning up his house.
If you crate your dog he may have learned this habit either because he didn't like sharing a small and crowded space with his own poo or because he was scolded for pooing in his crate.
Keep an eye on him, don't let him near his or other poo, and keep him wormed.
2007-03-14 15:29:28 · answer #9 · answered by Liligirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is usually because they are lacking something in their diet. The vet can suggest some supplements or a powder you place in their food that makes the poo really disgusting (as if it's not already) or put hot sauce on the poo as you come across it. Best of luck to you.
2007-03-14 15:35:41 · answer #10 · answered by biker_beeotch 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋