Puppy Eating Poop

[anthro-nerd]

Yep, just as gross as the title. The vet said not to worry and she'll grow out of it, and to feed her little bits of pineapple that will make her poop sourso she won't like the taste of it (!!!!!!!!)

Just looking for a little reassurance that this is as normal as the vet said... as it really doesn't sound normal to me! Help ABers, my puppy is broken?!

[dannyk13]

Puppies usually eat unusual things when they are lacking something in their diet.

[anthro-nerd]

Ah yes Danny this is what was worrying me. The vet checked her over, and checked her food (good quality stuff, not cheap stuff!) and she's growing well. And she doesn't have worms. So from a health perspective she's all good.

Which means it's behavioural and apparently she'll grow out of it, but to not encourage it, of course. She only like the taste of her own poop, so at least I dont need to worry about her munching on stuff left on the pavement!...

[dannyk13]

Are you with the pup when she passes a poop?

[anthro-nerd]

Yep, it's only twice that she's been quick enough to snaffle it (I was horrified). She hasn't indulged since Thursday last week!

She came from a home with two other dogs where she was the bottom of the pack, very submissive. The vet said it might be because she's trying to hide her own scent. So getting there first, and lots of praise for not eating it, should help her kick the habit.

[pastafreak]

Lots of dogs go through a poop-eating stage. My lurcher used to regularly clean out the litter tray. It didn't last long and I wasn't overly worried.

[dannyk13]

I was just going to suggest that.Seems the best course of action.

[murraymints]

Oh dear ..surely she'll grow out of it..wonder if I can persuade oh.....Lol...save cooking...;0)

[dannyk13]

^ that was for anthro^

[anthro-nerd]

Thanks Pasta.

And MM, apparently it doesn't do them any harm! Bon appetit!

[Ratty2E]

It is very very common so don't worry, plenty of dogs do it but their owners don't like to shout about it. Some pups grow out of it but some don't unfortunately. You could try pineapple it might work I think there is also something you can get from pet shops to sprinkle on their food. It unlikely if you are feeding him a proper high protein puppy diet that he is lacking in anything and I think that's a bit of a myth. Let's be honest dogs love eating manky stuff and generally the stinkier the better. Their sense of smell is about 400 times better than ours so no doubt the smell of the yummy stuff they had for dinner last night can be very tempting second time round. The best way to stop them is not to let them get the chance. I feel you are still house training then you'll be taking him out to toilet so when he does it praise him like mad which will also distract him and pick it up quick.

[Ratty2E]

Apologies, that should be 'her' of course.

[anthro-nerd]

Thanks Ratty, yes she's on a high protein, grain free, top quality (expensive and vet recommended) puppy food. She's growing well and eating well. Maybe the food I'm feeding her is so nice she wants it twice!

If only my other half was as enthusiastic about my cooking...

[woofgang]

normal norma normal. The ancestors of the domestic dog evolved to live in partnership with people and much of what they would have eaten and thrived on would have been what the villagers threw away including their own (human) poo. Even on an excellent diet, poo still contains usable nourishment and the dog will know this. I have tried the pineapple thing and it has never worked for me. Some dogs grow out of it and some don't. The one thing not to do is tell her off when she does it...especially if she has been a low hierarchy shy pup. Best thing I have found to minimise it is to have ready a to-die-for delicious treat and call her too you immediately she has been. Reward the recall lavishly and clean up quickly.

[anthro-nerd]

Thanks woof, I would never tell her off. I'm a firm believer in positive reward based training, and never telling off a dog.

At the moment I'm stood behind her when she's pooping and congratulating her when she doesn't eat it, so i scoop it up quickly. I might move on to trying the recall for her to come to me once doing her business - this seems like the logical next step.

Thank you everyone for answering on this rather grim topic! It's great to ask real people instead of Google!

[Peter Pedant]

I remember my young dog bringing me a filled nappy and saying - yum yum - lets share !

and yes they grow out of it

[jourdain2]

Yes, she'll grow out of it. I think every dog I've ever had has done it. Current dog used to raid the cat's litter tray if I wasn't quick off the mark.

[anthro-nerd]

PP, Jourdain, thank you! That's encouraging - can't wait for her to grow out of it!

In the meantime I'll be chief pooper scooper, quick of the mark! With pineapple at the ready!


..... the joys of being a dog owner!

[jennyjoan]

Hate to disappoint but my last dog Harvey tried to eat it all the time. So as soon as he went in back yard I tried to lift it away asap. He got a little better when he got older but then he was 70 years old in human years LOL

[Islay]

Its also all down to training - if a dog gets to as old as harvey and is still eating poop - he hasn't been trained properly!
Try distraction techniques - squeaky ball or fav toy or a clicker as soon as she's finished.
It is gross - cat poop is my dogs fav treat! the litter trays are now hidden behind baby gates!