Bad dog...won't come back from eating cow dung

[ganesh]

My dog is very lively,but quite good normally and comes back to me when whistled for or called on walks. For the last three days she has discovered something in the fields where the cows are.I think it's young calf dung or something worse,it's milky and smelly and my dog loves to eat it. She will not come back and even if we go quite a way past it,once I let her off the lead she runs back to get at it. Realising she's being naughty, I then cannot catch her easily as she runs from me.
When I have caught her, I scold her and take her home and put her to bed. This hasn't worked because she did it again this morning.
She really needs a long run each day and I don't want to deprive her,but I don't really know how to handle it.
It's not because she's eating the stuff (-dogs will be dogs-)but she needs to come back when she's called.,and it's the best walk around here.
Any suggestions?

[Anndr0meda]

don`t know what the stuff is but how about taking a spray bottle of jeyes fluid or something to deter your dog from eating it

[Anndr0meda]

i actually mean spray the spot where ur dog eats and not ur dog itself

[Anndr0meda]

mayb u could collect some of the stuff n get ur vet 2 analyse it

[ganesh]

It hasn't done her any harm and it's not just one bit,it's all over the field where the cows have been,which makes it tricky to avoid. She's eaten normal cow poo before but she nibbles and leaves it when I call her and we can get on with our walk. This stuff is obviously tastier (maybe it's spilled milk from the udders or just very young poo from the babies that are on a milk diet and haven't started eating grass yet?)

[ganesh]

I think the farmer might not like the look of a strange woman with a spray bottle in his field!!

[garner]

I would not spray anything in the field, what about other animals and the calfs it could do some damage.The main problem is with your recall of your dog.I would be try a run lead so you have control [until she learns the meaning of no].g.

[ganesh]

Absolutely garner, I'm not used to such disobedience,and she knows she is being naughty and doesn't want to come back to me. A long lead would help I suppose but she won't get the excercise she is used to and needs. It may be the only way,or find somewhere else until the fields clear up naturally (eventually)
Thanks.

[madmaggot]

This is a tricky one because dogs naturally lurve calf poo. Taking her home and putting her to bed won't work .... she is a dog not a child lol. A dog needs to be told at the instant that the 'bad' behavior happens so that it knows that it is that action that leads to your displeasure.
I prefer to use praise / reward rather than punishment so I would start by going to the place that this happens but keep the dog on the lead so that you are with her when she does it. When you see that she is going to eat it but before she actually does, give your 'leave' command. You may need to use the lead to draw her away at first. The instant that she 'leaves' give her a treat. This needs to be something really tasty such as liver sausage because it has to be just as appealing as the calf poo! Give a fuss and then carry on walking. You will need to continue this for as long as necessary until she will 'leave' at your command. Use your instincts to gradually wean her off the treats so that sometimes she just gets a fuss; sometimes a treat.
When you are confident that she will be OK you can let her off the lead again in this field.
She should never know whether she is going to get a treat when you recall her or is she is just going to get a fuss. It's wise to always carry treats but the ones for this need to be 'super-treats' because poo is soooooooo good haha!
Good luck.

[ganesh]

Yes,it must taste good and she knows I don't approve even though she's not a kid as she runs away from me when I get near. I thought of punishing her by immediately shortening our usual run and taking her home 'crossly!!!' but you're right, that's kid logic.
I'll try what you say. I'm just worried that when I let her off she'll run back miles to get it !!
Damn nuisance,these cows!
Thanks mad.

[danchip]

can you not go on a different walk until the calfs are a bit older and then their pats wont be so appealing

[ganesh]

Yes, I think I will have to find something else for a while which is a shame because it's a great walk and it's a walk I can do from my house,
I tried the treats today but they were obviously not so appealing! She is now totally obsessed and she's not interested in going for a walk at all-she just wants that stuff.

[leelapops]

ganesh, I know it isn't ideal for a bouncy dog, especially this time of year, but an adjustable lead might just be what you need to use to exercise some control until she "gets" the whole recall thing!
Our local woods is a gorgeous and handy walk, but there are always young cows in the adjacent field at this time of year, so...we have to be super-careful, as he just adores a good pat :S
The other advice about treats etc. is spot-on.
If needs be, an alternative route might be better-sometimes, if the temptation is too strong to resist (eg. my dog and squirrels!), avoidance is the best policy!
x

[madmaggot]

It sounds like you need to be doing a lot of recall training ganesh. Remember that you need to praise or scold (a firm 'NO') immediately the dog does the action. If she eats poo then you call her and she comes to you, then you tell her off for eating poo, she only knows that when she comes to you you tell her off!
When you call her and she comes give a treat and praise her regardless of the fact that she has eaten poo. She then knows that to come when called is good and will be rewarded.
Try not to set her up to fail. In other words, give a command when you are fairly sure that she will obey. Then you can reward her and this will reinforce the link between the command and something good happening when that action follows the command.
I hope I have explained this OK.
Be patient and kind and you will get results.

[ganesh]

Yeah I do get it,in theory. I haven't scolded her for coming back to me. I've had to grab her each time whilst eating it,(as she wasn't coming back when called) and I've told her off AT THE TIME. If she would come back once then I'd crack it

[ganesh]

Well,maybe.
The cows weren't there this morning so I risked her off the lead. She found some straight away but after eating it,came back to me ,so I was pleased and gave her a treat.
Still a little defiant and kept running off so I don't think I've won really,but at least she did come to me eventually,and I didn't have to catch her.
Maybe she prefers it fresh!!! Got it stinks!
Hopefully,they won't return,and then I'll have a chance to 're-train' as it were.
Thanks for your ideas guys.

[Cpt.Teapot]

All dogs seem to exhibit this unpleasant behaviour (coprophilia); some say that it is indicative of a mineral or other deficiency in their diet. This trait should be discouraged as it can expose your dog to worm infestations from eggs that will be present in the dung. Keep your dog on a short lead whilst waking through this area and pull him firmly back saying "No", sharply. She will soon learn.

Never scold your dog, even if you have been yelling at her to return and she takes her own time to return, and especially if you are losing your temper.

The only message this will give her is that she gets a hefty wack when she comes back and so naturally will hesitate to return for fear of being hit. (Think like the dog). You should always praise the dog for returning to you, even if they don't deserve it. This can be hard sometimes but it has to be done.
.
Lastly a word of caution; a field of cows with calves at foot is not a sensible place to walk your dog. The cows will see your dog ( a wolf), as a threat to their calves and possibly you as well and could charge at you both.
Hope this helps.

[ganesh]

Yes,as I said,I have never scolded her for coming back,even though she's 'taken her time'. I have only been cross when I've had to catch her whilst doing it.
I agree she shouldn't eat it and maybe we shouldn't be in the fields with calves (even though she has run back a couple of fields to get to their poo) and also they move around a lot leaving their stuff behind them! No field is safe at the moment.
She is not really interested in them and we have walked through many fields before with adult cows when they also take no notice of her (well,occasionally they will come and have a sniff!) They probably recognise a youngster and don't feel threatened.
My cat came with us once at my last house and the cows went crazy and charged at her! Maybe they think she's a baby tiger! I'm sure they don't regard my dog as a wolf-perhaps with all the poo she eats she smells just like one of them!