my dog keps eating Sugar, and i dont mean imfeeding him inferior food...

[Craftypig]

Everytime i take him out he eats dog/cat poo that he comes across, i have caught him eating his own too, is this some kind of instinctive behaviour or could there be a more serious underlying problem?

[LoftyLottie]

It is quite normal behaviour for a dog. It's the protein in the poo that makes it attractive to them. There is no serious underlying problem. It's not a nice thing though - you will just have to try some training and correct this behaviour by a stern word when he approaches the poo. To him it is a delicious food source!!

[LoftyLottie]

PS I seriously thought you were talking about sugar and not sh1t when I read the question until I remembered the swear filter!! What a daft thing it is.

[Sqad]

What's sugar got to do with "poo?"

[Bbbananas]

sqadlet - don't be obtuse.
sugar is what comes up when you type in sh1t on here.... Duh !

[another-view]

I assume the swear filter replaced sh*t with sugar

[LoftyLottie]

See what I mean! The swear filter is stupid!!

[LoftyLottie]

I like that Carabint. Think I will change my name! :o)

[Bbbananas]

better than Spottie Lottie.

Oh, just realised this is in animals & nature - better get back to CB.

[LoftyLottie]

http://www.dfordog.co...uknow_coprophagia.htm

[fredpuli47]

It's normal.Dogs are fussy. They like fox dung to roll in (great smell!) but prefer horse dung to eat,but they will eat dog faeces, for want of anything better.Mine, who have ready access to 'better', never eat dog muck (such gourmets!).All you can do is tug on the lead and say 'No!' firmly (and be prepared for the wounded look of disappointment and puzzlement that crosses the dog's face !)

[LoftyLottie]

A vet once told me that pet food manufacturers could make a fortune if they sold poo flavoured dog food - but although the dogs might like it, I personally can't see us humans buying it or dishing it up!!!

[thugulike]

I cured a Neapolitan Mastiff of copraphagia (technical term) by using a remote controlled collar which squirted lemon scented mist. Collar was expensive but well worth the cost. I used to put pineapple in her food which also was effective but that only works for their own poo.

[puzzfuzz]

Don't worry about it. Dogs are not able to distinguish that poo is a discusting taste like we humans can. To them it probably doesn't taste of anything as they have less taste buds than us.

It is just instinctive for them to eat their own poo. You can try clicker training to correct this behaviour. Don't make a big fuss of it as some dogs just grow out of it, if you make a fuss of it then they will become even more obsessed with eating that poo bag. Have a tasty treat on you and say 'no' when they go near the poo bag. You don't ever have to shout at a dog they learn by positive reward.