Eating poop

[Trouble]

Yes, it's me again, with my cocker spaniel Niamh. She is now 18 weeks old, and has only recently started to produce 'proper' poos rather than squidgy puppy ones.

The problem is, that since she has been going properly, the first thing she does is eats it. She goes secretly, around the house, and the only indication is the smell and the fact that she goes quiet for a few minutes.

Short of following her every step all day long, can anyone think of any solution? We have a behaviouralist coming out at the end of the month for a one to one session, before starting classes in January.

[ellieangel]

Something that often works is adding pineapple to her food,apparently it makes the poo taste foul to the dog and it will put them off eating it.

Also do you tell her off if she poos indoors ?

If so she may be eating it to stop you finding it and telling her off,if this is the case,take her out for a toilet break more often and perform as though she has won crufts when she does do it outside :D
Keep her interest by making this a really rewarding thing to do,sometimes have a play,other times chuck down a big handful of treats but most importantly praise her bigtime :)

[Trouble]

I've just spoken to the woman who'll be comong round to help us, and she suggested ther pineapple too.

Off to Asda I go.....

[Trouble]

Let's say, for example, that the dog point blank refuses to eat the pineapple, and picks it out of her food and drops it on the floor.

Are there any other ideas?

[Jet]

Let's say, for example, that the dog point blank refuses to eat the pineapple, and picks it out of her food and drops it on the floor.

Are there any other ideas?

Sorry - no ideas, but this really made me laff!! :lol: :lol: Aren't dogs too clever for their own good some times? :lol: :lol:

[Trouble]

I find myself wishing for my old dog, Fudge, who was wonderful and I loved dearly, but had the intellegence of a cabbage.

[Yorkie]

Fresh pineapple works better than tinned. If she's picking it out, you could try putting it through a blender and mixing it in with her food rather than putting it on top etc.

Sounds like she's picked up that she gets in trouble for accidents (may be shouted at or just even a distasteful look) and has picked up the message that going when mom or dad is about means trouble rather than going in the house is a no no? Hence the hiding in corners/behind things when they aren't looking and could well be a contributing factor in the reason for her 'getting rid of the evidence'.

However, it could also be an indication that something is lacking in her diet - something you might want to discuss with her vet just in case.

[cheri]

To stop the dog eating the poo there is a special spray which can be used
to make something taste horrible it can also be used to prevent the dog from chewing things up after the dog poos spray it with this which can be brought from pet stores.cheris daughter holly.

[Trouble]

We've been using that spray (2 types, actually) since we've had her. It rarely makes a difference. :? And neither has the pineapple. :(

[ellieangel]

Ask your vet about a product called "deter" I have heard that this is good :wink:

[Trouble]

She's (or should I say "we've") started classes now, and have discovered two things that I thought I'd share, although everyone probably knows already.

The pineapple didn't work for us - our trainer recommended courgette instead, and it's worked instant wonders. Rather than mix it with her food, where she can igrore it, we're giving it as treats, and she actually likes it. The only problem is if I forget to cut it lengthwise, and give it her as a slice which rolls, which she then plays with instead of eating! :? Other than that, it's stopped her eating her poo - thank the gods!

As for a deterrent spray, the ones we bought in the pet shop didn't really work that well, but we've got hold of a Bitter Apple spray, and that's a lot more effective.

[ellieangel]

Thanks for sharing that,I'd not heard of using cougettes before :)

[Trouble]

Well, it's not the sort of thing that springs to mind, is it? :lol:

This bitter apple spray is hard to get hold of, though. :roll:

[iluvdogs242]

actually you can find bitter apple spray @ www.petsmart.com go under Dog in the search caragorie at the top and type in bitter apple spray it brings you right to it and you can order it online right there. you can also find it @ http://www.petvetdirect.com then you just search bitter apple spray and it wilkl bring you right to that site then you can order it on line. :D