Okay, I have had ENOUGH

One of my dogs will continue to go after her poop as well as my other dogs poop right after he goes. It's like crack to her!
It's very disgusting! I have talked to my vet, they tell me unfortunately some dogs just don't grow out of this type of thing. I have tried pills, powder, changing her food thinking it's her diet...nothing is working.

I am growing even more concerned b/c in the near future there might be a baby in the mix and I can't have the dog doing this.

She will even pick it up and bring it to another room play with it then eat it. I catch her everytime and everytime I scold her. Tell her NO really firm and loudly. I stick her nose in it..(but she might like that) nothing is WORKING!

I love my two dogs and would NEVER think of getting rid of either one of them...even if this poop eater doesn't stop her habit. I just wish there was something that can be done!

Update: Some of you wanted to know where she is getting the poop from. My two dogs are shih tzu's about 11 pounds each. They are mostly inside dogs. I do let them out in our backyard more in the Spring/Summer months. In between, I take them out on their leashes.

I have wee wee pads that I have trained them to go on. My boy dog is very well behaved, does not try any poop eating ever. They are good for the most part with going on the pad. She will watch my boy dog as soon as he's ready she will run over to his butt and try eating the poop. I caught her numerous times. As well as going for her own after she lets it out.

If I am home, I am able to stop her. She will listen if I distract her with a treat. However, it's when I am not home...and if one of them goes, she will eat it. I can tell bc the pad will have poo stains moved around on it or I will find a piece on my floors! WHICH really GETS to me!

Message edited 10/20/2010 9:19:37 AM.

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

have you tried clicker training? Or rewarding her to get her away from the poop?

My cousin's dog used to do that all the time and the training helped (but it took a while...)

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

you could also try a squirt bottle and spray her every time to discourage

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Yelling and sticking her nose in it won't work. You need to be there to stop her from picking it up. Dogs have a very short attention span and won't understand why you're yelling at them. The sticking the nose in it thing is something people made up, but dogs don't think like we do.

Where is the poop that she's able to bring it in the house? I'd definitely start by limiting her access to it. It sucks, but you have to be there when it's happening whether you put them on a poop schedule and go out with them, limit them to walks where they poop so you can pick it up right away, etc.

We have a poop eater. We taught "leave it" by putting treats on the ground and preventing ours from getting it and saying "leave it". Wait a few seconds, say "take it" and they get a reward for waiting. Repeat repeat repeat.

Now when we're on a walk or in the backyard with them (we don't let them poop alone, it's just a fact of life) I will let him sniff but if he makes a move to open his mouth, I say LEAVE IT and pull him away.

In your situation, I'd say daily walks are your best bet. I know it's gross but they need constant discipline to stop them from doing it. Mine still tries occasionally, but it's definitely better.

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

I would definitely agree that you need to teach your dog to "leave it". It can be done but you have to be consistent and work on it every single day.

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

One of my three used to do this. At first we thought it was part of the puppy phase and he would grow out of it but he never did. The vet gave us forbid to put on their food and it didnt work. We literally had to watch him 24/7. Whenever we let them out in the yard, one of us has to go out to and watch. He would actually sit there and wait for the poop to come out of the big dog a**. Disgusting. We would be right there telling him No. No. No. and pick it up right away. It took a few weeks and he still gets tempted today but he doesnt eat it. Good Luck!

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Been there, and honestly the only surefire way to prevent it is to pick it up.

We always go out with the dog anyway, so it's not an issue for us. Nothing really seemed to deter the behavior though (powders, etc.).

If she runs out to one we missed (or didn't get due to pouring rain or something) we can usually tell her to stop, and leave it, but we're not always that quick!

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Ugh this is so gross. One of my dogs does/did this. We joke and say its poopsicles in the winter but its just nasty

Try spraying apple bitter on the poop.

Also there is a tablet they can take. My dogs take it (I forgot the name but I can look it up if you want).

Both of these combined has definitely helped.

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Where is she getting the poop from in the first place? That would be your first way to stop it, don't have any poop she has access to. Bottom line. My female might do this but she can never get to the poop as they get walked for all poop sessions. So we pick it up the second it comes out and she never has a chance...

Message edited 10/19/2010 10:05:49 PM.

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

my first dog did this and she did grow out of it. The trainer we're working with recommended feeding the dog pineapple after s/he eats. It's supposed to make the poop smell less attractive to the dog.

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

IMO like others said I'd limit her ability to get to it. I don't know if there is a particular reason you still use wee wee pads, but why not train them to go outside instead of on the wee wee pads. This way as soon as they poop you pick it up and she can't get to it?

We got our pup at 8 weeks and trained her to go outside by 10 weeks. It was totally doable. Like greenfreak she doesn't poop alone. We also have a lab so letting her poop in the house is just a no go for me.

Message edited 10/21/2010 7:19:47 PM.

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

I have a friend going through the dsame thing, she was told to throw chili powder on it so the dog wouldn't eat it. Trouble is you have to be right on top of them to do it!
Sorry, maybe the pineapple will help?

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Thanks I am going to try the pineapple.

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

I totally don't think it's too late to train them. It may take a little bit, but they should get the hang of it. If you are up for it I would put them on a leash that way you don't have to worry about the holes and you also know exactly where the poop is. Good luck!

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

NO idea how true this is or why it does work but I had a girlfriend tell me that her Vet recommended putting regular yogurt in the dog's food - apparently, doing so makes the poop REALLY undesirable to the dog (LOL why was it desirable to begin with?!) and then they no longer go for it. Reagan ate her poop a few times out of shame because she felt bad when she would have an accident in the crate -- we did the yogurt thing and it did work. Now, IDK for sure that it was THAT but we put the yogurt in her food and the next time (two days later) when she had an accident she did NOT even touch it. So, yeah, I really think it did work for her! We put it in everyday for about a week or so. Then, she was so turned off we didn't have to continue.

Message edited 10/24/2010 1:22:07 AM.

Re: Okay, I have had ENOUGH

poop snatching lol!!!!
i had to use Deter tablets. did you try those? i had to try a few different brands before he actually stopped. the poop smelled sooo bad!!