[Rock]

I need some understanding.
My puppy, Honey, is eating her poop and it really grossing me out!
Apparently it must smell good and taste good otherwise she wouldn't be eating it.
I even bring the doggy treats when she pees and poos, but she really tugs towards the poop when she's done.
I try to redirect her with the use of the treats, but I have to pick her up and set her down else where, and then try to reward her for immediate praise for her pooping experience.
Is there a way to spike her food so that it's not so tasty on the second time round?
Thank you in advance.

 

[firefly]

When dogs eat their poop, it can indicate that they aren't on a good food for them and they eat their poop to get more nutrition so you might try switching foods (this did the trick for my poop eater). Some dogs eat it to clean up after themselves and others just eat it because they can.

I have heard that pineapple or pumpkin added to their food makes it taste not so great the second time around.

 

[doxiemommy]

That's true, some dogs that eat poop do it because their food isn't good quality. I think, on your other threads, you've fixed the quality food problem!
Other dogs eat their poop if they've been punished for pooping before. They're basically trying to hide the evidence.

But, if that's not the issue, some dogs just do it. Ick, I know. Pineapple is supposed to help. There are also additives that you can get from a pet store. I have seen them in drop form, I think, that you just add drops to the food.

 

[Rock]

Yes, the food has been changed and just yesterday I've noticed that she has not lunged to the poop like she has in the past.
Surely the problem was the food and she was just passing the last of the last brand.
I am grateful for all of your advice

 

[doxiemommy]

Good to hear!

 

[InkedMarie]

You have a puppy, he's not housebroken yet. You should be taking him out on a leash, which means he shouldn't have the opportunity to eat his poop.

 

[lovetinydogs]

I have 3 dogs who like to eat poop. One only eats the others poop and 2 eat their own but not each others. Talk about a nightmare!!! I pretty much had my two oldest under control only by ALWAYS being outside with them and cleaning it up right away. Then I brought a puppy into the mix and now the puppy is doing it. She is very small and quick and turns to eat it as she is going. I have to watch her constantly because I am trying to potty pad train her. She is doing really well with the potty pads and will even poop on them IF the other dogs are not in the area. If they are then she will try to go hide somewhere. I have her limited to a small area but it is still very hard to keep an eye on her all of the time. I think it is a control issue with her. Anyway, what worked for me for a short period of time with her was clicker training. As soon as she pooped I would click it and then when she came to me I would give her one piece of her kibble and pick her up. Worked great but then she worried about the other dogs getting it and so she would hurry fast and eat it and them come to me....needless to say she did not get a treat! But my older dogs also started coming when I would click the clicker so you might try this. I have tried everything suggested to put in her food but nothing has worked so I am just trying to keep her on a feeding and pooping schedule so I can pick it up. I have to stand over her while she is going and grab her as soon as she is done. I then turn her around so she doesn't see me pick it up and then give her a kibble. I am hoping over time this will work. As soon as it quits raining here, if that ever happens, I will start taking her outside to go. She is only 2 1/2 lbs and stands about 5 in and is fast as lighting. Good luck, it is very disgusting to me and I try not let it bother me but it stinks so it is hard to ignore. I clicker trained her to come to me before I started using it for the poop eating. If anyone has any suggestions for me I would sure appreciate some ideas. I have even thought about muzzles.

 

[LilasMom]

I have 3 dogs who like to eat poop. One only eats the others poop and 2 eat their own but not each others. Talk about a nightmare!!! I pretty much had my two oldest under control only by ALWAYS being outside with them and cleaning it up right away. Then I brought a puppy into the mix and now the puppy is doing it. She is very small and quick and turns to eat it as she is going. I have to watch her constantly because I am trying to potty pad train her. She is doing really well with the potty pads and will even poop on them IF the other dogs are not in the area. If they are then she will try to go hide somewhere. I have her limited to a small area but it is still very hard to keep an eye on her all of the time. I think it is a control issue with her. Anyway, what worked for me for a short period of time with her was clicker training. As soon as she pooped I would click it and then when she came to me I would give her one piece of her kibble and pick her up. Worked great but then she worried about the other dogs getting it and so she would hurry fast and eat it and them come to me....needless to say she did not get a treat! But my older dogs also started coming when I would click the clicker so you might try this. I have tried everything suggested to put in her food but nothing has worked so I am just trying to keep her on a feeding and pooping schedule so I can pick it up. I have to stand over her while she is going and grab her as soon as she is done. I then turn her around so she doesn't see me pick it up and then give her a kibble. I am hoping over time this will work. As soon as it quits raining here, if that ever happens, I will start taking her outside to go. She is only 2 1/2 lbs and stands about 5 in and is fast as lighting. Good luck, it is very disgusting to me and I try not let it bother me but it stinks so it is hard to ignore. I clicker trained her to come to me before I started using it for the poop eating. If anyone has any suggestions for me I would sure appreciate some ideas. I have even thought about muzzles.

What brand of food do they eat?

 

[lovetinydogs]

Right now the two older ones are on Orijen Sr. and the puppy is on Wellness Puppy dry and canned...she is almost 6 months old. I have tried switching foods and so far that does not work. But, I think one of my older dogs is actually worse on Orijen so I am thinking of switching but not sure what to feed them. I would like them to all eat the same food eventually. Any suggestions??

 

[InkedMarie]

It doesn't matter what food they eat. Dogs eat poop because they like it, not because of bad food. Rain is no reason NOT to take your dog outside. I know someone who lives in northern Minnesota who took her Chi's and Pekes outside during the middle of winter for pottying. Just because they're tiny doesn't mean they aren't dogs, they sure can go outside

 

[lovetinydogs]

I've tried taking her out and she eats grass, bark, dirt, leaves and never goes potty. She did go poop outside a couple of times and did the exact same thing with it that she does inside. It's cold, very wet, and miserable for both of us so I figured doing the potty pads first would be a better idea and I have more control. My yorkies go out but they do what they have to and get right back in if it is raining. I trained one of my yorkies to potty pads first and then later to outside and she does great. I have always kept a potty pad down and if we are gone for several hours and she can't hold it, then she will use the potty pad otherwise she waits until we get home. My male yorkie on the overhand has to wear a belly band when I am gone because he does not hold it very well and does not use the potty pad but does go outside when we are home. I think very small dogs have different potty issues than larger dogs. My first yorkie was the first dog I ever trained to potty pads and I have had dogs all my life. The puppy does want to go out with the other dogs but she does nothing when she is out there except eat stuff. I live in the Pacific NW and we have had an unusually rainy winter, hopefully it will be over soon and we can spend more time outside. I definitely want her to go out eventually. I agree, I don't think it matters what they eat. My oldest yorkie is 8yrs and although she is much better, I do still have to watch her or she will also eat her poop. I have changed her food several times over the years. It is also a control issue with her as it seems to be with the puppy. They don't really enjoy eating it but they don't want anyone else to have it. That's my opinion of why my dogs do it. It's just disgusting no matter what the reason. With so many dogs having this problem, you would think that someone would come up with a solution that actually works. I NEVER had this problem years ago when I fed previous dogs grocery store food and table scraps.

 

[StellaLucyDesi]

In my experience, poop eating can be behavioral as well as something lacking in the diet. I found that for my 2 poop eaters, it was probably something lacking and behavioral combined LOL! They knew they got extra attention when the ate their poop, hahaha....whether it was negative attention or not. I also found that adding enzymes and probiotics to the diet helped the issue. I've read (this is not scientific, mind you!) that adding a B-vitamin complex might also help. Solid Gold Seameal was the first thing I tried that helped and I believe it is because it contains prozyme (an enzyme supplement). I don't use the Seameal now, but I do still add probiotics and sometimes enzymes. My dogs haven't eaten their poop in quite awhile.....and I hope I'm not jinxing us now by replying to this thread, LOL!

 

[LilasMom]

My dog used to eat her poop, but she grew out of it. Not sure if it was diet related since she was on a pretty good food (canidae) or just being naughty lol. Luckily she doesn't like to eat her own poop any more, but cat poop will always remain a delicacy to her. We had to build a special litter box just to keep her out.

 

[Rock]

It doesn't matter what food they eat. Dogs eat poop because they like it, not because of bad food. Rain is no reason NOT to take your dog outside. I know someone who lives in northern Minnesota who took her Chi's and Pekes outside during the middle of winter for pottying. Just because they're tiny doesn't mean they aren't dogs, they sure can go outside

Thank you for making this post.
In this arid place of our, we will be getting rain this weekend.
Because of the up coming rain, I didn't know what I was going to do with the potty training.
But now going out is not the problem of the puppy, but my own.
I'll just make sure I have plenty of towels to dry off with when coming in.

 

[lovetinydogs]

Thank you stellalucydesi, I will try the seameal. I am already putting in sea kelp but I will try to find the Solid Gold brand since I don't know if they are the same thing. I would love to find something that would work!!!!

As far as taking my puppy out in the rain, I have done it but she eats bark, grass,leaves, dirt, whatever, and never goes potty. I am hoping she will outgrow this because she loves to go out even in the rain. If I thought that would end the poop eating, I would do it but she eats it outside also. She is only 6 months old so hopefully in time she well get over it. My other dogs go outside to potty but I still have to watch them or they will also eat it...they are 7 and 8 yrs old...they are good at leaving it alone when I tell them though.

 

[hanksimon]

Try adding pineapple for a few days and see what happens. If that doesn't discourage them, try adding little bits of carrots. The carrots may not discourage, but may make it less interesting ???