By Karen A. Soukiasian
There are a number of reasons why some dogs find eating their own or another animal’s — especially cat feces — so appetizing.
1. Most female dogs will instinctively keep their litter area clean, by eating their puppies’ feces, if the breeder does not do it regularly.
2. Puppies that are not fed enough during weaning will often eat feces because they are hungry, which creates a bad habit.
3. Puppy mills are notorious for not keeping the litter areas clean. Puppies are usually infested with parasites and get feces on them. To keep clean, a puppy will have to lick the feces off…therefore it becomes perfectly natural to them. That habit also keeps the parasite cycle repeating over and over.
4. Nutritional imbalance. Your puppy or dog may receive what they need from their food and may need nutritional supplements. Speak to your veterinarian.
5. Absorption problems. Your puppy or dog may have parasites. Speak to your veterinarian.
6. Keep the cat box out of the dog’s reach! If need be, enclose the litter box in a cabinet, with a hole only big enough for the cat to get through.
Break the feces-eating habit.
1. Have your dog examined. Have them tested for parasites and nutritional deficiencies. The remedy may be as simple as a change in diet.
2. Make sure your puppy or dog is not always hungry. Feed her smaller amounts more often and if necessary, increase the amount of food.
3. Clean up immediately after your dog relieves himself. Out of sight, out of mind!
4. If your dog turns around, and looks like he’s about to indulge, make a firm “LEAVE IT!” command, move him away from the pile, and give him a treat or toy as a distraction. When he takes the treat or toy, praise him.
5. Find a local trainer who applies positive reinforcement, punishment-free training methods. Enroll your dog in a Puppy Kindergarten or Basic Obedience class. Learn how to use positive reinforcement and certain commands properly, so your dog will learn to associate what is appropriate behavior.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a nasty, gross and usually hard habit to break! Be patient, firm, diligent and consistent.
NOTE: Most puppies and dogs purchased from pet stores are from unsanitary, poorly operated, over-crowed puppy mills. Whenever possible, avoid getting your new best friend from a pet store. Find a reputable breeder or visit your local shelters and rescues.
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Actually, I never had a poop eater until a certain puppy was born here last year! I feed a human grade kibble, and my pups’ bedding is changed 2-3 times per day, premises are squeaky clean. My understanding is that some pups learn this behavior from their dam while still in the whelping box. She has no parasites, eats a high quality, balanced diet, lives in a very clean environment, and is the only pup I have ever had to eat feces – and it has to be fresh, so she positions herself behind the dog as it is coming forth! All stools are cleaned from the yard as they are left there. I’m a reputable breeder and believe that this keen interest in feces might possibly have a genetic component. She is an outcross, bred to an outside sire whose breeder has several poop eaters and just deals with it. Of course this behavior is not condoned, and of course such puppies are told to STOP, Leave it, etc., but they will if they can get away with it. My pup’s littermates do not indulge. It’s just her!
Very helpful insight on an unpleasant topic. I am a dog walker and dealt with a black lab with this problem for a few years.It was a huge issue at the off leash.
In conjunction with the dog’s owner we tried many methods.Constant supervision,keeping her active and running so less distractions,a citronella spray collar, positive reinforcement, a muzzle and finally keeping her on leash only walks.
I do think for some dogs it is strongly in their DNA which makes most training options a constant challenge.This one dog is the perfect dog otherwise in all respects.Like humans we all have some vices.
I will post this on my Facebook wall for my dog blog.You have given great concrete advice especially for younger dogs where a chance of sucess is much greater.