Welcome to “Prevent Dog Poo Eating | 5 Effective Tips & Solutions,” your comprehensive guide to addressing the common and concerning behavior of dogs consuming their own feces. As pet owners, witnessing such behavior can be both perplexing and distressing. Fortunately, in this article, we will explore five proven strategies to prevent and manage this unwanted habit, ensuring the well-being of your furry friend.
Although all these reasons for dogs eating poop are common, they can be quite normal behaviour. When we first got him, our newest puppy, Rupert, used to eat his poo regularly. Sometimes it would even before it had finished coming out of his bum. He would be turning around trying to get it. This was a worrying sign for us as Ralph had never done it. We would get up in the morning, and there would be poo stains in his bed but no poo. After researching why he ate his poo, we could prevent him. After a couple of weeks of strict training, he has stopped eating his poo and usually goes.
There are several reasons why your puppy or dog might be eating his poop.
- Boredom / Crying Out for Attention
- Lack of Time with Mum when young
- Protein Deficiency
If you do not stop your dog from eating his poop, it will become a much bigger problem later in life.
Prevention
Table of Contents
Sometimes, it is just something your puppy or doggie likes to do. There can be no explanation as to why. They do. They may have a great diet, great exercise and be active, happy doggies. But eating poop can be the norm for them. The only way to stop this is to distract and treat. Distract and Treat. Keeping up with this regular occurrence will ensure they stop doing it. If you do not prevent it early, your training will be much more difficult.
How Can I Stop My Doggie Eating His Poop?
- High-Quality Food: Puppies require a good source of protein, vitamins and lots of nutrients to help grow and be healthy. If your puppy struggles to gain weight or has regular watery poops, then lack of protein/nutrients could be the main problem. Finding a puppy/dog food that is higher than your current food in protein, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients is a great way to prevent this. Check with your vet if you want to change food if you are unsure.
- Attention: Puppies, like children, need a lot of attention and exercise, or they quickly become bored. Boredom is one of the main reasons why dogs will eat their poop.
- Regularly Clean Up: Watch your puppy’s toilet time every time. As soon as they start to poop, collect it. This will give them less chance of playing with or eating their poop. Sometimes, you may require a lead to move them away from their poop, but this is not necessary most of the time. Encouragement and Treat is the best way of stopping your doggie from eating poop.
- Walking Your Puppy: When walking your dog or puppy, always use a lead. Not all dog owners pick up their dog’s poop after them, and by not being on a lead, your dog may eat it. This can be very harmful to your puppy as they could get parasites and contract other illnesses. By being on the lead, you can quickly pull the lead to move them away and prevent them from picking it up. Again, praise the behaviour with a treat once they have moved away from the poop.
- Rewards: As with all dog training, praising your puppy/dog with treats for good behaviour helps in the long run. Your doggie will quickly learn to stop eating poop and want a treat for good behaviour. SUCCESS!
When we first saw Rupert do this. Initially, we panicked and ran out to stop him. However, we quickly learned that this was not the right way to go about it. When puppies are younger, their mothers normally clean up the poop for them. This helps to keep the Whelping Box nice and clear for the litter. Generally, puppies will copy their mothers, which can be why they eat their poop.
With Rupert, we found a mixture of Hunger and lack of Prcotein in his food. Although he was having three meals a day, Rupert was just never full. To prevent him from eating his poop, we made sure that we stood with him every time he went to the toilet. As soon as he pooped, we would be on hand to pick it straight up. We then gave him a treat as a reward for not touching it, even though he didn’t have a chance. We continued this process for approximately two weeks. He quickly learned that once he had pooped, he would then get a treat. Eventually, he would walk away from his poop and come straight to us, awaiting his treat.
Secondly, he always seemed hungry. Three meals of puppy food just weren’t enough. Once he had grown, we started all smaller Adult biscuits with higher protein than the puppy biscuits. This helped fill him up between meals. We kept the food brand the same but changed to adult biscuits. By keeping the brand the same, his stool was not disrupted.
Training your puppy not to eat poop can be a quick process but not a very nice one. Seeing your dog eat poo for the first time can also knock you a little sick. Be patient and calm, and you will quickly get out of the habit.
Some Details as to Why Your Dog Might Eat Its Poop
If your doggie continues to eat its poop, then you may need to consult a dog trainer behaviouralist. Some people recommend seeking the advice of a vet, but when we asked, they said it’s behaviour and nothing they can provide.
Let’s take a quick look at other reasons;
- Digestion: Puppies who do not digest their food properly will eat poop. But what does this mean? Some puppies tend to eat the food too quickly. Sometimes without even chewing, your dog will swallow the food. This can cause your dog’s stool to come out the same way it went in. Making it smell like dinner time and making them want to eat it again. Higher digestive nutrients in the foods can help slow them down and digest them properly.
- Bored: If you leave your doggie alone for too long in the day, especially as a pup, they will eat it. When puppies are young, they require a lot of attention. If you work all day, you still need to find regular time to go and see them. It would be best to let them out, walk them and water them regularly.
- Stress and Anxiety: Puppies taken from their mothers too early tend to become stressed. This can leave them not knowing what to do or where they are going. They will also struggle with their new surroundings. Punishing your dog for eating its poop is not the right way to go about things. This can cause more stress. Teach them, treat them and above all else. LOVE THEM!
- Worms: We found that with Rupert’s constant hunger came worms. These affected his digestion and made him hungry all the time. Worms can seriously harm your dog if not treated quickly and correctly. As a Puppy, they should be wormed every two weeks until 12 weeks old. Then they should be wormed at least once a month until two years old. We have since found out that Rupert was bred at an illegal puppy farm which we didn’t know. This meant he had been mistreated and not looked after at all. Worms were the main problems we have found but six months later.
Do Adult Dogs Eat Their Poop?
All of the above works with puppies as well as adult dogs. Puppies do generally grow out of eating their poop; however, they continue into adulthood on occasion.
If your dog has never eaten its poop and then suddenly starts, go to the vet. It could be a case of weight loss or behavioural problems that have caused this. Being sick or diarrhoea is another main reason adult dogs can start. Getting them to stop is much more difficult as adult dogs can be more challenging to train.
In Summary: Guarding Your Pup from Poo Munching
As we wrap up our exploration into preventing dog poo eating, it’s evident that a combination of understanding, consistency, and targeted interventions can make a significant impact on your canine companion’s behavior. By implementing the five effective tips and solutions discussed, you’ll not only discourage this undesirable habit but also contribute to a healthier and happier life for your beloved pet. Remember, addressing this issue requires patience and dedication, but the rewards of a poo-eating-free household are well worth the effort. Here’s to a cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable life with your furry friend!
If your adult doggie is well, everything above will work. It just may take a little bit longer. Change food, increase exercise, give them more attention than normal and even treat them just that little bit more. It will help in the long run. The most important factor of all, though, is to clean up immediately. Preventing them from doing it in time will cure them. Prevent and Treat.
