Training A Dog

Question: How do you train a dog to not eat poop?

(Posted by: Angelina V on 2010-02-07 07:51:10)

For years I have been struggling with my beagle Blue. Even as a puppy, poop seemed to be a delicacy to him. I tried sprinkling that stuff, i can't remember what its called, on his food, it's the stuff the vets recommend for this type of behavior. Even discipline and positive reinforcement. Nothing works! He's also horribly stubborn and ignores both me and my husband when we call him. I've taken him to training, nothing sticks. Help please. Question to TK, is that dried crushed pineapple?

Posted by: TK on 2010-02-07, 07:55:17

Add a handful of crushed pineapple to each meal and pick up his poop as soon as he does it.

Posted by: Marie on 2010-02-07, 07:57:54

I have no idea. Let me know when you find out.

Posted by: Brooke, Boxer Fanatic. on 2010-02-07, 07:58:13

Pick up his poop as soon as he poops, then he will have nothing to eat.

Posted by: Alexis S on 2010-02-07, 07:58:18

Umm.....I'd say as soon as he uses the bathroom pick it up ASAP!

Posted by: Ripstik G Boardslide Grind on 2010-02-07, 08:06:41

You cant dogs have instincts and you cannot take away those instincts that your dog has

Posted by: Squirting Lime on 2010-02-07, 08:13:29

It looks like you can't train him. You have to change his way of behaving. Add some spurts of pineapple juice to his meal everyday. This will cause his feces to taste unappetizing, and quite vile. Dogs eat their droppings due to not having enough nutrients, the taste of the feces, or just boredom. Also, pick up your dogs feces before he is able to trot over and eat it. That way.. 1. He won't be able to access his feces. 2. Even if he is able to reach it, the feces will still taste vile due to the pineapple juice. Hope this helped! :)

Posted by: Alesi's Chi's on 2010-02-07, 08:14:43

It's a hard habit to break when it's been allowed to go on so long. You can't just let him out and not expect him not to eat it. Take him out on a lead, bring a plastic bag, and pick it up as soon as he goes

Posted by: Ty B on 2010-02-07, 08:15:54

It's almost always a nutritional issue. For 90% of my clients their dogs will stop eating poop when put on a high quality food.

Posted by: � ℒoℒℒყ � � єи∂ℓєѕѕ � � ℓσνє � on 2010-02-07, 08:21:57

My dog, misty has this behavior. just add some crushed pineapple to each meal or just simply clean it up after he has used his lavatory. some other suggestions are to place his favorite treat on the floor far away and call blue. this distracts him. then, grab a poop-scoop or whatever you use to clean it up with and do what you have to do. repeat this action every time and as the age progresses, blue will soon learn. if this doesn't stop, take him to the vets and they may suggest antidepressants. otherwise just tell the little one to stop and maybe tap him on the nose and throw him outside until blue learns. moving on, as he whines or whimpers, just turn your head and ignore him, or else he will think it is cool and fun to do as when he goes cute, he thinks he will always get a cuddle and kiss to say your sorry.

Posted by: sbw1020 on 2010-02-07, 08:32:45

Don't let him have access to it. If you already know that he does this, walk him on a leash and as soon as the dog poops get him away from it and pick it up. If you don't do this EVERY time, he will get used to it and he WILL eat it EVERY time. The key is that you have to pick it up and get it away from him each time, asap. After he goes, pull him away from the poop., and yell something I would just scream NO - LEAVE IT! If you don't he will just be waiting for that one time you are not picking it up and he will eat it again. After doing this each and every time for about six months then you can try letting him off his leash, but stay out there with him, I mean right next to him as he's going. If he knows that you are watching he shouldn't try to go after it. If he does, don't trust him to be loose, get him back on a leash. It's a lot of work, I have three kids and I'm busy, but I did it with my dog, and after about 8 months it worked. My German Shepherd ( huge poop) is now almost 3 and she won't even look at her poop. The good part is I leashed walked he at one area in our fenced in yard, and now she thinks that is where she has to go. Which is great because I don't have to look for piles all over our yard. I still try to pick it up asap - usually within minutes. I don't want her to start this gross habit again!

Posted by: Fatcheeks96 on 2010-02-09, 16:21:04

Please let me know if you find out! my dog never did that then one day she accidentally ate my cats poop and she has been eating it ever since!!!!!