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Post by orpheous87 on Jun 6, 2013 13:21:24 GMT
I know that chantel has already got a thread about Riley eating his own poop, but Ellie still insists on eating other dogs' poop. This morning she ate a big lump of it (it looked vile too - pretty orange looking), followed by some other lumps from other piles along the path. This afternoon, she's just thrown it all up again - I'm positive that's what it was because the smell was disgusting! If I spot her taking particular interest in one pile, I do distract her with a treat and walk her away from it before actually giving her the treat. Although I did that this morning and thought I'd been successful, but she suddenly took off and ran back to the orange poop and managed to scoff it before I could get to her.  Is there anything else anyone can think of to try? It's hard to manage because it's not every single bit of poop that she takes interest in. We often meet a lady who has two Labs and she's taken to walking with a bitter spray because one of her dogs does the same and if she sees him sniffing around, she'll spray. Is this the only solution? It's driving me mad! |
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Post by Pawsforthought on Jun 6, 2013 14:07:42 GMT
The only thing I'd suggest is practising the leave it command and getting smellier and smellier (fish) objects for her to leave. Finn knows when he's doing something naughty, and if he is about to eat his poop (which he occasionally does) he does it QUICKLY so we can't grab him first. So I'd suggest not trying to get her or acting any different to if it was an object you had deliberately put there for her to leave. Practise a 'leave it' where she does not get the left item ever, but only a treat from your hand.
For example, if I drop a bit of chocolate, I panic and say "LEAVE IT LEAVE IT" or whatever, but obviously that doesn't work, to a dog, raised voice is me telling them off. If I say "can you leave it?" In the same way I would during practise, the dog leaves it?
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Post by orpheous87 on Jun 6, 2013 14:44:12 GMT
I know exactly what you mean Pawsforthought. It's so frustrating, as we do practice leave it all the time, but we do it with treats so they eventually get the item we're telling them to leave. I think I'm going to give your way a go, although not with anything too smelly in the house! I have some tripe sticks that I could use rather than fish. I may also try with a toy/ball. If we raise our voices, both our dogs do leave whatever we're telling them to leave, but I know it's more because we've raised our voices and not because they're listening to the command. Pepper, in particular, hates raised voices. The dog next to us at training last week kept getting told off and Pepper was hiding under my chair, bless her! |
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Post by Pawsforthought on Jun 6, 2013 14:59:39 GMT
Aww poor Pepper! Finn wags at you if you shout at him, with a big grin on his face lmao. Woody cowers  so I never do it unless he REALLY has to do something, like for his own safety! I yelled at him once when he'd caught a live squirrel, and he dropped it immediately and came crawling back over to me, feeling very sorry for himself! Obviously I told him over and over what a good boy he was XD Ps. the Squirrel was fine |
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Post by orpheous87 on Jun 6, 2013 15:34:38 GMT
She's such a big baby, its funny. Aw, bless Finn lol.
Oh dear! Yeah, if either of my two were like Woody, I wouldn't shout at them either. Bless him. Glad the squirrel was fine, haha! Ellie nearly had a baby magpie yesterday! it was on the path leading to the school field, and she chased it. Luckily, when it didn't fly away, she stopped and looked at it in confusion! She's used to birds flying away from her, but this one had obviously just recently fledged and couldn't fly properly.
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Post by chantel on Jun 6, 2013 16:00:18 GMT
Well the Leave It Command didn't work with Riley but the pineaple does seem to be working, you too could try it , you wouldn't be loosing anything. But their are a few things you could buy to prevent Ellie from eating her poop but we didn't go down that road. You could also have a chat with your vet especially with her been older.
Good Luck x
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Post by orpheous87 on Jun 6, 2013 16:04:49 GMT
That's the thing chantel, it's not her own that she's eating! She picks it up in the street, so I dread to think what the dogs have been eating. We have asked the vets about it before, especially as Ellie has been a bit ill and it was caused by her picking stuff up on her walks, and they've just said try distracting her, developing the leave it command and as a last resort, muzzle her. I'm desperate not to go down the muzzle route, but if she doesn't stop soon, we may have to |
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Post by chantel on Jun 6, 2013 16:17:02 GMT
Yes i know how you feel a muzzle would be a last resort for me too. The only thing i can think of is to try attracting her attention with some really tasty treats Liver/chicken/cheese.
If that dosn't work you may have to resort to the muzzle but i am hoping that you don't have to go down that road.
Keep us informed how ellie goes on lolx
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Post by chantel on Jun 6, 2013 16:18:54 GMT
Oops sorry i forgot to add - what about trying some calming remedies it may help her.:-)
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Post by orpheous87 on Jun 6, 2013 16:19:47 GMT
Will do!
After recently changing their diet onto raw food, I'm going to wait and see whether this helps or not. Hopefully it will!
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Post by orpheous87 on Jun 6, 2013 16:32:51 GMT
Oops sorry i forgot to add - what about trying some calming remedies it may help her.:-) Ooh, now, I have considered flower essences, but I haven't worked out which ones will be best for her yet! She does have skullcap and valerian tablets for her travelling, but I've never thought about trying them on a walk. |
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Post by migsy on Jun 6, 2013 18:37:30 GMT
Orpheous; I can't remember which of the well known trainers said it,but it's great advice;it was that everyone can find a 'fish wife' voice,use it for the most serious problems.It's true too,as when one of my late dogs got spooked by the life boat maroon going off(and it is seriously loud!) I shouted as loud as I could to cut through his panic as he rushed off,so much so it hurt my throat.Friend with me stared in amazement saying, "Crikey,I wouldn't have believed you had it in you!" I think I nearly deafened her.It worked thank goodness and panicking dog stopped still.So really bawl the LEAVE!!! or OFF!! command when dog goes towards or even looks interested in the poo.Good luck.
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Post by orpheous87 on Jun 6, 2013 19:14:57 GMT
Oh really migsy? That sounds like interesting advice, that's for sure! I did shout at her this morning, but it was far too late and probably not loud enough. She's been really good lately too, but today she was determined. This isn't an excuse, but I wouldn't have the problem if other people would just pick up after their dogs! Grr! |
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Post by caz2golden on Jun 6, 2013 19:40:15 GMT
Ever since mine had the antibiotics for the infected nail beds I have had the same problem orpheous! Its other dogs poo that's the issue! I have had no luck stopping it either! and I am am fog horn leg horn!!  She actually only does it on playing field so guessing it is a specific dogs poo she has to have. She can be chasing a ball, does a full on sudden stop and before you have chance to scream she has it! I want to throttle her!! |
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Post by orpheous87 on Jun 6, 2013 20:13:53 GMT
Ooh, Caz, Ellie isn't quite that bad! I've never seen her stop mid chase before!
I guess perseverance is the key then!
It would be interesting to find out which dogs the poo is from and what they're fed on.
Ellie has a preference for Oscar's poo, which is fairly easy to keep on top of. I know that he's fed on Wagg dry and Winalot tins, along with bits of whatever Jean has, so I'm guessing there's something in either the Wagg or Winalot that's attracting Ellie.
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so I never do it unless he REALLY has to do something, like for his own safety! I yelled at him once when he'd caught a live squirrel, and he dropped it immediately and came crawling back over to me, feeling very sorry for himself! Obviously I told him over and over what a good boy he was XD
