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Post by orpheous87 on Apr 1, 2013 22:37:55 GMT
Both of my dogs are, unfortunately, in the habit of eating poo while out on walks (not their own!). One of them has taken to hanging around the other dog we walk with while he's going and then grabbing it before it can be picked up (I have noticed this becoming a trend and try to distract her until it's safely in a bag). I don't think it can be a result of having missing nutrients or anything as they're both on a decent diet (Applaws & Lily's Kitchen), but I wonder if the poo they're picking up is from dogs who are fed a poorer quality diet. I know that the dog we walk with is fed on a mixture of Wagg dry food and Winalot wet food. Short of sending a letter to the local paper to ask people to feed their dogs on better food, I'm not sure what else I can do to discourage them!
Do you raw feeders ever experience the problem of your dogs eating poo on a raw diet? If so, how do you tackle it? I'm planning to change my two to raw at some point this year, but I'm not looking forward to having to be extra vigilant on walks if they're going to carry on doing this!
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Post by smokeybear on Apr 2, 2013 12:14:56 GMT
None of my dogs have eaten dog pooh, either their own or that of other dogs. Dogs are attracted to the faeces of other dogs as often they smell very attractive and contain undigested grain etc.
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Post by charlottte on Apr 2, 2013 12:34:52 GMT
I've also never had a dog that eats faeces. Could you try training a really good Leave it? A friend has a young Setter who does this, she will walk behind the dog as its getting ready to do its business and snaffle it before they can get to pick it up.
I don't know much about coprophagia, but I keep meaning to do some research.
I once knew a girl who's Lab used to eat her other dogs poo, she apparntly loaded it with a chilli type powder/sauce. I can't remember what it was and that apparently worked for her but obviously would be more difficult for you as they don't eat each others
I'm not a fan of aversive methods though, but I would consider as a last resort if it was putting my dog at risk.
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Post by orpheous87 on Apr 2, 2013 20:49:22 GMT
SB - I wondered if that's what was attracting them. Both of my dogs do it, but lately Ellie is doing it more often. I've also noticed that they're quite picky about which poo they eat Charlotte - Ellie has a good leave it, but it's obviously not good enough! I'm going to have to try and strengthen it somehow I think. That might stop her eating other things as well - another plastic bag went down the hatch yesterday because I couldn't get to her quick enough to trade it for a treat >.< The problem with walking behind the other dog is that it's Jean's dog and as she's older than me, she's slower!! So it's down to me (as it should be) to distract Ellie if I see Oscar squatting to give Jean chance to pick it up. I'm not a fan of aversive methods either, but to be honest, I don't know how I'd even implement one of those since they don't eat each other's or their own. If I see them taking an interest in some that hasn't been picked up, I do get the 'leave it' in quickly and it mostly works but apparently some bits just smell far too irresistible to them!
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Post by BorderTerrier on Apr 13, 2013 12:56:43 GMT
I would say work work work on her leave it command! Use a toy or something, or a piece of food. Hold it in your hand, with your hand outstreched, and say a firm 'leave/leave it'. Keep practicing until Ellie can hold off until you give her the 'release' command.
That's how Earl learnt to leave when I say.
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