When we take our shetland sheepdog out on a walk she tracks down pooh and eats it. This seems worst when we are out walking with friends dogs. Can any one help?

I've never heard of that problem...only thing i can think is to (if its a young dog) make sure you show your unhappy whenever the dog tries it. Hopefully eventually the dog may stop doing it to avoid making you unhappy?

I had a problem with my late dog who liked tracking down chip shop papers (liked to lick them clean and then carry the paper in mouth all the way home *the ambarassement was unbearable lol*)

I used to speak in a harsh tone and push her away and eventually she started doing it less and less..and never when on lead.

Maybe you could try changing the dogs diet also? Not sure if it would help but worth a try!

Sorry I cant be any more help :)

Regards
Suzi

Eating poo is natural - well for dogs anyway, not us! It's us being human that's the problem really, not what the dog is doing! We are putting our values onthedog.

Just don'tlet the dog lick your face afterwards!!!!

Distraction usually works well, especially if your dog loves a certain toy or food.
My male dog would occsinally get picked on by another dog, and I could always defuse the situaion by waving his toy and chucking it, his need to chase that toy was so strong he even ignored what the otherdog did.

Don't forget to reward your dog when she does ignore poo. Then she will understand what you want too.

Hi Rachel. I can't believe you have this problem because I have nearly the same problem also. My 4 month old Sheltie will eat his own poo, and track others down. I am feeding hin on a dry complete food diet. I am thinking of changing his diet to perhaps something more substantial as this is a discusting habit. He stinks after he has done it. If you find anything else out about this will you keep me posted. Thanks!!

David

I believe it is caused by an inbalance in the diet. I would be interested to know what foods you feed your dogs as it appears to be worse on certain complete diets ?

Thanks for the reply. The dry food is Pedigree Principal, puppy food.

I had a problem with two of my dogs when I put them on PC, changed the food ....... end of problem :-)

If its just his own poo he eats, I have cured it in a dobe many years ago by feeding tinned pineapple chunks in her meat. Apparently it tastes bad after its been digested, only works for eating own poo though. You don't actually say if its dog poo your sheltie is eating, or if its stock such as cows, sheep & horses. Wouldn't worry too much if its stock.

Agree with Sam - if it's his own poo from stock, don't worry - it's a good source of beneficial bacteria, although it's pretty yucky for us!

If it's his own poo, you can add pineapple, aubergine or meat tenderiser to the diet, and it usually makes the poo unattractive. Actually, in this case, you obviously have the option of picking it up quickly. If yours are like one of mine, don't sound disgusted, as it makes them devious, and they'll start slinking off to do it behind your back.

If he's heading for another dogs poo, just try to pre-emt the problem by distraction with a ball or some such.

It can, apparently, on occasion be the symptom of a pancreatic disorder, and I've given the one of mine that does it pancreatic enzyme from a health food shop, which I think has helped.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Sorry, off topic ...

Jo, Just to let you know that your advice ref: Munsterlander bitch who was depressed .... worked. Many thanx .... you are a star ! :-)

Twilly x

As far as I’m concerned, the jury is still out on this subject! As Twills said the old theory was that it was down to diet. Trace elements were the old buzzword. This theory was all right in the old days while we fed table scraps and the like but now I’m not so sure. With modern feeds and all the development work done by the food companies how is it possible that there can be any dietary deficiencies?
Dogs are omnivores and also scavengers. In the wild they would eat what they find and if it was a bit high, who cares! Their stomach is set up to cope with this! You’ve never lived till you’ve seen your dog bring in an old bone he’s found and then watched it walk out again under it’s own steam!!!!!! They don’t quite share our feelings about these things; after all, what’s a few maggots between friends?
As a converter of food into energy no animal is 100% efficient. A certain amount of food passes through the system undigested. So is what’s happening? Just the dogs natural food finding abilities coming to the for? Definatly it’s been the most “Instinctive” of my dogs who have been the worst!
We can endeavour to “train” our dogs to leave the excrement alone and we can succeed! (While we are watching!) But we can rarely achieve 100% success!

There! Not what you wanted to hear, but there it is I’m afraid. Dogs do not have human values or aspirations!!!! Am I right in my thoughts? Who knows!

Regards, John

You are spot on John !

But I still feel that some foods are Lacking and I have found that a change of food seems to solve the problem :-)

Twilly.

I dont think any complete diet is 'complete' - different breeds, different ages, different activity levels all put demands on the diet so no one food can ever hae the correct levels of every thing needed by a dog and god help anyone who really thought they did - we are pressured into buying complete food because the pet food industry makes millions from conning us into believing that 'their' product is bestDogs need a balanced diet - not a complete diet.

Hello Swelliott !!

Good to see yer :-)

Twilly

Blow me down! Twinkle, twinkle!!!

Still haven't found you at shows; not going anywhere for a bit as I have a VERY tubby lady at the moment, about 101 flatcoats, methinks. Poor old John won't know what's hit him when he starts training again! Sure will need that malt then!

Love.
Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Jo, I've drunk all his malt when he wasn't looking!!!

J

That’s what he thinks; I've got another bottle hidden, which he doesn’t know about!!!

John :rolleyes:

I have had the same problem with my dogs for years!! it usually starts as a puppy fad, and thankfully stops as they get older. I try to be quick off the mark with the shovel, but often they beat me to it. My vet laughs at me as says it is harmless and nothing to do with deficiencies, it's just a doggy thing and discourage them if you can. I have heard that pineapple in the food helps, but as my puppy will eat anybody's, I would have to feed it to all of them!

I changed mine's food when he did this with his own every day, as I had a feeling it wasn't being digested properly, and it still smelled of 'food' to him (though not to me!!!) this seemed to work along with rapid clearing up after he pood! as for being out and eating livestock poo, I think this is quite common, my dog seems to think that sheep droppings are a fine delecacy and can't get enough. the only way we stopped him so much was by a firm 'NO' when he went to sniff, and opening his mouth so that it dropped out if he had eatyen it. Good luck! dogs will be dogs!

Hi,i have a6 month old pug he too eats his business ive tried th harsh voice but ive made him nervous and i feel so sorry for him as hes tiny and cute lol.But i have got to the point where i dont want this around my children i have stopped them malling him and im from goinanywhere near them so he doesnt lick them.I seriously am considering letting him go to somebody else last resort like ijust want this to stop but not make him my pup dislike me or be scared of me in the mean time.But im out of other options.xx     denise

Aww please don't rehome your puppy for that reason alone, that would be a terrible shame, its also a shame for your poor little pup who doesn't understand why no-one will go near him, especially at such a crucial stage of his social development, its a shame for your children too, although obviously I can see why you don't want the children to be licked. Providing the pup is wormed upto date and they do not let the puppy lick their mouths and they wash their hands after touching the puppy I do not think that they will come to any harm though.

I have three dogs and all but the last puppy have done this, but most dogs do grow out of it, my bitch did it, stopped, then did it again for a while at about a year old and has now stopped again.

If you tell him off he is not going to understand why. With my Border I used a tablet called Deter which you can get from PAH and probably other big stores, my Border did not have any side effects from taking them and it did stop it, I think it just makes their faeces taste foul.

Hope this helps :-)

Nicki xx

I've never tried it but apparently putting pineapple juice in their food will stop them eating their poo. Alternatively can't you just supervise him when he does the business and clean it up straight away?

My girl does it, always has.  Just get to the poo first.  Mine physically tries to eat it as its coming out ewwwwww!  I have 3 kids varying ages and they have never had a problem, they love her too bits.  I just say "she's been eating poo and they are clever enough to work out not to let her lick there faces. Although i must admit i don't normally let our dogs lick the childrens faces, but children will be children lol. 

Get the poo, distract the puppy etc etc.  Hopefully she will get the message.  Most days i'm quick enough to get it first.  Our dogs are worth the smell! Good luck but don't get rid, children and dogs together is a truly fantastic sight.  I love watching my children and our two dogs play, it makes me smile for hours x

Hi,no im not rehoming him i think it just got on top of me thats all.i have phoned a few obedience schools to se if these had advice and they all came up with pineapple chunks in hi food or put on raw chicken.After thinking on this i chose to try the pineapple chunks and im totally surprised hes actually turning his nose up at his poop now.Im so releaved.Hes wormed and flead and alls well the kids as soon as theyve strokd him r straight to the bathroom to wash their hands.
Thanks for you response i appreciate it thanks ....
   denise x

Hi,i do supervise him all the time but he is much quicker than me he squats watchin himself poop lol so his head is practically touching his bottom almost.I cant be there all night watching him though in the kitchen sometimes when i get up in the night i am on time and catch him while hes out,but sometimes i can be late and hes already done hisbusiness marks on floor an its gone.
But im Happy o say that i was advised pineapple chunks and he isnow turning his nose up im much happier now and i think saying iwas going to get rid of him was just me in a foul mood id just had enough.xxx
thanks for your response..  denise xx

Thanks for your responce i wont be getting rid hes my little pall its just got to the point where i had enough but i have made a few calls for advise and was told pineapple chunks or raw chicken.I didnt like the sound of giving im raw chickenand the vet advised me not to aswell so i went with the pineapples.I didnt expec it to work but it has up to now he turns his nose up at it so fingers crossed lol.  He also tried to  eat it as its coming out squats going round in a circle lol drove me bonkers.
My kids werent happy when i said he was going they were dissapointed and i couldnt do it to them nor me id be too upset but hopefully now he stays away from it lol.
i appreciate your advice helps .. denise xx

Glad to hear that you seem to be getting him to stop doing it :-) it is a filthy habit and I understand totally, I must say every day that mine are going in the Admag when they do something naughty or are irritating me with dirty paws on the kitchen floor etc etc (the list is endless!) but I don't mean it for one minute, my dogs will never be going anywhere, but its natural that sometimes we will despair of them! Lol.

Nicki xx

Lol i say the same with the alsation we have but i love em really. denise x

My GSD and one of my dachsie eat poo from other dogs but they are very fussy lol.  Most they will walk straight past but just occasionally they get a smell up and then there is no holding them!!!  Trouble is they react the same to some smells on the grass so it is a bit hard to predict.  As for food - both on complete - GSD Arden grange and dachsie Burns - so not sure if the deficiency really applies. 

blimey lol i dont seem tohave the problem with other dogs mess yet should i say lol.He stays away from my alsations he is just obcessed with his own the pneapple chunks are still working though up to now.lol

This is really disgusting, but one of my dogs has eaten human poo on several occasions... he doesn't eat dog's but I know when he disappears into the bushes that someone has been caught short... it's too revolting for words!! I can just about stomach the sloppy cow poo my two gather round like a dinner party... after all, it seems to do their digestion some good somehow, has never upset them, but eating human poo has got to be the grossest thing ever!!!

Sorry if anyone was eating when they read this!!

> it is a filthy habit

Oh no it's not, far from it IF YOU'RE A DOG, dogs do it, it's natural, some do it more than other's, I like a packet of crisps, my two young Shelties like a poo twiglet :( :(

I believe it's nothing to do with poor diet/good diet/bottom of pack or any of that stuff, it's to do with being a dog, even if they're well fed they'll never give up on the chance of a 'treat' in whatever form that might be, why else would they find the most foul smelling carcass crawling with maggots and tuck into it as though it was a last meal, whilst frenetic owner runs around like a screaming banshee trying to take the offending thing off them.

We tend to humanize them and because we think it's gross we assume that it must be bad for them, it usually isn't.

I am lucky that mine will only eat home grown 'poo' so I know the 'goodness' that they're getting ;) ;)

I have had one or two eat the contents of a babies nappy but I can only assume that it tasted like caviar :)

I don't bother with any of the 'additives' in their food, I just try to pick up before they poo spot and home in but I don't go mad at it, no point.

I'd train the kids not to let the dog 'kiss' them rather than try to stop the dog from poo eating, anyway I personally think it's not a good idea to let a dog lick the face of a child.

mine do it too when my back is turned but if im there they dont do it , but i try and stay outside with them when thayve been wormed ....eating poo after worming makes them ill ,well it does mine :(

Thats what I meant - that to us it is a filthy habit - I doubt there is many humans that can see the appeal in it tbh!