I have a 14 week old Staff (bruce) and he eats his own waste. He has been doing it for a couple of weeks now.
Do you think he'll grow out of it or has anyone any suggestions on how to stop this, he is half house trained so when he's out he doesn't eat it, but if i'm out and he goes in the house he eats it.

Thanks

Scott & Bruce

Hi Scott,
Has he ever been scolded for messing in the house? Sometimes dogs will learn to clear up the mess in the only way they know, to avoid stress.
:)

No i am really relax about what he does, i just try and work out the times he's going to do his business and take him out and if he goes i give him a treat and praise him loads.
If he does it in the house i just clean it up if he not eaten it.
I don't like displining him to much cos he's been through alot since i got him.

Feed him pumpkin I heard that it makes the poo taste awful....lol....like it isn't awful enough :D. I'm feeding my dogs pumpkin and it seems to be working and they also love it. You don't want to over do it cause it can cause the poo's. You just boil it up like mash potatoes and feed a little at each feeding. I just froze a couple of bags to save for summer----the skin comes off real nice after it has been boiled.

Or you can get forbid, or just pick the poo up right after your dog is done pooing.

ttfn :)

I have a 14 week old GSD and I am having the same problem of him eating his own poo too. It is quite a common problem and looking on the forum a lot of people have found this a problem and there is a lot of different advice. It is called coprophagia and I looked it up on the internet. One site gave you different reasons as to why this is happening and one of the reasons seem to make sense. It is due to when they are younger and the mother tends to clean up after them and it is habit that the puppies pick up. Anyway it also said that it is harmless to the puppy just disgusting to us humans. It took my puppy to the vet just the other day for his second jab, and I asked the vet again he said it was common and harmless.

What I have start to do his when he does his poo outside I call him away from it and give him a treat and lots of praise and pats, to distract him and it is starting to work. If he does eat it, just do what you have been doing, just ignore it and hopefully they will grow out of it. Putting something bitter in his food may only work in the short period. Best thing is to have a look on the internet or ask your vet.

All the best

well thanks for all your help, i was a bit worried but the vet said don't worry bout it, i'll just try and watch him more carefully.

thanks again

hi there
Same prob with my shepherd years ago.....I couldn't solve it, so used to pick it up immediately. I was also told it was harmless...it just used to gross me out - especially when he would try and kiss me with a poo breath YUCK !!!!!

Hi Bruce,

Your vet said not to worry because eating poo is normal. All the supposed reasons given for why a dog might do it are really and truly nonsense. We humans just cannot come to grips with the idea that poo is an attractive meal to a dog. :-(

The only solution is to pick it up immediately. You can try discouraging your dog by sprinkling it with hot mustard powder or chili powder as well. I have tried everything with different dogs - and I can guarantee none of them really work!

Most do grow out of it a bit when they get older. However - fox poo or cat poo or horse poo or bird poo .. or just about any other animal's poo they never seem to grow tired of eating.

Dogs. Who'd have 'em?

Stacey