My four month old boxer puppy will insist on eating other dogs poops when out walking. He doesnt eat his own just other dogs. Alfie is quite good off the lead and we like to keep him off it at least some part of the walk, but its just getting impossible as all he does is eat poop! Any ideas why and how we can stop this disgusting habit?

It's quite common for pups to go through a phase of doing this. He will probably grow out of it, but it's best to try to break the habit as soon as you can. In my experience the only way to stop him in this situation is to not let him off lead in areas where he does this, unless he will stop when you tell him to. Try giving him something more interesting to keep him occupied when off lead, such as a toy or treats.

Maybe put him on an extention lead instead of letting him off until he cracks the habit and when you see him sniff as if he can smell a poo, make sure you walk away so he cant reach it..

What food is he getting?? If he is on raw or on a low quality food he may be missing something nutritional? just a guess

Hi Alfsmum,

My Lab puppy (now nearly 6) used to eat duck poo, and we nipped the habit in the bud by squirting him with a water pistol as he was about to do it. It really put him off - but obviously it only works if he dislikes the water pistol. Our next puppy (Bichon Frise) couldn't give a monkey's about it!

Or otherwise you could try a muzzle, but it's a bit of a faff, and other dog walkers often assume the dog is aggressive, which unnerves them. (From experience of walking a Lab we had for a while who was a swine for eating poo.) Also, some dogs learn the knack of shoving the muzzle right into the poo and thereby still being able to eat it. (Yuk!)

Whatever you end up doing, it's important to do it before the habit becomes well established.

Best of luck!

One of my Goldens used to eat her own poo when she was a pup..i would rush out to pick it up before she got to it first.
On speaking to my vet about it she said some do eat their poo or other dogs poo, she said she would grow out of it...and she did soon after.She is nearly 3 now and loves cow poo.  How Revolting dogs can be.

Thanks everyone, we feed him naturediet with a spoonfull of raw beef, which i believe is quite good so i dont think he is lacking something. We have tried him on an extension lead but he can spot it a mile off even before we can, its disgusting!!

We have spoke to the vets who say its just a bad habit so weve decided to just take him out on walks around the estate on the pavements so we have a better chance of spotting it before he does!  Lets hope he does grow out of it, the thought of fishing the poop out of his mouth again makes me feel quite sick.

One of my Sheltie pups enjoys the 'end result' of her sisters meals: From what I have read it is common in dogs, young particularly, and bitches especially.
It can be linked to the base instinct of the mother keeping the nest or den clean (birds do the same thing by removing the fecal sac as a chick produces one after feeding).
The least dominant member of a pack will eat the dominant members waste, I have 5 dogs and that's what happens in our house (well not actually in the house but you get the drift), this could go back to the primitive instinct that the alpha animals get the pick of the kill and the lower members get the left overs, there can often be good nutrient value in a 'steaming turd' and the lower member will eat it even though she/he doesn't need the extra vitamins because we humans provide a good diet.
All dogs seem to enjoy the poo's of herbivores, think Guinea, Horse and Sheep sh**, yum tasty, but these 'doings' will contain high nutrient content I'm mean even the owner of the poo will eat it, that's a Guinea favourite, and your Roses too.
It is something that the pooch will grow out of (at least I hope so cos I ain't kissing our Bonnie if she keeps on doing it), some people put Tabasco on the doings in their garden so that the taste will make eating poo a nasty experience, another thing I've heard is don't let your dog see you go on 'poo patrol' after they have performed as they see it as something you want so they should want it too. I can handle all this poo eating lark that Bonnie (6 months) is doing but I really draw the line at Tessa the Goldie (10 years and should know better) indulging in a babies nappy that some twerp of a mother left in our park gardens 2 weeks ago, now that it totally gross.

My two love nappies (not left round the house, but if they manage to get through the stair gate, and into the bin, they occasionally find one) so don't think that's ever going to change.  If it's your own dogs, I put pineapple in their food, and that puts them off.  However, this isn't something you can get everyone in the park to do obviously.  There was a case of a poo eating dog on 'Dog Borstal' but fell asleep whilst watching it, so can't recall what the answer was.  But may be worth googling dog borstal, and poo eating at the same time and see if it comes up with the episode. 

Good luck as it used to make me heeeeaaaavvveee!!! 

Clare x

Mega up chuck!!!

I have heard about putting 'stuff' in your own dogs food, didn't realise it was pineapple though, mind you at over 2 quid in our store at the moment I'm not going to waste pineapple in dogs sh**. As for dog borstal, well some of the numpty owners on there would make me snooze

Had this problem too!  Read all the stuff and the different theories, changed food just in case it was due to a lack of something in the diet.  Gave pineapple (doesn't have to be fresh, tinned in juice is absolutely fine), and also pumpkin seeds.  she did stop eating poo but I think she grew out of it rather than anything I did feeding wise.  However, she just loves pineapple so often has it as a pudding!!
I did used to know someone with a spinone that didn't grow out of eating it.  They used to walk him with a muzzle made out of an old sock - yuk!

My sheltie pup of four and a half months has been trying to eat her poo ever since I had her at 11 weeks!  This is the first pup though that I have had for years having had rescues for years so maybe it is not so uncommon.  But she also digs in the garden and finds my cats' poo (two cats) which is really gross!  I always pick the poo up as soon as I see it but if one is momentarily distracted or on the phone .....  still I am glad that I don't have the only poo eating (sheltie) pup in England!

Snowflake

At last another Sheltie mum :)

Just to make you feel good Bonnie is still 'at it', to her cat poo is a delicacy as I also have cats.
I hope you have as much fun with your Sheltie as I do with my 3, they are delightful little dogs.

my gsd did the poo thing all her life it didnt seem to matter what I did, and all of the above varietys and more if she found them. What she couldnt eat she rolled in  I tell you human is the worst !! yuk Yuk.

Never found away to stop it it was just random, A bit of toothpaste on her teeth or a polo mint helped my sensitivity to it.
Current gsd the problem is only atm the cat litter tray its a race to get there before him lets hope he grows out of it. The habit even has a posh word something like coprophagia according to my dog books.

Hi Alfsmum

I am newish to the champdogs (can't quiet suss out how to answer blogs) ( hope this is the right way) My Welsh Springer (6 mths) is exactly the same eats poo his own and other animals  I have tried Deter does not work Pineapple does not work he is on a premium kibble with a little raw meat walked 3 times a day everyday always bouncy and happy if you do find a miracle to stop it let me know please

Take Care

Springer Debs

Alfsmum Look into adding B-complex vitamins,the dose is around 50mg everyday or every second day.Digestive enzymes and probiotics are also great supplements.
I had a dog come to me once that had the poop eating habit,i put her on the B and probiotics,plus a real meat diet and the habit stopped after around 2 weeks.
I still give my dogs Bvitamins and probiotics and occasionally digestive enzymes,not for any problems,just for health maintenance.

Here's some info ::

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/enzymes-and-probiotics/

Here's a list of topics from all of the newsletters from the above site.It's worth bookmarking,as they cover just about every ailment and condition known to dog.

http://www.b-naturals.com/index.php?main_page=newsletters