ABE
Well-Known Member
My lab has started to eat his own feaces and our others dogs, any idea why this could be? Someone mentioned he is attention seeking?
Any suggestions appreciated
Any suggestions appreciated
HELP! Dog eating his own feaces
- Thread starter ABE
- Start date
Cedars
Well-Known Member
Welcome to lab ownership LOL!
Chloe does this, normally when shes got a bit of a dodgy tummy. Vet said its totally normal, just ignore it completely and CERTAINLY dont punish at all. xxx
Chloe does this, normally when shes got a bit of a dodgy tummy. Vet said its totally normal, just ignore it completely and CERTAINLY dont punish at all. xxx
posie_honey
Well-Known Member
welcome do dog ownership in general lol!
v normal and nothing to worry about - although you'll find a lot of info stating that is abnormal etc - usually from companies selling things to try to stop it
v normal and nothing to worry about - although you'll find a lot of info stating that is abnormal etc - usually from companies selling things to try to stop it
ABE
Well-Known Member
Its just so disgusting, he is 7 and never done it before UGH!! disgusting dog
L&M
Well-Known Member
Ha ha, my lab does the same! She goes through phases of it and just make sure she doesn't try to give me a kiss after......!
Spudlet
Well-Known Member
I've heard that adding pineapple juice or chunks to food can put them off this - something to do with making the poo taste nasty? Might be worth a shot, anyway.
MileAMinute
Well-Known Member
My dog also does this. Rotten habit, but it just seems to be 'one of those things'. Best thing to do is make sure the garden/yard is clear of poo.
Just keep some tictacs handy
Just keep some tictacs handy
reddie
Well-Known Member
Our old dog used to do ths and we never managed to stop him. All we were able to was to clear up any poo asap. We did tell him off when we caught him and he would stop at that time.
Booboos
Well-Known Member
Yep my GSD does it as well. There are some theories out there as to why (nutritional deficiency, stress, attention seeking) but none are backed by any evidence, so I think best ignore it. We try to pick up the poop as quickly as possible!
CAYLA
Well-Known Member
I don't believe it is a deficiency either or attention seeking, I believe dogs are greedy and to them ****** tastes and smells gooooooooood
You could try a few things, as suggested the pineapple in the food, squirting chilli or lemon on a few strategically left over pieces of crap and the rest picked up.
I hate it and I would prevent it where possible, picking up is the best, but some have used negative reinforcement like a water pistol at the time of feasting but scoop it up quickly too
You could try a few things, as suggested the pineapple in the food, squirting chilli or lemon on a few strategically left over pieces of crap and the rest picked up.
I hate it and I would prevent it where possible, picking up is the best, but some have used negative reinforcement like a water pistol at the time of feasting but scoop it up quickly too
haycroft
Well-Known Member
yes this is disgusting habit..one of my dogs do it and i hate it
trouble is shes gulped it so dam fast and she know thats shes not suppose to do it...its usually and habit..i shout and say No but its too let..i pick up regulary or if i see any other poo down i sprinkle garlic or curry powder onto eat so my dog doesnt eat it
tried pineapple etc but didnt work
as theres so much crap in dog food and this doesnt get digested and comes out ediable to other dogs..lovely
i noticed if a dog is fed barf diet the dog doesnt est their poo as this is complestly waste
some dogs will eat,horse,chicken,cat
trouble is shes gulped it so dam fast and she know thats shes not suppose to do it...its usually and habit..i shout and say No but its too let..i pick up regulary or if i see any other poo down i sprinkle garlic or curry powder onto eat so my dog doesnt eat it
tried pineapple etc but didnt work
as theres so much crap in dog food and this doesnt get digested and comes out ediable to other dogs..lovely
i noticed if a dog is fed barf diet the dog doesnt est their poo as this is complestly waste
some dogs will eat,horse,chicken,cat
coloa
Member
Coprophagia
1. Your dog might be hungry. If your dog doesn't have access to food, he might eat poop.
2. Some dogs will eat poop to clean up an area like a housekeeper. This is most likely if your dog is confined to a crate or kennel, or when he's chained up or otherwise restricted. He's taking care of his space.
3. If your dog likes to carry poop, and then eat it, it could be genetics. Some dogs have instincts to carry stuff in their mouths.
4. Your dog might be eating poop because of parasites or worms. They can suck nutrients out of your dog, driving him to eat poop. It might also leave him extra hungry because of the lack of proper fuel.
5. Your dog might be eating cat poop or other animal poop to get key nutrients and minerals not available in his own food.
6. Some dogs will simply eat poop to pass the time. Dogs will eat poop because they are bored or lonely. It can be a sign of neglect.
7. Your dog might eat poop because he's anxious, nervous or otherwise upset. Stress will drive animals to do odd things.
8. Some dogs will eat poop to hide the evidence. If you punish your dog for pooping, he might eat it to stop you from getting angry.
9. If your dog has puppies, she might eat puppy poop. This is an instinct to hide the poop from predators. Poop is evidence. Getting ride of it keeps her puppies safe.
10. Some young dogs and puppies will eat poop as a novelty. That is, they'll eat poop as an experiment. They don't know better.
11. If your dog watches you pick up poop, he might learn to do the same. This is called allelomimetic behavior. Your dog observes you and learns from you, by putting the poop in his mouth you put poop in a bag.
12. Your dog might see others dogs eating poop. From this, they learn to eat poop too.
13. Many dogs simply like the taste of poop. This obviously doesn't make sense to dog owners but that's irrelevant. Some dog like to eat it and that's that. It's warm, moist, and very much like what your dog was given as a very young puppy.
14. If your dog food lacks key nutrients, he might eat poop. Your dog is trying to get "food" with nutrients any way possible, even from his own poop.
15. Sometimes dog poop seems like dog food. This can happen when dog food is low quality and includes materials that are easily passed and not absorbed by your dog. When the dog poops, it seems to be very much like the food he just consumed!
16. In some cases, dogs will eat poop if they are given too much food. This is especially true if your dog's diet is high in fat.
17. Some dogs will eat poop to gain attention. Many dog owners get very upset when their dog eats poop, which means the dog gets attention. This is a wonderful opportunity for your dog to interact with you, although it is because of negative attention.
18. It is possible that some dogs will eat the poop of other, more dominant dogs. Your dog might be more submissive than other dogs, resulting in strange poop eating behavior. This seems to occur more in households with multiple dogs where dominance and submission is a factor. Obviously this doesn't explain much about dogs eating cat poop or other animal poop.
19. It is possible that your dog wants to eat more than one time per day. If you only feed your dog once per day, and your dog eats poop, it could be an indication they want to eat more frequently.
20. In some cases, your dog will eat poop by accident. Dogs are curious and will try to eat almost anything, including poop. Dogs explore the world through taste and smell, much more than humans.
1. Your dog might be hungry. If your dog doesn't have access to food, he might eat poop.
2. Some dogs will eat poop to clean up an area like a housekeeper. This is most likely if your dog is confined to a crate or kennel, or when he's chained up or otherwise restricted. He's taking care of his space.
3. If your dog likes to carry poop, and then eat it, it could be genetics. Some dogs have instincts to carry stuff in their mouths.
4. Your dog might be eating poop because of parasites or worms. They can suck nutrients out of your dog, driving him to eat poop. It might also leave him extra hungry because of the lack of proper fuel.
5. Your dog might be eating cat poop or other animal poop to get key nutrients and minerals not available in his own food.
6. Some dogs will simply eat poop to pass the time. Dogs will eat poop because they are bored or lonely. It can be a sign of neglect.
7. Your dog might eat poop because he's anxious, nervous or otherwise upset. Stress will drive animals to do odd things.
8. Some dogs will eat poop to hide the evidence. If you punish your dog for pooping, he might eat it to stop you from getting angry.
9. If your dog has puppies, she might eat puppy poop. This is an instinct to hide the poop from predators. Poop is evidence. Getting ride of it keeps her puppies safe.
10. Some young dogs and puppies will eat poop as a novelty. That is, they'll eat poop as an experiment. They don't know better.
11. If your dog watches you pick up poop, he might learn to do the same. This is called allelomimetic behavior. Your dog observes you and learns from you, by putting the poop in his mouth you put poop in a bag.
12. Your dog might see others dogs eating poop. From this, they learn to eat poop too.
13. Many dogs simply like the taste of poop. This obviously doesn't make sense to dog owners but that's irrelevant. Some dog like to eat it and that's that. It's warm, moist, and very much like what your dog was given as a very young puppy.
14. If your dog food lacks key nutrients, he might eat poop. Your dog is trying to get "food" with nutrients any way possible, even from his own poop.
15. Sometimes dog poop seems like dog food. This can happen when dog food is low quality and includes materials that are easily passed and not absorbed by your dog. When the dog poops, it seems to be very much like the food he just consumed!
16. In some cases, dogs will eat poop if they are given too much food. This is especially true if your dog's diet is high in fat.
17. Some dogs will eat poop to gain attention. Many dog owners get very upset when their dog eats poop, which means the dog gets attention. This is a wonderful opportunity for your dog to interact with you, although it is because of negative attention.
18. It is possible that some dogs will eat the poop of other, more dominant dogs. Your dog might be more submissive than other dogs, resulting in strange poop eating behavior. This seems to occur more in households with multiple dogs where dominance and submission is a factor. Obviously this doesn't explain much about dogs eating cat poop or other animal poop.
19. It is possible that your dog wants to eat more than one time per day. If you only feed your dog once per day, and your dog eats poop, it could be an indication they want to eat more frequently.
20. In some cases, your dog will eat poop by accident. Dogs are curious and will try to eat almost anything, including poop. Dogs explore the world through taste and smell, much more than humans.
CorvusCorax
Deary me...
I know my dog is smart, but I doubt he will ever master coal shovels....
CAYLA
Well-Known Member
lmfao :d:d
NOISYGIRL
Well-Known Member
My GSD I used to have used to do this, yuk, and if you didn't know he'd come and give you a lick before you realised !!
I'm glad the springer I've got now hates her own poop let alone anyone elses, she makes a point of going round other dogs poop and doesn't sniff any
I'm glad the springer I've got now hates her own poop let alone anyone elses, she makes a point of going round other dogs poop and doesn't sniff any
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alesea
Well-Known Member
Our lad started doing this just before Christmas- around about the time when we had all the bad weather. He's 5 and he'd never done it before, so I opted to worm him (he was about due anyway), plus I picked up a probiotic at the same time (one that you just use for a couple of weeks to recolonise gut bacteria with).
I'm not sure what caused it- I wondered if it was because he couldn't eat as much grass as usual because of the snow and ice, or if he had worms, or he'd had a bit of a tummy bug (he's gluten intolerant and a bit of a sensitive soul). Either way, he stopped fairly soon after the worming and probiotic, so hopefully something worked!
I'm not sure what caused it- I wondered if it was because he couldn't eat as much grass as usual because of the snow and ice, or if he had worms, or he'd had a bit of a tummy bug (he's gluten intolerant and a bit of a sensitive soul). Either way, he stopped fairly soon after the worming and probiotic, so hopefully something worked!
MissTyc
Well-Known Member
My dog only eats her own and only when it's warm
littlemisslauren
Well-Known Member
I didn't realise so many dogs ate poop!