How to stop my Shih-tzu eating ..... well, shit?

[WileywithSageStuffing]

Ewwwww.

Ok have a 10 month old Shih-tzu who will eat her own faeces in the morning. [hurling emoticon].

Wtf is that about?! She has never been reprimanded for pooing in house or anything as was easily house trained, she gets enough to eat (James wellbeloved dry). She is well, she is a confident but placid dog - perfect really, except for this!

I try to collect it as soon as it is deposited but she spends a lot of time outside (her choice) and I can't watch her constantly. She will eat as soon as its done but she's not averse town old one either.

I have called her with treats but again can only do this if see her.

Have used the Pet Stop spray when she starts sniffing at it but thus doesn't put her off at all.

Any ideas....

[Floralnomad]

This is very common and very difficult to deal with . I know Victoria Stillwell covered it in one of her programmes so her website might have some ideas . I think it really boils down to you always having to get there first. I have a friend who's Westie does it and he also eats other dogs poo as well which is even worse!

[Rikalaily]

Our lad eats the cats poo out of the litter tray when he manages to get to it. I was advised to put a couple of big spoons of live natural yogurt in his food a few times a week. It took about 2 weeks but it did work and he only goes for the poo now when we forget his yogurt for a while. Someone said they do it when thier gut flora isn't right so they eat the poo to try and top up the natural bacteria that they are lacking, the live yogurt helps with it.

[lifeistooshorttodrinkcheapwine]

ours eat horse poo. I even think they've eat human poo - yeeeuck!!! when they have found deposits of it. I might try the live yogurt Riklaily mentions

[WileywithSageStuffing]

She does also love horse, sheep and cow poo. And rabbit droppings disappear like raisins! She doesn't ever eat any other dog poo though. It's just so disgusting especially when they burp....

She's meant to be a lap dog but find she's rarely allowed on my lap after her feasting. Yuk.

Will try the live yoghurt for now....

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

I have heard of people using the pineapple trick that Beata suggests with a lot of success - some have been able to break the habit of eating poo with a few weeks of pineapple, but some have always had to add it.

What brand of dog food do you use? Some brands don't get digested as well as others, so the dog eats it again because it still has undigested food in it. I think it's quite uncommon but worth checking.

[WileywithSageStuffing]

She eats James Wellbeloved dry food. I know that she would eat live yoghurt but i wonder how i would add pineapple to her dried food or if she would just push it aside....how much pineapple would i add? Just chunks of it?

It does seem to have become a habit. If i am watching then she will look first at the door to see if i am going to offer a treat - if i do she will leave it. Even then i would have to pick it up immediately or she will just want to go straight back out again...

If i am not waiting with a treat or a hanging around with a dog bag she will wolf it down despite me calling her...

[ditavonteesed]

mine eats other dogs poo which I cant clear up first, in the park or the woods, I tried shouting at him, not because that is what I wanted to do but because that is the reaction I had, now he just eats it quicker, it is minging

[lotsofdogshere]

There's some good information on this if you google. My own rescue dog and one I fostered both had this habit when they arrived. Both were very thin, and hadn't had a good diet/life. One of the dogs stopped almost immediately she felt safe, and was being fed regularly. My old rescue boy was 2 when he came, and the habit well established. A neighbour suggested sprinkling a spot of chilli on the pooh - it worked. I did feel mean, lurking around as he did his business, sprinkling a tiny bit and then watching as the dog discovers he no longer enjoys something he used to. This dog also ate other dogs pooh, but the chilli in the garden trick seemed to convince him eating any pooh was not a good idea. The yoghurt recommendation seems kinder though