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Original poster

Why does my dog eat dd's pooh out of her potty?

46 replies

cupcakes · 16/06/2006 14:29

I know labradors are supposed to eat anything but this is ridiculous. He ate one she did on the patio the other week and now he has eaten two out of her potty - the first I know about it is when she comes to tell me she's done a pooh and that he 'et' it. I know she has done one because the room smells and there's a smear in the potty. And he's licking his lips.
It's so completely gross. She's only just started using the potty as opposed to her knickers and I am so pleased that she's going without me standing over her.
yuck yuck yuck.

OP posts:

sandradee · 16/06/2006 14:37

Yuk! our dog used to eat it's own poo so my mother went out with a chillie pot in one hand and a pepper pot in the other and sprinkled it over the last poo that it had done.

We were having dinner and heard this choking in the garden. It was the dog.

needless to say he NEVER did it again.

handlemecarefully · 16/06/2006 14:41

[puke and retch emoticon]

Sandradee's advice is brilliant

Caligula · 16/06/2006 14:43

What a revolting thread!

But can I ask, why the objection to dogs eating poo? Is it because they come and lick you directly afterwards? Or because you're worried they'll be ill?

Cod · 16/06/2006 14:43

cos you dont clean it up fast enough
slattern!

sandradee · 16/06/2006 14:46

Personally I think that it's quite a gross thought that your lovely fluffy family pet that shares your home eats any poo and then comes over and gives you a lovely big wet sloppy pooey "kiss"

In our case my mother was not worried about the dog being ill from eating it;s own poo, rather that it was clearly not a hygenic habit and should be discouraged. Our dog was sick from he chillies and pepper and got the squits but it stopped him being booted out of the family home forever.

yorkshirelass79 · 16/06/2006 14:47

Eeeewwwwww
I used to live next door to a dog that would eat its own poo in the garden.
Retch retch retch.

Cod · 16/06/2006 14:48

dogs are vile arent hey
up cats!

WigWamBam · 16/06/2006 14:48

It's actually something that a lot of dogs do by instinct - mothers clean up after their babies to keep a tidy nest, and a lot of dogs still have the instinct to do it. It's not always their own poo they will eat - often it's other types of dogs - or human.

Submissive dogs apparently eat the poo of dominant dogs in the pack - so maybe he's just showing that he knows his place in your household. It can also be associated with lack of vitamin B and vitamin K.

When my mum's dog was doing this the vet suggested that if she could stop her doing it for four weeks then the habit would be broken - and it was. It will mean cleaning up poo immediately, so that the dog can't eat it. If you catch her about to eat poo, shout "NO!" loudly to distract her, call her to you and give her stacks of fuss and praise. Don't do this if you catch her eating poo; just call her away and get rid of the poo without making a fuss.

Caligula · 16/06/2006 14:48

Am just thinking you could hire the dog out to the council instead of those pooperscooters... sorry, gross.

handlemecarefully · 16/06/2006 14:49

Cats are pointless Cod...

Cod · 16/06/2006 14:49

furry
independant
liek beign stroked
fab e

sandradee · 16/06/2006 14:50

I'm sorry, I think this thread is great!!! I've now got an image in my head of being in the garden and shouting "NO" to a dog that's about to eat it's own shit and the neighbours being next door and listening in.

ha ha ha.

sandradee · 16/06/2006 14:51

and sorry Cod dogs are better than cats. They give you lots of amusement and they NEVER eat their own poo.

yorkshirelass79 · 16/06/2006 15:01

I feel sick now thinking about it. Bleeurgh.

Original poster

cupcakes · 16/06/2006 15:01

WigWamBam - that's really interesting about the submissive thing. He does not eat his own pooh and has no interest in those left on the street (by other dogs).
If I knew she had done a pooh I would have cleaned it up immediately but please understand they were stealth poohs - and the dogs sense of smell is better than mine.
Cats are easier. Except when they scratch me because dog is chasing them.

OP posts:

sandradee · 16/06/2006 15:03

I's so LOL now - "stealth poos".

Yes I think I'd better leave this thread now

DogMum · 16/06/2006 17:08

Hi Cupcakes. I think it's normal for Labradors to eat anything smelly, especially if it's warm as well. If he gets the chance, my lab eats the fresh poo of his friends who are on tinned food (loads of salt and sugar, a bit like us having a naughty burger.)

Have you taught your dog the 'leave it' command? Basically put something tasty on the floor and tell him to leave it then give him a tasty treat from your hand. It works honestly.

Alternatively, you could leave temptation open to him and then when he's about to grab it, squirt him between the shoulders with a water pistol or bang a couple of pan lids behind him. Don't let him see you do either of these though, he's supposed to think the punishment comes from the poo itself. It stopped my dog from jumping up the worktops.

Please let me know what works - I'm sure I'm going to be up against this too. How did your dog cope with nappies?

Original poster

cupcakes · 17/06/2006 12:17

he's never seen nappies. But he'll have to get used to them as I'm having another baby in December.
Your post has reminded me that we've hardly done any training for ages. We started off with classes, determined that he was going to be such a well trained dog but then life just got the better of us. Really need to think about starting classes again.

OP posts:

DogMum · 17/06/2006 19:58

Hi Cupcakes - I can recommend 'Your Dog & Your Baby' by SA Kent. I'm expecting my first in October and the advice in this book seems really sensible. As well as things you can do when the baby arrives, it recommends things you can do now to prevent the dog from being frightened or jealous as a result of the changes about to take place. It even mentions nappies - (let the dog have a sniff, then tell him to 'leave it', but keep nappy bins out of reach.) Sadly though, it doesn't mention anything about poo-thieving.

2labs · 17/06/2006 20:15

There's a helpful little article about introducing dogs to babies \link{http://www.dogclub.co.uk/advice/babyanddog.php\here}

Stan Rawlinson (the behaviourist who wrote this) has an excellent website and forum that I'm a member of, find it invaluable for advice.

2labs · 17/06/2006 20:22

Oops, meant to add the forum address \link{http://ccgi.doglistener.co.uk/cgi-bin/DGLforum/YaBB.pl\here}

Amos · 30/07/2007 23:48

I have a beagle and she eats anything, I pick up her pooh as quick as I can but she always seems to have another one to eat as if she is starving? I am 9months pregnant and very worried about this as it is so dirty. The vets advice was pick it up asap which I do but I cant catch every 1 !! please helpful advice ????

TiredFedUpNanny · 30/07/2007 23:55

I used to work for a well known Cider Farm as their nanny, as well as in their shop. They had a dog called Henry who died in 2005, but before he died there were one or two times when Isabella had an accident by the pool or in the garden and along came Henry to clear it all up. He was a golden lab. Made me gag but then saw their new black lab do the same and decided that dogs are complete ANIMALS!!!!

TiredFedUpNanny · 31/07/2007 00:00

During its first stage of digestion a rabbit will produce something called caecotrophs, which he will then regurgitate and then eat again; this looks like he is eating his own poo as it looks very similar, but it's actually par-digested food which the rabbit needs to eat twice to get all nutrients possible from it. Pointless fact!

Saturn74 · 31/07/2007 00:03

Certainly not a pointless fact, TFUN.
Tis very interesting and useful to know - especially if you are a rabbit who is fed up of getting funny looks from people who think you are eating your own excrement.
And I know for a fact that my DSs will enjoy regaling it to all and sundry when I tell them tomorrow.

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