Poo eating 🤢

[Fanacapan]

My 8 month old golden retriever is obsessed with eating poo! Dog poo, cat poo, bird poo - any poo really. We have seen the vet and been put on expensive special diet in case he is not getting sufficient nutrients. Is there any way of stopping it without using a muzzle? I really don’t want to but think it might be the only way!

Honestly, this is often just an age thing. I think it's very rarely a nutrient thing.

Just focus on not allowing him many opportunities to practise this behaviour.

Carry treats on walks and offer them as a distraction when walking by poo.

Work on a leave it command at home that you can then use out and about.

If he manages to get at any poo, simply call him on and reward him when he complies.

Almost all of them grow out of the habit (provided it's not allowed to become ingrained) as they mature.

It's totally normal - and I don't believe for a second that you need an expensive, vet-prescribed diet to "solve" it. I'm a dog walker and I would say probably 50-70% of my clients do it - they all eat a variety of different diets!

The best thing to do is work on a solid "leave it" command and make sure he's wormed regularly so he doesn't pick up anything nasty. Mine eats poo (sheep and cat are his favourites!) and while I do get him away where possible, it's not something I get myself worked up about lol.

I dont love the leave it command and tend to use a positive interrrupter. But same idea.

Also interact more with your dog out and about so they are less likely to find their own things to do. So hiding games, tuggy games, reward all eye contact out and about.

Thanks for the sensible advice, if only people picked up after dogs it wouldn’t be so much of an issue!

It's quite common in pups. All mine have done it and thankfully grown out of it.