Please suggest a gentle muzzle for fox poo obsessed pup

[ScavengingPup]

I am looking after a 10 month old maltipoo for an indefinite period of time. He has boundless energy and we have a safe area to let him off the lead, but he is a terrible scavenger. I am really worried he will make himself ill or worse. He is attracted to fox poo, sticks and all manner of litter.
I would really appreciate advice.
We are working on recall training, barking etc (he has not been socialised or trained) and he is a really lovely, intelligent dog, but the scavenging is a nightmare.
TIA

How are you going to cope with the muzzle when it’s covered in poo?

The dog will still be attracted to the poo and try to eat it and the muzzle will be coated in it and then on the rest of the walk you are going to be pushing the dogs face away from you!

Anti scavenger muzzles are better at preventing (hunting) dogs from eating dead animals but are not a good idea to prevent a dog from eating faeces.

I used to have a dog that had to be muzzled. Worse thing ever was trying to clean human poo out of the gaps before letting him in the car. 🤮

As PP's have said, a muzzle won't stop poo-eating. All that will happen is that you have to clean a poo-covered muzzle after the end of each walk instead 😩they work for dogs who scavenge or dogs who are a bite risk, but they don't really work for dogs who eat poo.

You're better off keeping the dog on a lead for now and teaching a solid "leave it" command instead.

Does he eat fox poo rather than roll in it? My dog was a scavenger when young and I had to just be eagle-eyed and stick my hand in his mouth on the odd occasion he’d picked up something gross before I could stop him. I taught him leave it, rewarding him when he didn’t go for the chicken bones or whatever. He also learned to leave things at his puppy class, eg you’d hold a treat and tell him to leave it and then reward him after. I think keeping them busy works with active dogs, eg playing with a ball or something, so they don’t make their own fun by eating disgusting things.

Thank you for the advice. He isn't my dog, I am just looking after him for now and he is an absolute ball of energy. He loves a good run, but I just can't let him off the lead if he keeps doing this. (I am in my 70s and have very bad knees, so I can't run with him). I do play with him a lot. He has toys, a ball, yak chews, toys to conceal treats etc. I only have a tiny garden so it is a bit limiting. I will try training him to leave it.
He also eats sticks, leaves, whatever he can dig up. I think some of this is related to lack of exercise and boredom when he is at home with his owner.

Yes he does eat the fox poo.

Human poo?😱

I am not alone. 🤢

www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/5393887-shit-eating-rolling-is-there-anything-i-can-do