Help- lab pup with embarrassing habit

[Emmea12uk]

Argh, I have such a cute labx golden retriever who is sooo well behaved and lovely so far, apart from she eats 100% of her poo. I have tried everything! She is being trained using reward and distraction but nothing gets in the way of her leavings - not even the hottest chilli sauce. It is so vile. She smells of poo all the time and wants to play with my 2 year old son but licks him all the time. I have to keep them seperated which is sad

The vet is stumped too. He said she will grow out of it, but there is no signs yet.

Pineapple, chilli powder or chilli sauce has not worked. Neither did cleaning up after her as she would hide and eat it straight from her backside.


Barf

Please help!!!

 

[wtt :)]

Ok, first off, does she do her business outside and do you clean it up ASAP? (so she can't eat it afterwards)
Try feeding her pineapple along with her food. That should make her poo unpalatable to her. Also, make sure she gets all the necessary nutrients because some dogs will try to make up for the missing nutrients by eating their poo in addition to their food. Last but not least which i doubt is the case here but you never know so i'll mention it, does she get enough food?

 

[wtt :)]

oh ok, just saw that you already tried the pineapple and cleaning up so that's good We can rule that out then.

As for her eating straight from her behind, i would take her out on a leash ONLY (no off-leash running in the yard) for now just to make sure she is doing her business and if she still eats while pooing, you can just interrupt her by making a noise like: "ah ah" calmly but with a firm tone of voice, then walk a few steps and see if she poos in a different spot. You can also try to make a specific potty area for her in a corner of the yard or somewhere else where you actually want her to do her business. Then praise her every single time she does her business without eating her poo.
And last but not least, she might just be bored. Especially puppies need a lot of physical as well as mental stimulation which she can get by playing Fetch with you, some basic Obedience (also helps form a bond with the pup), chewing on an appropriate chew toy, hiding a treat for her and letting her find it, walking her daily. While walking her, you can let her do her business, and keep walking if she tried to eat it.
Most important of all, once you found out the reason why she really does it, be consistent with what you chose to do to solve the problem.

 

[Emmea12uk]

Ok, first off, does she do her business outside and do you clean it up ASAP? (so she can't eat it afterwards)
Try feeding her pineapple along with her food. That should make her poo unpalatable to her. Also, make sure she gets all the necessary nutrients because some dogs will try to make up for the missing nutrients by eating their poo in addition to their food. Last but not least which i doubt is the case here but you never know so i'll mention it, does she get enough food?

She goes outside but if i follow her she will do it in bits and pretend she is finished then hide and eat it right out of her bum !!

I tried pineapple and it didn't work.

She is on a vet food and is getting enough too as her weight is perfect. I am thinking maybe a cheaper food lower in protien may be better.

 

[Emmea12uk]

oh ok, just saw that you already tried the pineapple and cleaning up so that's good We can rule that out then.

As for her eating straight from her behind, i would take her out on a leash ONLY (no off-leash running in the yard) for now just to make sure she is doing her business and if she still eats while pooing, you can just interrupt her by making a noise like: "ah ah" calmly but with a firm tone of voice, then walk a few steps and see if she poos in a different spot. You can also try to make a specific potty area for her in a corner of the yard or somewhere else where you actually want her to do her business. Then praise her every single time she does her business without eating her poo.
And last but not least, she might just be bored. Especially puppies need a lot of physical as well as mental stimulation which she can get by playing Fetch with you, some basic Obedience (also helps form a bond with the pup), chewing on an appropriate chew toy, hiding a treat for her and letting her find it, walking her daily. While walking her, you can let her do her business, and keep walking if she tried to eat it.
Most important of all, once you found out the reason why she really does it, be consistent with what you chose to do to solve the problem.

Thank you! I will try those things. She isn't bored as well do keep her entertained but the Lead idea and potty idea are good ideas!

Thank you!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

What are you currently feeding her? x

 

[wtt :)]

Try those and let me know.

Also, not to bash your vet but unfortunately they get paid to sell certain brands of dog food. Usually those are the "crappy" ones that are very expensive but crappy because they are high in fillers e.g. corn. A dog's digestive system is not made to digest corn.
Not sure what brand you feed her.

[If worse comes to worst, you could try mixing in a little home cooked food such as some rice with carrots and boiled chicken but no seasonings.]

 

[lesleyann]

roxy used to do this when she was younger and on eukanuba (sp?) swiched her to a "cheapo" brand and with that and age she had completely stoped within a month.

 

[Emmea12uk]

What are you currently feeding her? x

Royal canin

 

[Emmea12uk]

I am going to switch I think to bakers. I can't afford the expensive stuff anyways!

 

[lesleyann]

I am going to switch I think to bakers. I can't afford the expensive stuff anyways!

mosts vets would advise you agaisnt bakers due to its HUGE fat content and ive seen first hand what it can do to a dog who was perfect weight and full of beens has now been on a diet for over a year to lose all the fat bakers made her put on. Pedagree is also pretty pants it has something in it what can make dogs addicted to it so that they will only eat that food **same for whiskers for cats**

 

[wtt :)]

sorry can't really help you with dog food brands in the UK.

 

[Emmea12uk]

I am going to switch I think to bakers. I can't afford the expensive stuff anyways!

mosts vets would advise you agaisnt bakers due to its HUGE fat content and ive seen first hand what it can do to a dog who was perfect weight and full of beens has now been on a diet for over a year to lose all the fat bakers made her put on. Pedagree is also pretty pants it has something in it what can make dogs addicted to it so that they will only eat that food **same for whiskers for cats**

To be honest I have avoided both of those but I don't know what else to use. The higher the money, the higher the protien content and the more likely she is to munch it second hand. I used to give her james wellbeloved and nature diet. Maybe I should try those again...

 

[lesleyann]

I am going to switch I think to bakers. I can't afford the expensive stuff anyways!

mosts vets would advise you agaisnt bakers due to its HUGE fat content and ive seen first hand what it can do to a dog who was perfect weight and full of beens has now been on a diet for over a year to lose all the fat bakers made her put on. Pedagree is also pretty pants it has something in it what can make dogs addicted to it so that they will only eat that food **same for whiskers for cats**

To be honest I have avoided both of those but I don't know what else to use. The higher the money, the higher the protien content and the more likely she is to munch it second hand. I used to give her james wellbeloved and nature diet. Maybe I should try those again...

As the owner of a GSD who has a VERY picky tummy on what she can and cannot eat we have found the cheaper stuff is what stops her having the runs and what has stopped her eating her poop.. My mums GSD is exactly the same the expensive stuff just goes right though them.

Not saying go for tesco value dog food but arounf £3-£4 per small bag of food, £10-£15 per BIG bag is the stuff that has sorted us out and she is still perfect weight no health problems ect

 

[DaretoDream]

Adolphs meat tenderizer. Makes it taste terrible. Or you can get 'FORBID' from your vet.

 

[Emmea12uk]

We have another vet appointment - with another vet this time.

She has a new trick now, she will not go if I am there!!! She will hold it all day! Grrrr

The battle continues....

 

[wtt :)]

Try taking her out on a long leash and see if she goes where she can be far away from you but you can still make sure she actually did go instead of assuming she went.
She most likely has an unpleasant association with going near you so she prefers to hide and go but really make 100% sure she does go. Good luck and lots of patience

EDIT: once she went, praise her right away! (if she didn't eat her poop that is)

 

[DaretoDream]

really- all you need is adolph's meat tenderizer. It stops them

 

[Emmea12uk]

Try taking her out on a long leash and see if she goes where she can be far away from you but you can still make sure she actually did go instead of assuming she went.
She most likely has an unpleasant association with going near you so she prefers to hide and go but really make 100% sure she does go. Good luck and lots of patience

EDIT: once she went, praise her right away! (if she didn't eat her poop that is)

I only give her treats when she goes and distract her away with play and fussing. Nothing that would be afraid of. She simply won't go at all if I am there, lead or no lead. She does do small bits little and often tho when things get too much!

 

[Emmea12uk]

really- all you need is adolph's meat tenderizer. It stops them

No such thing here in the uk