Why does my 11 week old doxie want to eat her feces?

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Answer by sirwack1
Submitted on 11/6/2003
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Hi! Well Sherri I am a Dachshund breeder, and as Marie said dogs eating dog poop is a common thing. Their are products on the market you can give your dog that will make it's poop taste bad, so that it will break the habit and stop the problem. But I think what you really want to know is why is your puppy eating dog poop! The simples answer is, because he likes it. Dogs and puppies like to eat a lot of things that we find really gross. Some people will tell you it is because he isn't geting enough to eat or not enough vitamins. I have 5 dog they all eat the samething. They all get daily vitamins. Two of them eat poop. Now we have two choices. We can give all our dogs the supplement that makes their poop taste bad, except that as a breeder when I have a pregnant female I don't give unnecessary drugs or supplements. Or we can daily pick up after our pets. We choose to pick up after our pets. Problem solved! But hey, trust me! They still find gross things to eat.

Answer by sirwack1
Submitted on 11/6/2003
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Hi! Well Sherri I am a Dachshund breeder, and as Marie said dogs eating dog poop is a common thing. Their are products on the market you can give your dog that will make it's poop taste bad, so that it will break the habit and stop the problem. But I think what you really want to know is why is your puppy eating dog poop! The simples answer is, because he likes it. Dogs and puppies like to eat a lot of things that we find really gross. Some people will tell you it is because he isn't getting enough to eat or not enough vitamins. I have 5 dog they all eat the same thing. They all get daily vitamins. Two of them eat poop. Now we have two choices. We can give all our dogs the supplement that makes their poop taste bad, except that as a breeder when I have a pregnant female I don't give unnecessary drugs or supplements. Or we can daily pick up after our pets. We choose to pick up after our pets. Problem solved! But hey, trust me! They still find gross things to eat.

Answer by John
Submitted on 1/19/2004
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Star: When I was a kid I lived in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. One of the many interesting things you learn in the barrens is that pines are very sugary; so much so, in fact, that if you nick a pine tree and set fire to the sap, it will burn and pop for days in just that one spot. I think what your dog may be experiencing is a 'sugar rush'. Ask a 10 to 12 year old boy (who isn't using pot or hard drugs yet) about that. If he has no idea what you're talking about, he's on real drugs so go find another kid to ask. I'm not too knowledgable about dogs, but I've read here and there that a lot of sugar can be bad for dogs causing diarrhea, allergies, and other nasty stuff. I'd ask your vet if I were you.

Answer by Tater
Submitted on 4/13/2004
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Don't worry, it's not quite as bad as it looks. Our dog, Izzy, likes to eat our cat's poop, too. She even gets it out of the litter box! We tried putting tabasco sauce and a bunch of other stuff, but she still eats it! There's this green apple spray at Petsmart (or probably just about any other pet store) that can be used for chewing, eating disgusting and not-good-for-dogs things, etc. We use it at our house, we put it on the furniture (wood,glass, or cloth), our shoes, the window blinds. We also spray it in our cat's litter box, all on the sides and even directly on the litter. Our cat doesn't mind and it doesn't hurt her, it actually also acts like an air freshner...if you like the smell of apples. Try that.

Answer by Kimberly
Submitted on 3/10/2005
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i am so glad that i found this page. i have a 11 month old toy poodle. she was the only pet until recently we bought a baby kitten. they play great which solved our concern of the dog being bored when we left for work. my husband and i are gone all day and we live in an upstairs apartment. theres not alot of space here so we put the litter where it was convienent for us and the cat. one day i came home to find cat poo on the floor. i thought maybe the cat missed the box until i noticed that there was kitty litter covered all over it. i was puzzled for a while and couldnt figure out why this was. ever since...everyday is the same... while one day i was sleeping on the couch. i open my eyes to see the dog eating the cat poo out of the box. i was so digusted i almost threw up. knowing that i let my dog lick me in the face on occasion. im glad im not the only one and i will go get something for this....thanks alot guys, kim

Answer by jacey
Submitted on 6/25/2007
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When I was a child we had a Brittany Spaniel who did this gross thing, too. Someone told my Father that it was because she had a "Vitamin Deficiency." We took her to to the Vet. and got some vitamins. It didn't help a single bit. Now I'm grown and have just gotten my first pup. She's almost four months old and she has done this off and on since I've had her. She is part Malamute and part Lab. She's also a digger (wrecked the area around my patio) and a chewer (leather couch, rocking chair, carpet, you-name-it) and I put a bunch of Cayenne pepper on the dirt I filled in where she dug. It worked for about a day. I also put it on my furniture, although I wouldn't advise it because now I have orange stains I can't get out from the Cayenne pepper. I'm a teacher and if she was in my class as a kid, she would definitely be the "Discipline Problem." I just hope she'll grow out of it. Doesn't sound like she will from reading the above.

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Question by Sherri
Submitted on 9/8/2003
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Dachshund Breed-FAQ
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Why does my 11 week old doxie want to eat her feces?

Answer by Marie Hoyt-Pariury
Submitted on 9/19/2003
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We have a 5-month old male dachshund, and he does the same thing, also if he vomits. I have seen a lot of products to add to puppies food to make their feces unappetizing. So, I am inclined to think this is common with puppies of all breeds. Still don't approve of the eating. But, I don't know about your doxie, but ours has to be closely monitored for taking out so he doesn't get to eat that much before we get to him. Good luck.

Answer by rump weasel
Submitted on 12/31/2003
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dogs eat their own excrement because they are disgusting animals

Answer by star
Submitted on 12/31/2003
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my 8 month year old dog likes to eat the leaves and branches of my (real) Christmas tree, is it save for him? He get really crazy after and starts running around the house like crazy. It takes him a wile to stop. Can he be getting some chemical that makes him that way, or is he just being a brat and just wants to play?

Answer by Cassie
Submitted on 1/16/2004
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My three year old dog,Abby eats the cat's poop out of the literbox. It's pretty disgusting. We had to move the literbox upstairs where she is not allowed to go. Why do you think she does this?

Answer by Dee
Submitted on 1/23/2004
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My puppy is a Cocker Spaniel and he does the same thing. He is 4 months and I catch him all the time eating the excrement. I hate it and has start to put hot sauce or tabasco sauce on it and he does not touch or eat it anymore.

Answer by fool
Submitted on 3/5/2004
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These dogs eat faeces because the alternative ain't much better

Answer by Dr. Big Dawg
Submitted on 3/12/2004
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Dogs may eat their own poop during paper or house training in order to cover up their naughty act. House training can be a stressful experience for a puppy and sometimes they become confused. The poop eating may stop after you pooch learns where and when to poop.

Answer by Dog Owner
Submitted on 3/13/2004
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Sherri: My dog Lilly eats her excretion also. At first I was worried it could be some sort of medical problem, but then I realized it is very commom in dogs. The reason is that they feel like they have done their bussiness in the wrong place, because you might not be praising them enough for going where they're supposed to go. If they had an accident in the house, which is what happens to Lilly, they try to avoid getting in trouble because they know it is wrong. So try praising your dog more and make a big deal when they go in the right place. You may want to give them a special treat also so they get encourged. Good Luck!!

Answer by Cathy
Submitted on 4/8/2004
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I have an English Springer Spaniel. She is a champion show dog now retired. She eats her own feces. I'm sure there is more than one reason dogs do this. On research I've done trying to "cure" the problem states that it is instinct in dogs to do this especially in females who have had puppies. They eat the excrement from their puppies so predators can't find them. They are "covering up the trail" so to speak. I think after that it becomes a habit. I have used the product Forbid on her food for several weeks and it seemed to work, however I think since I've stopped using it she still does it just not as much.

Answer by michelle jeanquart
Submitted on 5/3/2004
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whflkajflsaja

Answer by Totally grossed out
Submitted on 6/7/2004
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I'm glad I found this place, because I'm taking care of a friends dog and just saw the most disgusting thing. I'll have to go buy some tobasco and recommend some Forbid.

Answer by lucy h
Submitted on 7/3/2004
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hey, i know this problem all too well! i work in a pet store, and see it all the time. I think everybody has pretty much answered why they do it exactly, but i have another suggestion as to how to stop it. Pineapple juice. each meal add some pineapple juice to the dog's meal. trust me, they will not taste the difference in the food, just in the poop! it generally works wonders!

Answer by Nex
Submitted on 8/30/2004
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It's perfectly normal. I eat my poop too, good source of protein. =)

Answer by leo
Submitted on 9/9/2004
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why does my cocker spaniel eat leaves,paper,crayons(non toxic),and her own hair?

Answer by Sarah
Submitted on 9/13/2004
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I realise now after reading through this website what I have done wrong as a dog owner - to make my Maltese Shih Tzu eat poo. When I first got him I was hard on him daily to be toilet trained and then I started working full-time and the training ceased. He took this to heart and combined my leaving him, for him getting punished for pooing. Since I began work he has been trying to do the right thing by getting rid of the evidence, and I now need to break this cycle so he doesn't feel guilty for doing what I unconsciously trained him was the wrong thing to do!

Answer by Daisysmom
Submitted on 9/26/2004
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I have a 12 week old female doxie as well. If she happens to go in the house and I am not right there she will try to eat it. If she goes outside she leaves it alone. I don't think it has anything to do with guilt or trying to hide it because I have never scolded her for going inside. As they say it is my fault not hers for not getting her out in time.

Answer by me
Submitted on 9/27/2004
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Just be patient...go to the vet and get something to put in their food so they won't like the taste of the feces...then forget about it

Answer by Mine Ran Away
Submitted on 10/23/2004
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Your dog is attempting suicide because you are his owner and he cannot reach the door knob.

Answer by lailie
Submitted on 11/2/2004
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I am glad I found this now I have a better understanding of why our dog eats from the cat litter box.

Answer by Debby
Submitted on 11/14/2004
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I am glad I found the answer to the poop problem. But if they do eat it what can I do to make their breath smell better. Also my 4 month old beagle has a gas problem, what can be done about that?

Answer by nikki
Submitted on 12/3/2004
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my puppy ate his poop this morning,i saw him! im still gagging thinking about it. i dont even want him to kiss me anymore.is this healthy? where did he learn this from?

Answer by Chloe
Submitted on 12/20/2004
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I have an 11 week old shih-poo (shih-tzu/poodle cross)and we have caught her eating her poo, twice. She has never been scolded or corrected for pooping inside the house, as I have only witnessed it once....now I'm thinking she just eats it up before we see it????? But why would she do this,if she doesn't relate it to trouble? And, she goes outside almost on schedule....everytime. I think this is gross

Answer by magnum
Submitted on 12/22/2004
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a lot of these answerer's are correct. Its finding out witch on fits. I can tell you I have a new pup going through training and she is always trying to please use. I know its that she is trying to cover up her mistake. Paper training is so bad but she came that way. I am going to take treats out with me and when she goes Pooh I will give her a teat and Make a big deal that she went out side. She has been going out very well and even asking but i don't believe I have been praising her enough for her great behaver. Ill let you know how it turns out

Answer by barbara
Submitted on 1/7/2005
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this is a normal thing for dogs of all breeds,not only dogs, rabbits and other animals,it is a very hard thing to break them from doing

Answer by Coco
Submitted on 1/14/2005
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I really don't have an answer but, I would like to say that my 10 year-old toy poodle does eat our year old cat's litter. We all find it very disgusting and I think we will try to use some of the techniques used on this site. One question I didn't get answered is why she does it? Any real answers pertaining to my poodle. Could it be jealousy of the cat? Or is it lack of taste in her own food. She even sometimes eats the cat's food instead of her's, why is that?

Answer by puppy's mom
Submitted on 2/10/2005
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It's funny you mentioned the pineapple juice. I just noticed a couple of days ago that my puppy had started eating her excrement some of the time. It started just after I found she liked pineapple!

Answer by Connie
Submitted on 3/28/2005
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I have read through all of your answers here and am really surprised the breeder did not say why a dog will eat his own or even the cat feces. I work in a vets office and can tell you the reason a dog eats his own or even a cats feces is because its just digested food. To them it smells and still tastes good. We do not like the way a dog or cats food smells or tastes but they do or they would not eat it. They are not trying to hide what they have done. They just like the smell and will eat just about anything that smells good.

Answer by virg
Submitted on 4/17/2005
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dogs eat their own poop because they have no taste buds except when we put drugs in to make it taste. my cocker eats rabbit poop, horse poop and her poop she eats paper, any thing that she can get in her mouth she will eat.

Answer by Sheltie friend
Submitted on 5/23/2005
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I have tried everything to train my dogs to not eat poop, but they are still very interested in the taste (YUCK) My biggest problem is when my dogs find dog poop that another owner has not picked up. So I have to watch my dogs like a hawk every moment when in a public park. It takes all the fun out of the trip. So I think the answer is to promote responsible ownership of a dog which means CLEANING UP after them. It's common sense!

Answer by Teresa
Submitted on 6/1/2005
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Anyone have advice on how long it takes for the pineapple juice to work?? I started it yesterday and the pup still eats the poop like it's steak!! YUK!!

Answer by teelo2816
Submitted on 6/9/2005
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My 9 month old Dachshund eats CAT POOP ALSO! Ive caught her more than a couple of times. I've tried to pop her on her behind and say NO! NO! She seems to know I'm displeased with her actions. She squats to the floor, and holds her head down as if she knows she busted! Instantly I thought of getting rid of her. I have children and I'm afraid of when she licks them, UGH!!! JUST THE THOUGHT! I will try the Pineapple juice, and the apple spray. I'm on my way to Pet Smart NOW!

Answer by Prince the Pooper
Submitted on 7/8/2005
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It looks as if Prince, the poop-eating Cavalier Spaniel, really does like it. But nobody every answered the question of whether or not eating it made them ill?

Answer by hello
Submitted on 7/21/2005
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i like to eat poop also

Answer by brian
Submitted on 7/21/2005
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The trick that I found to detour your dog from consuming its fescus is to go outside where the dog deficates. Next, literally deficate a harty load of your own right next to the dogs defication. The dog generally becomes confused as to which peice of poop is his. Someimes he or she may eat them both, which is kind of pleasing in a weird way.