If you are wondering how to prevent your dog from eating poop, then there is no simple answer. Mainly because we still don’t know what the reasons for such behavior are. However, over the years some methods have been developed that have proven to be effective and worth implementing. Instead of using just one, try combining them all and you should see first results within the first few weeks.
Prevent your dog from eating poop Method 1: Add some flavor to your pet’s poop
One of the easiest methods to prevent your dog from eating poop is to simply collect his poop soon after it appears. The downside to this technique is that your dog may be looking for feces from other animals instead of his own. In such a case, try adding some pineapple, spinach, or butternut squash to your dog’s meals. Dog trainers say these plants smell horrible after pooping and will repel your dog. You can also add a bit of cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce to stool that has already been passed (both techniques work in a similar way).
Prevent dog from eating poop Method 2: Occupy your pet!
Some people say that the dog often eats poop simply out of boredom and loneliness. Left alone in the house, with no one to play with, he can find an alternative way to entertain himself. Remember that dogs’ sensitivities are completely different from yours and what may seem disgusting to you is often amusing to your pet. That is why to prevent the dog from eating poop, you need to provide him with something to do. The best way is to buy some Kong toys that can be filled with dog food or snacks and will provide your pet with hours of fun. He will have to work very hard to get the toy out piece by piece and will remain calm while doing so.
Prevent the dog from eating poop Method 3: Eliminate stressful stimuli
The third reason for this unpleasant behavior is stress. You may want to find out what kinds of things in your neighborhood affect your dog’s mental health and do something about it. To prevent your dog from eating poop from stress and fear, you can eliminate its cause (for example, by soundproofing the windows if a noise bothers your dog), move your dog to a different room (so that it is not exposed to the stressful stimulus) or initiate desensitization training.
The last option is usually the most effective, but it will require that you first consult a professional dog trainer or purchase a dog training book. It has to be done carefully or your dog’s mental health will get even worse. The basic principle of desensitization exercises is to expose your dog to a small dose of the stressful stimulus and try to make him feel calm and comfortable during this process. By slowly increasing the dosage, we can teach the dog to completely ignore the factor that was causing so much stress in the first place.
These 3 tips should help you prevent your dog from eating poop within a few weeks.