Stool-Eating Deterrents
It might sound weird to think of poop as appealing, but some dogs just love the taste of it. Gross! Luckily, you can help make your dog's own dung less appealing using a stool-eating deterrent. Available in delicious treat forms, these coprophagia supplements are designed to make your dog's poop taste worse. Over time, it might make your dog less interested in eating it altogether.
Poop Bags
Cleaning up after your dog during a walk not only makes you a good neighbor, but it also decreases the amount of poop your dog (and other dogs) might find and try to eat. It's always a good idea to carry poop bags to pick the poop up right away. You may even want to do the same in your own backyard to limit the amount of waste your pet can sniff out when you're not looking.
Leashes
The easiest way to keep your dog from eating poop is to stop them from having close access to poop. A six-foot leash is ideal for walking on the streets (and can be useful in your own yard) to prevent them from getting too close to any waste left behind. When you see poop, shorten your leash so your dog can't reach it and use treats to get your dog's attention. By rewarding your pet for walking past the droppings, they will begin to associate avoiding poop with a treat.
Dog Probiotics
Sometimes, a dog munching on poop can be a sign of a digestion issue. So it could be a good idea to talk to your vet about your pet's diet, and they may recommend giving your dog digestive supplements, probiotics, or another digestive aid. Probiotics can support your dog's overall digestive health and proper intestinal microflora and could help stop that pesky poop-eating problem.
Pooper Scoopers
It's important to set your dog up for success by reducing the amount of poop they have access to. Using a pooper scooper in your backyard every time your dog deposits is the easiest and most suitable way to do so. Once you scoop the poop, you can put it into the trash. It'll be out of sight, out of mind!
Multivitamin
In the same vein as dog probiotics, your dog's bad habit could be a result of them trying to get all the necessary vitamins in their diet. After checking with your vet to ensure they're getting all the correct vitamins and minerals, you may want to consider giving you pet a multivitamin to see if it makes a difference in the amount they sniff out poop.
Muzzles
For dogs still learning about not eating things they shouldn't while out on walks, a muzzle can be a great tool. When properly introduced, a basket muzzle can be comfortable (and not scary) as your dog will still be able to pant and eat treats through the holes. It can be a good temporary fix for any excessive poop-eating, but be sure to always supervise your dog while they are wearing one.
The AKC independently selected each product featured in this article. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale. While we do our best to update links often, please note that prices and deals are subject to change.
