Hi Kelley,
I am interested in your ideas and teaches learning about your knowledge on training tips for dogs. I have german shepherd solid black and he is now 5 mos. old. I have a very big problem on him; he eats his feces whenever he urg's his butt he turned around, smell it and grab!! ew!. What i always did is i keep on eye with him whenever he had a heavy play after sometime when turned around by itself then it will be. When he started to smell it i will immediately shouted to him "NO" then he leave and play again. Please help, what should i do? because when i am not around he still eat his feces.
Jo-ann G. Neri
Philippines
Dear Jo-ann,
I know that Poop Eating (Coprophagia) is a disgusting behavior, but it is unlikely to MAKE your dog sick, so at least you can let that worry go. It will be easier for you and your dog if you remain calm during training -even if he relapses. The causes of Coprophagia are not fully understood. However, veterinarians, behaviorists and trainers generally agree that it is a behavioral problem. On the other side of the coin, there are a handful illnesses that can cause coprophagia (poop eating), but they generally present with more symptoms, including diarrhea. To be on the safe-side, take your dog to the vet, especially if your dog has diarrhea and or has not been to the vet for vaccinations.
Once you know your dog is healthy, the following training plan should help.
1. Know that STRESS is the enemy. Your dog is very young and he may still be nervous, or stressed out about going to the bathroom. Stress is the cause of many undesirable canine behaviors. Believe it or not, there is a lot that can stress a 5-month old a puppy. They are learning to hold their bladder and bowels, as opposed to just going whenever they feel like it. They are also still in the process of learning when and where they may go to the bathroom. I know your shepherd is getting big, but he is still a baby. Potty-training a pup can be frustrating, but avoid punishing mistakes. Instead tighten up on management and forgive mistakes.
2. Do NOT let GOOD BEHAVIOR go unnoticed. Reward your dog every time he goes to the bathroom in the appropriate place. As soon as your dog has finished PEEING or POOPING, use your best happy voice to praise him. Then feed him a tasty treat. Toss a second treat away from the poop to distract your dog while you remove the poop with a scoop or bag. If you have already been doing this, continue and make sure that you do it for BOTH pees and poops. I would skip shouting "No!" this could cause more stress. Just wiggle the dog treat and praise your dog, so that his attention is on you and he leaves the poop alone.
3. CLEAN UP! Always join your dog on potty walks so that you can reward your dog and scoop the poop immediately.
4. INCREASE EXERCISE & MENTAL STIMULATION. Make sure that your dog is getting plenty of vigorous exercise each day. A 5-month old Shepherd could probably use at least two 1-hour play sessions each day. This means running, fetching, hiking, playing with dogs. More is always better. And, when you leave your dog alone, make sure that your dog has plenty of things to CHEW. Bones and Kongs are best.
5. Try adding a supplement to your dog's food so that the poop will be unappealing to your dog. There are several products, listed below, but I have also heard various recommendations on adding enzymes to your dog's food. The theory is that if poop-eating is caused by under-digestion (eat the poop to give a second go at getting all the nutrients), then the enzymes help the food become more digestible.
At this point, regardless of the CAUSE, there is also a BAD HABIT. I recommend trying the supplements IN ADDITION to doing the behavior modification work. If you are only going to do one, try the behavior stuff first (its free), then buy a supplement if there is no change in behavior after 3-weeks.
- Forbid (TM)(R)
- Deter (TM)(R)
- Papaya, Fig or Pinneaple (These food contain enzymes that break down amino acids).
- Meat Tenderizer (from a grocery store) contains enzymes that break down protein.
The good news... It is NOT Dominance!
The EVEN BETTER NEWS...
IT'S SEX!
That's RIGHT. Humping (despite the obvious implications -that it probably feels good) is S. E. X.
Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex! Did you know that dogs, like most creatures, need to have sex to reproduce?
Reproduction is just one of those things that pops out in play. Play-time is just a rehearsal stage for all of life's survival skills.
During play-time your dog will:
- Play-fight
- Play-hunt
- Play-kill
- Play-mate
For more on Humping >>>> Read my new favorite book, Oh Behave! by Jean Donaldson, author and director of The SF SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers.
Do you have a question for Kelley?
This goofy pup is learning to LOVE his Grooming Muzzle (aka Mickey Muzzle). It isn't even clipped -he's just licking Peanut Butter from inside and learning that sticking his nose inside is FANTASTIC!
Dear Kaitlyn,
I am so glad to hear that your pup is OK. And yes, it is certainly possible to use a muzzle to prevent your dog from eating harmful substances or from scavenging nasty items when romping off-leash. It sounds as if you have already planned to use a muzzle for management while you complete training.
Please be sure that your dog is comfortable with the muzzle. A special training processed called Desensitization & Counter-Conditioning can be used to teach a dog (or any animal) to be more comfortable with new items. Also, if your dog is wearing the muzzle for long periods of time (more than 15-20 minutes in moderate temperatures) be sure that the muzzle is light-weight and that your dog can pant and drink water.
Mickey Muzzles (shown in the photo above) when fitted properly do not allow dogs to open their mouths. They are NOT for use in training situations as they should not be left on the dog for any length of time -especially if unsupervised. Sometimes Grooming Muzzles are used when dogs are taken on public transportation -in these situations the dog is supervised and should not be exposed to warm temperatures or long trips.
A flexible polyethylene Basket Muzzle is best for long-term use. They allow dogs to pant and drink water. Because they tend to look "scary" I like to decorate them; Ribbons,
non-toxic paint (nail-polish works too), and cute scarves, bows, and collars help soften the effect. If that isn't your cup of tea, you can try ordering one that matches your dogs fur (more of a blend-in, rather than a muzzle-flamboyant style).
Here are some other points to consider.
Puppy-Proofing is paramount, but if you don't know what is TOXIC, you can't do your job as a puppy parent. Check out tips from DOGTIME.COM. A good place to start is the article Poison Proofing Your Home.
Confine your pup or new dog when you can't supervise them. Create a nice, safe place for your dog to hang out when you are busy. This can be a laundry room, gated kitchen or bathroom. Whatever space you choose, clear the area of all potential hazards and valuables.
Teach your dog some manners. More on begging, stealing and commands for leaving items, like Drop-it.
Make sure your pup has plenty of LEGAL CHEW ITEMS! This is super important for dogs that have hunting backgrounds like Jack Russell Terriers & Beagles, or for dogs that are master chewers like Labradors, Rottweilers, and Pit Bull Terriers. I like Kongs stuffed with food. In fact, my dogs haven't eaten out of bowls in years. All their food goes into Kongs and they chew, lick, and suck their food out as if they were working on a freshly killed chunk of meat.
Get help from a Certified Dog Trainer. Not all trainers are certified and not all trainers use humane, modern dog training methods. For a list of certified trainers in your area try doing a search for an SPCA Certified Trainer in your area. The SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers is run by Jean Donaldson, author of many wonderful books on dog training, including my favorite -The Culture Clash.
MORE ON KONGS!!!
http://blogs.dogtime.com/secret-shopper-pet-product-reviews/2008/10/kong-what-would-we-do-without-you
http://blogs.dogtime.com/go-dog-training/2008/09/behaving-badly
http://www.sfspca.org/resources/library/for-dog-owners/abcs/kong-stuffing.pdf
http://www.kongcompany.com/worlds_best.html
Read Kelley's blog
GO DOG TRAINING
Contact Kelley @ amigodog@mac.com
Kelley Filson, CTC, CPDT is a Certified Dog Trainer living in San Francisco, California. Kelley has been certified by The San Francisco SPCA where she completed the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers run by dog trainer and author Jean Donaldson. Kelley is also a Certified Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
Kelley owns and runs AmiGO DOG Training, LLC. As a Personal Dog Trainer Kelley helps people and dogs better understand each other. Private, in-home dog training and behavior modification programs are available to anyone in San Francisco needing help training their dogs. Kelley specializes in working with fearful, aggressive, or anxious dogs.
Kelley is also very happy to be a partner and instructor for DogEvolve. DogEvolve offers classes and workshops to dog owners at two San Francisco locations. Unlike traditional 6-8weeek obedience classes, DogEvolve offers an a-la-carte style menu of classes on topics including: Quiet! Come! & Leash Monsters!
AmiGO DOG Training, LLC -Your "Best-Friend" in Dog Training!
415-356-9868
DogEvolve -Survival Training for the Urban Dog!
www.dogevolve.com
