Dog Community

She's eating poo!

Posted : 2/10/2008 6:42:52 AM

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone else may have encountered the same issue I'm having with Sasha. She's developed a taste for horse and rabbit droppings. When I can see it, the leave command works however, if she's on the long lead and ahead of me on the trail the poo is gobbled before I can stop her. Sasha's uptodate with her worming tablets but even so I don't particularly want her poo fetish to continue!

In Ireland, Dobermans are a controlled breed under dangerous dog legislation. This means according to the law she must be securely muzzled and on a lead of not more than 2 meters in length. I use a halti head collar to get around using a muzzle as it does have effective bite control (not that Sasha is in anyway aggressive) and to the average person it looks like a muzzle. Her long leash and off leash walks are limited to secluded area's or private property. Of late though Sasha's developed a stripe along the bridge of her muzzle caused by the halti rubbing. Does anyone know of any creams or ointments I could use to treat it or maybe an alternative to the halti? I've tried using the next size up in the halti but it doesn't fit correctly and ends up covering her eyes.

Any and all advice would be welcomed.

Thanks

Anthony

mudpuppy

Posted : 2/11/2008 11:57:14 AM

normal dog behavior, the poop won't hurt her and may even provide some useful nutrients. Very sad to hear that Dobermans are treated that way in Ireland, though. Most of them are such soft-hearted sweeties. I wouldn't think a long line and a head-halter would be a good combo, how about a body harness and a long line and a nice padded basket muzzle, one the dog can pant and drink in?

erica1989

Posted : 2/11/2008 5:04:35 PM

mudpuppy
normal dog behavior, the poop won't hurt her and may even provide some useful nutrients

Dogs can get tapeworms from eating rabbit poop. Unfortunatly, there is not much you can do to prevent the dog from enjoying this tastely morsle....

Agreeing with mudpuppy - halti and long lead are not a good combo. Halti's are great with a short leash - but nothing long for hiking and such. You will probably run into the same fur rubbing with a basket muzzle though. You can get some ointment from your vet to put on it, but she will probably just lick it off...

Anthony.ie

Posted : 2/12/2008 3:49:34 AM

I agree with both of you regarding the halti and a long leash. This morning I attached her long leash to her collar instead of the halti, having left the halti on to get around the legal need for a muzzle, and although my arms are now an inch or so longer she hasn't been showing the usual signs of irration with the halti, rubbing her muzzle against my leg etc. I'll just have to keep a sharper eye out for rabbit droppings, thankfully horse ones are alot easier to spot.

I think the next pet shop purchase will be a harness!

Thanks for the replies and the advice

Best regards

Anthony

Kathy Begley

Posted : 2/23/2008 6:18:49 PM

My Lab enjoys a big helping of poop, but only her own. My vet gave me a powder to sprinkle on her food. It's supposed to change the taste of poop to make it horrible. No noticable difference in Kelly's enjoyment of her own accomplishments. It certainly inspires me to keep the yard cleaned up!

glenmar

Posted : 2/23/2008 6:38:15 PM

You might want to consider getting some mole skin to apply to the part of her halti that is rubbing. It's usually found in the foot care sections, and you can cut it to the proper size and it sticks on.