Maltese won't stop eating poop, tried everyting?

Question

Hi,
I have a 3 months old Maltese puppy and three or so weeks ago he started eating his poop. Now I have tried everything from pineapple, new premium quality dog food (Royal Canin) dried yeast, poop repellents for dogs, tabasco on the poop. Nothing works. He is obviously not depressed, he couldn't possibly be bored, he gets food 3 times a day. My other dog used to do this when she was little but a few smacks on the butt and she quit doing it, but Winnie won't stop doing it. I'm worried that now it's something serious. I'm taking him to the Vet, but I thought I should ask anyways.

Thank you

Sara

Answer 1

Pick up the poop. Problem. Solved.



Why are you leaving feces lying around or him outside unattended anyway?



Pick it up.

Supervise.

Correct.



That's all you can do. Eating poop is NORMAL for many dogs and there is no 100% cure I have ever found beyond just picking the stuff up when it is deposited.

Answer 2

You could pick it up or bring him away from it when he goes or is near any. Or give him a little smack on the butt. He could have learned it from one of his parents, puppies normally do what they saw their parents do. But he might eventually grow out of it.

Answer 3

I have a theory that intelligent dogs do this. They have watched their mother cleaning out the nest, and they copy her.



Get him used to a collar and lead and hold on to him when he poos, then shovel it up immediately.



Nevertheless it's awful.

Answer 4

Have you tried putting lemon on it? Just a plain old lemon would work.



If it doesn't, try pepper.

Answer 5

omg!! my dog did that too when i first got her, like everyday! i never let her lick me... nasty. i started to push her face in it every time she started to eat it, and now she never does :) i just classic conditioned her to hate it. Not in an abusing way, i love her, i just wanted her to stop eating her own sh!t,

Answer 6

Don't leave it lying around. Put in in the waste bin and he won't be able to get to it.

Answer 7

Time to take the shotgun! you know what to do