Wal's Mom

Hi there,

I am looking for suggestions from all you experienced poodle people. My Wallace LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to each other dogs' poop when we go on our walks. Unfortunately, not all dog owners in my neighborhood are responsible about cleaning up after their dogs. And he hones right in on them and is lightning fast about it. I have been able to sometimes get it out of his mouth but sometimes he swallows it before I can get to it. Yuck.

I know it is an instinctual behavior and not the end of the world. But it is gross and I would like to train away from the behavior.

Has anyone dealt with this issue? Any suggestions on how to discourage this?

Thanks in advance!

sweetheartsrodeo

I think this is where it would be very helpful to train him with the leave it command. I am sure others will have more helpful advice, but in the short term work with him on the leave it command

__________________

"I know that dogs are pack animals, but it is difficult to imagine a pack of standard poodles ... and if there was such a thing as a pack of standard poodles, where would they rove to? Bloomingdale's? "
--Yvonne Clifford, American actress

fjm

I agree - Leave it! I'd make sure I always had really good treats on me - you'd think anything would be better than poop, but he obviously values it highly. Does he eat his own, or only that of other dogs?

__________________

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace.

~ Milan Kundera

MaryLynn

Leave it should do it.

I dealt with this with a baby puppy once, when I asked my vet about it he told me he was perfectly healthy (not lacking anything in his diet or whatnot) and that he was just being a glutton.

Dogs have way less taste buds then us so some pretty strange stuff tastes pretty decent to them.

Wal's Mom

I do use leave it when I see the poop he is aiming for but he is so quick and usually the pieces are small and mixed in with leaves and such. He will be on it in the blink of an eye! He sidles up to a tree, sniffs around to decide if he is going to use the tree and BAM the poop is in the mouth. Amazing how fast he does it!

He has no interest in his own poop but I immediately pick it up whether in our yard or on a walk so he really has no opportunity to go after his own.

I am to the point where I may have to pre-walk our route to clean it up which is ridiculous...but I don't want any ill effects from someone else's waste...diarrhea, worms, etc


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waltersmom

My walter does the same thing only it is deer poop and bear poop that is his delight. I too worry about parasites being passed to him and I also use the leave it command. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I just do my best and hope that after a while he will get the message because I too am tired of digging the S*** out of his mouth. I have to admit tho, I would rather be digging out deer and bear poop than dog poop. I have deceided to tell my self, this too shall pass and pray it does. I have also deceided that poodle teenagers are every bit as challanging as human one. LOL

hunny518

Hahaha.. I have this problem from aria, it doesn't matter, her poop other poop and cat poop all are satisfying to her.

In fact 10 min ago I was outside with her on the phone with a friend and had to keep calling her off a pile of my parents dogs poop! She will leave it and drop it immediately when told too but, the second you turn your back she is back on it.


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Indiana

I don't know why but this issue makes me giggle...I guess because we poor owners get so upset by this. It's come up on other threads and believe me, it's not uncommon. People have used various methods like feeding their dogs pineapple which supposedly makes the poop unpalatable, but that only works if they eat their own or your other dog's poop. It seems that the "leave it" command, cleaning up your own yard meticulously, and the dog growing up are the only things that really work. Basic obedience is so helpful in this and all situations really, as the more reliable the dog is at obedience, the more he/she will respect your "leave it" command, and also the fact that he/she is just not allowed to do eat poop, ever--kind of like biting or peeing in the house. That takes maturity, on the dog's part. It will come along for you, don't despair!

sarahmurphy

I probably traumatized Spike when he was little by screaming and jumping up and down like a mad woman at the beach - "NO POOP! ACH! DROP IT! LEAVE IT! ACH! NO POOOOPPP!!" (Insert appropriate retching noises where needed, and remember, it's pretty cold, and everyone is bundled up...)

we have not really had the issue but the one time....

There's probably a better method, but this one seemed to work... Courtesy of the Drama Queen School of Dog Training...

sarah

Wal's Mom

So glad it is not just me! There was even more along the route today. People are disgusting...what is that saying, the more people I meet, the more I love my dog or something like that. Yes, it is gross, but hey most of em changed eir kid's diapers, no???

I was hyper vigilant and caught him sniffing a few but none were eaten. Leave it and a tug on the leash seemed to get the message across. Problem is when they are hidden in the leaves and he smells them before I see them...

Such is the life with a dog who loves his walks!