How do I discourage my dog from eating faeces (coprophagia)?
There are several possible solutions to try: • THE PINEAPPLE METHOD. Put small chunks of fresh pineapple into the dog’s food (do not use large pieces as this may induce vomiting). This gives the faeces a bitter taste. • THE COURGETTE METHOD. Cook some courgettes until soft in a small amount of olive oil. A batch can be made and stored in the fridge. Give a small dog 1-2 teaspoons and a large dog up to 1 tablespoon with each meal. • Bait faecal material with foul tasting substance. Beware the dog may develop a liking for this! In addition to using one of the methods above you should also consider the following: • The best way to correct this problem is to restrict access to faecal material, supervise all outdoor access and clean up immediately after. • Reward good behaviour with a tasty treat. • In extreme cases a basket type muzzle can be used. • Provide a wide variety of chew toys and increase quality time with your pet. • Some dogs use this as an attention seeking behaviour so ignore
