Dog Training Zone

1. Why do dogs eat their poop?

One reason dogs eat their poop is because it just plain tastes good. Another reason is it could be a vitamin deficiency. One other reason for the poop eating is that it is an instinctual behavior in the wild to eat the poop to keep other predators from tracking their movements. Some solutions for stopping poop eating are: You can put meat tenderizer on their food and it is supposed to make the poop taste bad once it goes through the body. Check to make sure your dog food is nutritous enough and they are getting everything they need in their diet. The best and most effective way is to clean up after your dog immediately.

2. How do I get my dogs to stop barking?

Dogs bark as a form of communication. Dogs will also bark out of boredom. Dogs that are not with their pack [you are their pack] will bark to get the packs attention to let them know they are lonely. Dogs will bark to alert that there is a person walking by or another dog in their territory it is a natural form of communication. If you remove the stimulant then there is no need to bark at it. The best way to stop nuisance barking is to exercise/socialize your dog. If the dog is with their pack then they is no need to get the packs attention. Dogs also
bark when they are excited it is their natural way of communication.

3. How do I get my dog to stop chewing up the furniture?

If you have a puppy it is probably teething and in some pain. The chewing is satiating to them and can possibly be soothing their gums. You can give them a cold carrot to chew on, make sure you give it to them outside it can get quite messy. You can also freeze chicken broth in ice cube trays for them to have to help relieve some of the discomfort.

You can also use Bitter Apple spray to detour them from chewing. Mature dogs usually chew out of boredom and stress. Exercise is the best way to release the stress. You can turn there attention on to something else that is more exciting then your dinning room table leg.

4. How do I get my dog to stop nipping and play-biting?

One way is to yelp very loud and startle the puppy. If the puppy was playing with another puppy and it bite to hard then the puppy would yelp to let them know it hurt. If the play stops as a result of biting too hard then the puppy will learn from being shunned away that biting stops the play time. Another solution for play biting is to have a toy and redirect the attention on to something else. You can also change the dogs environment take them outside for a walk is very helpful.

5. How do I stop my dog from potting in the house?

Once a dog start using the bathroom in the house the only method that works is PREVENTION. Every time your dog uses the bathroom in the house it takes 10 consecutively times using the bathroom outside that teaches it outside is where to go potty. So if you get to 9 times outside and then they have a mistake inside you have to start all over again. You must look at your dog/puppy as a 9 month old crawling baby with out a diaper on. Surely you would not let a 9 month old baby loose in your house with out a diaper on.

Susie Aga, Atlanta Dog Trainer

Susie is a Certified Canine Behavior & Training Specialist and a member in good standing with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has four rescue dogs and donates much of her time and services to Rescue Organizations and hosts The Animal Hour Radio Show which can be heard through her site.

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Your dog eating poop or dog coprophagia is a habit which doesn’t make sense to us dog owner’s.

It’s a habit which is most prevalent in puppies, and certain breeds are also more susceptible to it than others. Many Shih Tzu owners including myself struggle with this disgusting poop eating habit.

How To Stop Your Dog Eating Poop

There are many theories and opinions as to why a dog would bother to eat poop. Finding the cause of your dogs poop eating habit is the key to determining the correct solution.

When dogs eat poop it is not only embarrassing for us owners, it can also cause diseases and worms to be passed on to your dog.

Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

There are two general causes for dog coprophagia:

1. Dog behavioral problem.

2. It could mean that your dog has an underlying medical problem.
   

More Specific Reasons Why Dogs Eat Poop

• It tastes good to your dog! I know it doesn’t make sense to me either, but this is the major reason young puppies eat their poop.

• Your puppy may have a vitamin or mineral deficiency and is trying to correct the balance through eating poop.

• Could be the result of anxiety or boredom.

• Some dogs that are over fed eat their own feces because the food hasn’t been fully digested. Therefore the feces still smell and probably taste like the dogs dinner.

• Your dog may eat his own poop when trying to clean up his area. This task should be performed by the dog owner.
  

Solutions To Stop Your Dog Eating Poop

• Feed a well balanced and nutritious meal. Do not over feed.

• Keep your dogs living area clean from feces.

• If possible, try feeding twice a day. Feed the same amount but just in two portions. This works for dogs who eat poop through hunger.

• Add a bit of pineapple or spinach to your dogs meals. When your dog goes to eat his poop, apparently it tastes horrible to him after eating the pineapple or spinach.

• Teach the basic obedience command “off”. Proper obedience training eliminates almost all problem behaviors, including coprophagia.

• If your dog eats his poop immediately after eliminating, provide a distraction. As soon as your dog does the business run away from the area and call him over. This should be enough to get his mind off the poop. When he gets to you be sure to praise and reward him.
  

If you believe an underlying medical condition is causing your dog to eat poop, please visit your Vet for a thorough examination. The above techniques will not help dogs that need medical attention.

Be consistent in your mission to stop your dog from eating poop, you should be able to break the habit before long.

Chris Smith is a dedicated dog owner and creator of http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com

Dog obedience training is the best thing you can do for your dog, find out how to do it the right way, at home.

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