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Is this normal...puppy question

16 years ago

As I have mentioned we have a new little one. It's been a long time since we have had a little one in our house and I just don't remember this ever being an issue with our other dog when he was little. I have caught Cooper several times eating cat "yuck" out of the litter box. I keep the cat box very clean but boy he seems to find any little dropping and just devours it.

Is this normal and how do we stop it?

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Comments (10)

beegood_gw
16 years ago
Yep Some dogs will eat it all. Cat poop, dog poop, Coyote poop and horse droppings.Makes you wonder why they turn their nose up at what you feed them and you think "gee maybe they don't like it"Always kept my cat litter box where they couldn't get at it.Don't have a cat anymore and the dogs I have now aren't into eating all that "CRAP" Except for droppings in the turkey pen. Just love that stuff. Go figure.
joepyeweed
16 years ago
Its normal.

Correct him when he does it. A firm no, should be sufficient.
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lisa11310
16 years ago
Covered cat box facing the wall.
flatcoat2004
16 years ago
Very normal. Cats have shorter digestive tracts than many other creatures, so their poop is high in protein and simply delectable to most (if not all) dogs.

Training a young puppy to not eat this freely-available delicacy is tough, and is like asking a two-year-old human to resist wonderful-smelling chocolates or jellybeans that are right in front of his nose. Personally I would take an easier road and manage the situation. Put kitty's box somewhere that the pup can't get to, maybe in a bathroom or laundry room with a cat-flap that the pup can't fit through. Or use a litterbox with a cover that pup can't get into.

Good luck ! What type of pup do you have ?
firemanswife
Original Author
16 years ago
He's a Dorkie...half doxie half yorkie!

I keep telling him no but boy this is a tough one for him!
Gina_W
16 years ago
It's normal - apparently dogs and other animals clean their dens of feces by eating it. My dog used to want to do it more when he was a pup - he grew out of it but still grabs the occasional "treat" LOL (and Ewww!).
moonbyte5
16 years ago
I had a problem with my dog doing this (and leaving a trail of litter behind her!) and 'fixed' it by turning the one covered litterbox so the entrance is facing the corner and the dog can't get to it. I also purchased a Booda litterbox that is covered and has a little staircase up to the litter part. I've heard good things about a litterbox that is basically an enclosed tub with a hole in the top, but haven't used it personally.

I tried correcting but it never stopped the behavior (those 'kitty krunchies' must taste good to them!). I would have much rather been able to train her not to do it, but sometimes taking away the temptation is good enough.

Good luck! :-)
Elly_NJ
16 years ago
Flatcoat,

With all due respect, have you ever encountered cat poop? I clean it daily, and I can assure you, it is much like other poop. If it were as lovely as described, all dogs would eat cat poop, and all dogs decidedly do not.

I have never seen a smart, well-trained (eg. service dog, herding dog) do this. You don't see wolves tracked game and getting side-tracked by eating elk poop.

I think dog brains are not used enough. They are descended from the wolf, and therefore evolved for hunting and a social hierarchy. Most dogs live the lives of couch potatoes, and their brains are just not used enough. So they eat poop.

Just my theory.
nycefarm_gw
16 years ago
I have heard it called "kitty roca"...
firemanswife
Original Author
16 years ago
Haha....I love it nycefarm! I am going to have to tell DH that one!

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