Canine coprophylaxis is a very common behavioral disorder. It consists of the dog eating its excrement or that of other animals. The reasons can be several, and we are going to mention all of them so that you know in this way how to treat canine coprophagia.
Write these down tips so that your furry stops behaving that way and so you can enjoy the walks more.
Why does my dog eat feces?
Dogs can eat droppings for several reasons:
Poor quality food
When we give our friend a food that is not of very good quality, we are not giving him all the vitamins that his body needs to be able to grow and / or stay healthy. For this reason, It is highly recommended to give him a feed that has a high percentage of meat (minimum 70%), or to go on to give him raw food or BARF.
Stress
Stress is often the cause of our friends' behavior problems. If we are going through a bad time, it is important that, when we are with the dog, let's be calmotherwise you will immediately notice the tension. In addition, if this situation continues for several days or weeks, the dog can react by starting to eat its feces or those of other animals.
Because they seem appetizing
Yes, I know they seem more like the opposite, but in your dog's opinion they taste good. And considering that the canine sense of smell is much more developed than ours, and that they may like other kinds of things, it is not surprising to see a dog eating what it does not have to eat.
How to avoid it?
The best way to avoid it is redirecting the animal. Before we go out for a walk, we need to pack a bag of doggie treats that smell a lot, and if it takes a few quiet breaths to calm down. Then, it will only be a matter of being very attentive to what is on the ground to be able to anticipate. As soon as you see one, do the following:
- Grab a treat and show it to your furry, but don't give it to him.
- Keep your dog away from the feces, always showing him the treat. If the journey is long (for example, if the street is full of feces), go giving him a treat every 3-4 steps.
- When you are finally far away reward him.
It will be necessary to repeat several times until the dog comes to prefer the treat, but in the end the work will have been worth it.
Good luck, and good cheer.