Dog behaviour`

[LottieAnne]

I have recently taken on walking my neighbours dog with mine. It is looking like a long term comittment. He is a springer spaniel. He is deaf and does not respond to any commands but I have managed to teach him some hand signals. One thing worries me. He spends all his time foraging for dog pooh which he eats with great relish. His owner says he has always done it and not to worry but I would like to know if there is any way I can cure this which does not involve a muzzle. Is it doing him any harm? Any suggestions gratefully received. Thank you.

[lankeela]

Difficult as he is not yours. One thing that works is to put pineapple in with his food. Other than than its a case of getting there before him and picking up, or steering him away from it. Try walking him on a halti which gives you control of his head. If he does it off lead then there's not much you can do.

[carmalee]

grated pineapple (or courgette) will only control him eating his own waste and it is a good thing to try but doesn't work on every dog. as the beastie is deaf you have an added problem so maybe the best thing is to either keep him on the lead or take him to somewhere very safe where no other dogs go and then let him off. sorry can't be more helpful but lots of woofies have this disgusting habit.

[Meg]

My old, and deaf , border collie has always loved eating other animal's poo, and sometimes relishes in eating her own droppings. Horrible, but it's the way she is. She now throws up sometimes, I'm sure it's down to the cr@p she's eaten, not a pretty sight!! Good luck.

[LottieAnne]

Thank you for your answers. I think I will just have to put up with it. It seems such a disgusting habit but perhaps I will get used to it.