stopping a poop eater

[Guest Anonymous]

I have a male Jack Russell who likes to eat poop. Due to my job(s), I sometimes have to leave the dogs in the run (32' X 54") for a few hrs. When this happens, I obviuosly cannot watch him. Even when I AM watching, he doesn't respond to being told to stop, even though he does know what stop means.

I really don't want to zap him, does anyone have any info about the "sonic" training collars, or have other ideas?

Thanks,

Norm

[Guest Anonymous]

In Pamela Reid's book Excel-erated Learning she discusses briefly using taste aversion to stop dogs from eating stool. Referencing a study conducted by Carl Gustavson, Ph. D. in which he used various ways to stop rats from eating Oreo cookies. Electic shock, an unpleasant taste, the smell of ammonia and taste aversion conditioning using lithium chloride were all used to try and deter the rats from eating the cookie. Only the taste aversion was completley effective. Taste aversion is when an animal comes to associate a food with making them ill. Just as people do, animals will usually associate a novel food source with making them ill over a normal food, i.e. eating something from the garbage along with their regular kibble, the association would be with the garbage. Bio-Behavioral Technology, Inc. produces Copraphagy Kits which can be perchased by calling 602-897-1541 or writing:
243 W. Calle Monte Vista
Tempe, AR 85284

This book is available thru Dogwise.com.

[DogPaddle]

You can also try, in combination with other methods, adding a bit of yogurt to their diet, worked very well for Kavik.