Hello all,

Quick introduction and background - My wife, Shelby, and I are the new owners of a 15 week old female GSD who we named "Mia". We've only had her 3 days. I've read everything I can find on the website here (some of it twice). And the puppy DVD is on its way.

Thanks to all who have shared on the forums here. It helps!

Quick story for your entertainment. I take Mia out on a leash to potty. She responds well and gets praise for her success. I let her wander to whereever in the yard, and she's picked out a spot near the back she likes. However, she seems to sniff out her previous poop, and if I haven't picked it up yet, she tries to eat it.

So, we were outside playing, learning to fetch. She lost interest once and started eating something in the grass. I walked over and found her eating a dog-log I missed. I picked her up (no criticism) to move her away, and she promptly proceeded to give me a poop-kiss! YUCK! Reminds me of Lucy on "Peanuts" running around after Snoopy kissed her! "Dog germs!"

So, whats with eating the poop? Obviously, I now make a more distinct effort to pick up poop before we play in the yard.

Dogs (and other canids) reprocess nutrients left in feces from others, including themselves. Disgusting? Perhaps to humans, but to dogs, it's no big deal. So, yup, make that effort!

Congrats on the new girl. They are great, eh? My Murphy and I are having a blast, just learning from each other.

What style of diet do you have them on? I noticed that once Murphy got used to the raw we've got him working from, he doesn't try as much to each the poop; it's already fairly well processed (least as much as a dog can use).

Luck and laughter!
-J

Hahaha. My dog only eats cat poop. True story. We don't have cats, but we have a sandy area in our side yard and he goes digging in there. I don't leave him in the back yard unattended (anymore). He also licks the sidewalk. Weirdest dog.

The puppy DVD discusses the poop eating a bit, it's really no big deal. Just one more incentive for us to be watchful. You need to post some pictures of that fuzzy puppy before she gets all gangly in her teenage months!

My last Shepherd would eat her own poop. It was very annoying and I wanted to make sure Starbuck did not repeat that behavior.

Any time she sniffs her poop I give her a strong “Leave it”. Same thing with other droppings she finds on our walks. Foreign animal droppings can also carry parasites, so that is another good reason to stop the behavior.

My wife calls the cat poop: “Kitty Rocha”

I love it! Kitty Rocha! My sister called it Kitty Snickers.

It's good to know it's not harmful, but a good habit to break to avoid getting something from another animal.

She only likes DRIED poop... who can blame her.