|
Dog Behavior
- Question and Answer Period
Training Toy Dogs
© Darlene
Arden
Question:I want to ask why my dachshund male eats cat feces and what can
I do to prevent this disgusting behavior.
(Georgia, USA)
Mary
Answer:
Hi Mary,
Apparently it's not disgusting to the dog. There are only too many dogs who like to, uh, surf the "candy dish." Basically, he likes the taste. If this is a new behavior, then your dog needs to see the veterinarian to rule out any physical changes that are causing this behavior. The best thing that you can do is scoop the litter box as quickly as possible. Cats hate a dirty litter box so your efforts will help both species. :-) Move the litter box to a place where your dog can't reach it. Your cat doesn't appreciate the invasion of privacy. Also, call the dog away from the litter box when you see him headed in that direction and offer him an alternate behavior. As him to come, sit, and give him a treat of higher value than cat feces. (Well, we can hope he'll think it's of higher value!) You can create a more private litter box but with a small dog, especially one used to going into small place (and Dachshunds were bred to go to ground for badgers) it's going to be difficult even with a covered litter box or a self-rigged contraption that puts the litter box in the middle of a covering with an entrance/exit at each end. Perhaps you can use that distraction time to teach your Dachshund a new trick or practice a dog sport like canine musical freestyle with him.
Warmly,
Darlene
If you have any dog behavior questions to ask Darlene Arden, please
submit them here.
|
|
