Author Topic: Puppie eating sheep poo (Read 8246 times)

Tala Orchard · « **on:** November 30, 2013, 10:23:25 am »

We have just got our selves a 9mth old Border collie that we want to train as a working dog for our sheep, however while out walking him in fields that have had sheep in he eats sheep poo, is this normal behaviour?

doganjo · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2013, 10:49:35 am »

Perfectly normal, and so long as your sheep are wormed he will come to no harm except if he eats too much and it might make him sick or get the runs. I was once told 'if your dog eating horse, sheep,or cow poo offends you, don't watch!'

bigchicken · « **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2013, 10:59:37 am »

In my experience most young dogs find sheep and some other poo tasty, any dog I have owned usually grows out of it after a time mostly because they have been encouraged not to eat things they find on the ground. So if you don't want him eating poo tell him not to and he will get it after a time. Some say that it is to do with a deficiency in the diet but not me. Not advisable to let them as there could be all sorts of parasites present in the droppings.

jaykay · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2013, 01:01:26 pm »

It is in all dogs' job descriptions, to be as disgusting as possible. Eat poo, roll in very-long-dead stuff and hedgehog poo........

Not a bad plan, as bigchicken says, to train them out of scavenging. I can manage a 'leave it' that works when I'm there, but I'm absolutely convinced they scavenge when I'm not.

Mammyshaz · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2013, 01:18:51 pm »

Agree with all that's said.It is perfectly normal for some dogs to want to eat such scrum my tasting food on the go

It's a personal decision whether you want to turn a blind eye or teach the dog to leave it.
I hate it so teach the 'leave' command. As bigchicken said, I find after a while they learn to leave it before the command is needed

doganjo · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2013, 01:34:56 pm »

Quote from: Mammyshaz on November 30, 2013, 01:18:51 pm

Agree with all that's said.It is perfectly normal for some dogs to want to eat such scrum my tasting food on the go It's a personal decision whether you want to turn a blind eye or teach the dog to leave it.
I hate it so teach the 'leave' command. As bigchicken said, I find after a while they learn to leave it before the command is needed

Oh yes, mine definitely know the 'Leave it' command. But I have turned round on odd occasions to see three very guilty looking Brittanys - especially when it's frosty and the sheep poo berries seem to be tastier with ice on them

Really I wouldn't worry too much, sheep are wormed regularly, many puppies grow out of the habit, some like my independent spirits never do, some will never touch them again when yelled at the first time, others (like my German Wirehaired Pointer, Hester) will put up a two finger salute!

Rosemary · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2013, 06:33:02 pm »

Ours eat horse, sheep and chook poo - doesn't seem to do them any harm - they are both 13 and in great condition.

Tess also likes a bit of cat sick if she can get to it first

Tala Orchard · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2013, 08:05:15 pm »

Thanks one and all thought it may be normal but just wanted reassurance.

sokel · « **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2013, 08:18:44 pm »

Ours eat it from any animal they can find except cow Pats, they keep them for rolling in

Rosemary · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2013, 09:32:47 am »

Quote from: sokel on November 30, 2013, 08:18:44 pm

Ours eat it from any animal they can find except cow Pats, they keep them for rolling in

Funny that - cow pats must be the wrong consistency for eating but just right for rolling

hughesy · « **Reply #10 on:** December 02, 2013, 07:51:39 am »

Goose poo seems to be the snack of choice for our Lab. She also likes a nugget of pig poo occasionally.

Pipsa · « **Reply #11 on:** December 02, 2013, 11:37:15 am »

My friend's dog once brought a frozen ball of horse manure in his mouth into their house at Christmas - he hid the ball under their Christmas tree in their living room - his present to the family (:

happygolucky · « **Reply #12 on:** December 02, 2013, 01:23:21 pm »

the very worse thing is human poo, one lab I had came happily out of a hedge with a "sausage", then another dog found some thrown off shorts and found the contents very tasted, thankfully, none of my current dogs have eaten any yet

but they do like a bit of horse poo if I do not see it first, they will leave, we rarely get nearsheep poo but I am sure they would love that. one thing, some poo appears more appealing to dogs than others, not sure why?