How to Stop dogs from Poop Eating

Franklin in basket muzzle

It's a disgusting habit that some dogs have, and seem to learn from others. As dog dads, we've noticed our little dogs (Dachshunds, and Doxie-Chihuahua mix) tend to eat poop. Apparently it's a very common problem. Over the last 15 years we've tried everything and finally came upon a solution: Basket Muzzles.


3 TIMES A DAY YARD PICK UP  - I pick up the backyard about 3 times a day, and even follow the dogs around to pick up after them. No matter how much you think you've picked every piece up, you always miss one and the little dogs find it. (Fortunately, Dolly, our Weimaraner, has never picked up that nasty habit - Only the 3 boys do it).

Dash in basket muzzle

SAY NO TO SUPPLEMENTS -  We've bought supplements that you're supposed to feed to dog whose poop they typically eat, and it's supposed to make their poop distasteful. First, to even THINK that anything can make poop taste MORE disgusting is unimaginable!  Of course, they didn't work either. 

THE BASKET MUZZLE SOLUTION - Cloth muzzles don't work because I've tried them. If a dog wants to taste #2, their tongue can get out through the front of the open cloth muzzle. You need a basket muzzle. That's a plastic muzzle that looks like a woven basket. It allows them to sniff it, but they soon realize they can't get at it. 

ONE BAD TRIAL RUN - Of course, there's always  one who is persistent and determined to get what they want. That was our 14 year old Dachshund, Franklin.  During one of the first times we put the basket muzzle on him, he went right behind our Weimaraner, and tried to get her business. He came back to the door with a muzzle full of Dolly's #2 smashed in it like play-doh! He didn't do it again. 

Tyler poses in his basket muzzle

BOTTOM LINE - Skip the supplements. Pick up the yard 3 times a day, and put little basket muzzles on your dogs if if they go in your fenced in yard. Our dogs won't eat a #2 on walks if there is an uncaring dog parent who doesn't pick it up. I would never have even thought this would be a problem, but kids will be kids!

NOTE - If I forget to put the muzzle on them, and they do eat #2, I wipe their mouths and teeth with a paper towel, spray doggy breath spray and brush their teeth.