Eats her mistakes

[edhoos]

My 4 1/2 month little girl, Lucky, tries to eat her poop when she makes in the house, and in the last week has tried to eat when she goes outside (only occasionally). What should I do.

Also, housebreaking has been difficult and I am worried in the cold weather of Chicago she's not going to want to go outside and make at all. Should I try paper training?

[Shay]

4 1/2 months is such a sweet age!! I think it's normal for your dog to not be completely housetrained at this age. Sometimes it takes up to a year for them to really "get it". Personally I have not had much luck with paper training, and living in florida it gets cold, but is bearable and of course no snow to worry about walking my dogs in. I have recently learned of a method of housetraining, where you use sod in a plastic tray. The sod cost about 6 dollars at walmart. The idea is basically that you use this instead of paper, placing it near an exit that the dog would use to normally go outdoors. I guess you have to keep the grass alive with regular watering and scoop the poop, I would assume it would only last for a month or so with urine going into it daily. I haven't used this, but I think it's a neat idea. I know mine would use it. I thought of giving it a try, as mine do not like the poison drops falling from the sky and will plant their feet and have to be carried outside as they will not go willingly into the rain. I'm sure others willhave some suggestions for you. As for the eating the poop, i have some dogs that seem to like to do that and some that don't. I try to not let mine get the chance, but sometimes they still do it, it is so gross. how can they posssibly like the taste of poop? cat poop is a dachsie delicacy........
if she gets in trouble for going in the house, she may be trying to hide it from you. or she may just like to eat poop!! you can probably work with her and teach her to not do that, but i have found it's not an easy habit to break.

Shay

[Sandy]

Eating poop is definitely a gross habit. There are products like Dis-taste and Forbid that can be given as a treat and will make their poop taste horrible to the pup. Here is the link: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/sc_view.cfm?pCatId=62
My Badger had the same problem and the Dis-taste worked for us. Also, when outside, keep your pup on a leash so you can lead her away from it as soon as she goes, but remember to Praise, Praise, Praise as your leading her away.
I hope this helps!

Sandy and Badger

[Mandy]

One of the first commands you teach, along with sit and wait, should be "leave it." This command comes in handy, especially with dachshunds, so much! And if you are outside, you can give the leave it command, while pulling gently on the leash forcing the dog to cross-step.

Inside, leave it with some loud noises and then a distraction (and discretely pick the poop up without drawing any attention to it).