What a pile of sh**!

I talk about poo a lot. Whether it's about the regularity or consistency of movements, toilet training or encouraging people to be responsible and pick up after their dog, poo is certainly something that comes up in the majority of my consults. By far the most common questions from puppy owners are about poo...

"Why does he eat his own poo?"
"Why does he eat cat poo"
"How can I stop him eating his own poo"
"He follows my other dog and eats his poo"
"How can I stop him licking me after he's eaten poo"

....you get the idea.

My advice was always simple and followed the same lines as with any unwanted behaviour. The key is to prevent your dog from practicing the behaviour and reward them lavishly for an alternative behaviour that is incompatible with the original one. However, having lived through this issue first hand, I wanted to share my experiences of working through coprophagia (useful new word for the pub quiz!) and turning it from a 'problem' into a useful activity.

My little pup Gru is now a year old and has a fantastic skill. He can tell me exactly where there is some dog poo that hasn't been picked up. Not only does this come in handy in the garden (there's always one you miss!), it's even more useful at our 3 acre field. Pin pointing poo hasn't always been a skill for Mr Gru as his preferred option used to be to gobble it down as soon as he found it.

So how exactly did I transform Gru from a poo-eater to a poo-hunter?

Step 1 - When I first noticed Gru tucking into a 'snack' aged 12 weeks my instinct was to shout "Leave, no, ah ah" or a similar command that meant "don't eat that" but would likely have no effect on Gru's behaviour what so ever. I also felt the need to walk towards him and move him away or try to pick up the poo before he could eat it all. However, I had my behaviourist hat on that day and so instead of doing any of the above I did something very simple. I stood still and said nothing.

Step 2 - Now I knew my little pup had a taste for no. 2's, I stepped up the supervision in the garden and made sure the garden was poo-free. I kept Gru on a lead or long line for toilet trips initially and was armed with tasty treats. As soon as he went to the toilet I would celebrate . . "Yes! Good boy!" which would inevitably get his attention and he would trot over to me to see what all the fuss was about. I would keep celebrating and give him a few tasty treats as we walked back into the house. Once he was inside, I would return outside on my own to pick up the poo.

Step 3 - After a few weeks Gru was coming back to me on the patio after going to the toilet. He was expectant of the celebration and reward so I relaxed a bit and didn't worry about the lead or line when out on toilet trips. This extra 'freedom' gave Gru the opportunity to sniff poo at which point I would celebrate and he'd come to me for a reward.

Step 4 - A year down the line he's now a very reliable poo hunter. I can even tell when he's on the scent as he gets very excited and his tail wags in a particular way. Now when he finds his prize, he'll stand over it, give it a good sniff and then look back to me to make sure I've noticed. A "Yes, good boy" brings him running over for his reward which I'm only assuming tastes better than poo!

So there you have it, from poo eater to poo hunter in a matter of months with very little effort. I knew Gru was on a good diet (which is often the reason given as to why dogs are eating poo) and didn't want to use an aversive to make his poo taste nasty (again commonly given advice) so I decided to go with it and turn it into a useful, fun activity. Remember, how you react to your dogs' behaviour will have a dramatic effect on whether that behaviour continues or diminishes so before you take a step towards your dog and say "ahah" just think about whether it's a major issue at all. Sometimes doing or saying nothing is the best way to react.

Have fun!

What to expect when you're expecting (a puppy)

During my time running puppy classes, 1:1 puppy training and off lead socialisation sessions I have seen hundreds of puppies of different breeds. Regardless of the breed of dog or circumstances of the owner, there are some 'FAQs' that always come up. 

Surprisingly, the most common questions I get asked are problematic to the owners, but completely normal puppy behaviour. I thought this blog may enlighten new puppy owners (or puppy owners to-be) about the reality of puppy ownership and set a few things straight so that you can get through the first few months of your puppy's life without constantly worrying whether your dog is 'normal'.

So here we go, the uncensored top ten truths of puppy ownership ......

1. You will get bitten - and it hurts!

Be prepared to wear long sleeves and trousers to either protect yourself from a ninja biting puppy or
to cover up the cuts created by the needle sharp teeth in your precious puppy's gob. Puppies use their mouths to explore new things, soothe their teething pains and elicit play. Therefore it is important that you offer them plenty of opportunities to bite and chew appropriate items - toys, kongs, cardboard boxes etc. and don't encourage them to play roughly with your hands or feet. Always have a toy to hand when you are interacting with your puppy to redirect them if they come towards you with the intent to nibble.

2. Your house and other items will be chewed or eaten

As mentioned above, puppies need to bite and chew. They also need entertaining with appropriate items otherwise your favourite Jimmy Choos could become the next target. It is your job to puppy proof your house and garden and keep precious or dangerous items out of reach of your puppy. As far as your puppy is concerned, if it finds it, it's his so be meticulously tidy, cordon off areas and shut doors or keep your puppy behind a gate or in a crate when you're not there to supervise.

3. You will get jumped up at

Your face and eyes are the most expressive part of your body but just so happen to be the furthest away from the floor. In an attempt to elicit some social contact, your pup will jump up to get closer to your face and to grab at hands. Running and being excitable can also encourage jumping up and biting which is a perfectly normal play behaviour in puppies. If your puppy is jumping up at you, celebrate the fact that they trust you and want to play and work on teaching them a more appropriate greeting, or putting jumping up on cue.

4. Raising a puppy is a full time job

Everyone dreams of relaxing on the sofa with a puppy on their lap snoozing but that is seldom the reality! A busy puppy is a good sign as it shows they are healthy, active and confident. If you have to work, make arrangements for someone to check in on your puppy regularly and put time aside everyday to play with and train your puppy (play and training are not mutually exclusive). Put as much, if not more, effort into training 'off switch' behaviours (settle with a chew, handling, mat work, crate training) as you do 'on switch' (playing with a toy, recall). Being able to relax is a vital life skill
and should be taught from day one.

5. Your sleep will be disturbed

Toilet training can be tricky but if you are consistent and get your dog in the right place at the right time, accidents in the home will be minimal. Your puppy will only have a small bladder and little bladder control to begin with so night time pees are a high probability. Trundling down in your nightie to let your dog out for a pee at 2am may not be your idea of fun but if you don't want to wake up to puddles in the morning, it just has to be done.

6. Your garden may be dug up

Digging is a very normal and natural dog behaviour. It is a fun activity for dogs and some dogs are highly motivated to dig. Providing an appropriate area to dig such as a sandpit filled with sand, shingle or soil can be a huge reward and enrichment for a young pup. You can bury toys and food to make it a fun game.

 7. You will be 'trained' to perfection if you're not careful

Humans are creatures of habit and fall into routines without even being aware that we are doing it. This means that you will be unwittingly giving your puppy cues and signals regarding what is about to happen and you can easily encourage patterns of behaviour that are undesirable. An example of this is when your puppy 'steals' an item (which you shouldn't have left out - see point 2!) and then goads you into a chase game. Your dog then thinks "Ah ha, I can get her attention by taking the tea towel in when she's watching tv!". Providing plenty of brain games, and training your puppy to relax with a chew will prevent your dog from having to find their own entertainment.

8. You will be disgusted by some of their favourite activities

Yes, eating poo is a natural behaviour! There's even a scientific term for it - coprophagia. Most pups go through a phase of being interested in eating their own poo. By managing toilet visits, calling them away for a piece of food and picking up after them immediately most pups lose interest in recycling their waste. Cat poo however is another matter and a canine delicacy!

As well as eating poo, they'll also roll in it. There are various theories behind why they do this including masking their own scent or taking the scent back to the den to communicate with others but it could just be that it smells great to them and rolling in it is enjoyable. Again, management is the key but if you miss the moment, just laugh and enjoy and think of the grooming training you'll be able to practice later on!

9. Your social life will change

Whilst your puppy is settling in, it's important that they aren't left alone for too long and you teach them to relax when they are along gradually. This may mean no nights out in the short term but it's not all doom and gloom as dogs are an excellent social facilitator and you'll get to know all of the local dogs and their owners before you know it so prepare for a new group of friends!

10. Everyone will try to give you advice

The dog training industry is unregulated and there is a huge difference in the quality of puppy socialisation and training classes available. Don't just got to the closest class to you. Call around, ask questions and go to watch some classes to find the best fit for you and your dog. Once you find an ethical, qualified, experienced behaviourist or trainer that you trust listen to them and do what they advise as they are the expert! Find out more here if you're not sure how to find a professional you trust.


All of these 'puppy truths' can be worked through with a bit of planning, prevention, patience and positive reinforcement of alternative behaviours. Being a family pet is a tricky job as most humans are consistently inconsistent! This means it is hard for the puppy to figure out what is expected of it and sometimes it can end up in the doghouse for simply doing what comes naturally. So please, relax and enjoy your puppy knowing that the 'crazy puppy' whirlwind does end after a few months but that the relationship you have with your dog will last their lifetime so nurture it as best you can. If you don't think you can handle what's written in this blog, then perhaps you should reconsider your choice of companion animal.