Red has made enormous strides in training since he came to us in October, but sometimes he takes a wicked turn backwards. Lately, Bud has greatly stepped up his eating his feces and that of the other dogs.
He is also defecating more, and this week, he began defecating in the bathroom – sometimes two or three times a day. I imagine Bud survived by eating feces, and this is probably the source of this habit.
We also have woodchuck hole in the back yard, and I think Bud had been eating the feces of other animals, woodchucks perhaps, even cat droppings.
I’ll spare you the detail, but his stool is black and very soft, not his usual stool I think he is eating this stuff in enormous quantities and that’s why he has to go to the bathroom more frequently and he can’t hold it in.
Boston Terriers don’t have a lot of storage space. So back to Square One training, dog training is like chess to me, they make a move, I make a move. First, we put up some fencing to keep him away from the back of the pen where the woodchuck is.
Then, I am getting up early to take him outside on a leash to get him to eliminate there. This is working. Then he goes back into the crate until Maria and I get a chance to clean up the dog area, make sure there are no leavings there.
I idea of dog training issues like this is to recognition that dogs are creatures of habit. They like to do what they always do, The challenge is to create a new tradition, a new habit, which takes patience and time.
When I take Bud out, I toss him some treats and reward him enthusiastically when he takes a dump. I put him on leash and walk him in the same general area. This is working. Our policing of the dog run is working. Our keeping him away from the woodchuck and cat areas is working.
The color and firmness of his stools has returned to normal. No accidents in the bathroom. No eating if dog poop. It’s only bene a couple of days, we have to keep focused to get through this.
He’s a good guy and he wants to please. He’s also a bit feral in some ways, like a wild cat. I’m not sure if I’m smarter than Fate, but I’m reasonably sure I’m smarter than Bud. We’ll see.
It is challenging to train a dog who was two years old when he came, and full of trauma and wild habits.
It might be best to correct the title here. Bud not Red of course. Red is on your mind these days.
It’s hilarious the way you often call Bud, “But” (pain in the butt! ?). What fun and challenges in a little dog.
Hazel, thanks it was corrected on the blog (when I started writing it, it WAS about Red..) thanks for letting me know tho, sometimes I miss them. (FB doesn’t reflect corrections..)
To Jon who hates advice! This is not about training Bud it is about what he is allowed to eat. These habits he has acquired have nothing to do with his training but what he is allowed to do in the vast space he is allowed to navigate in and the food he eats may be lacking in what he requires….have a great day.
Yes, Sally, why would you think we don’t know this, just curious? And P.S., we have already trained him to avoid eating dokey and sheep feces, I do not accept training can play a big role in this. I’ve also trained a number of dogs not to eat their feces, using certain foods that are repellent to them.
I suspect some of this might be around the changes in Red and the anxiety it may create for Bud for obvious reasons. And training and healing are never linear.
Just an idea. From my recent experience in change I have made. I have 5 dogs. All different.I recently,last 2months,have changed to raw food diet. MANY changes in all dogs attitudes,and behaviors. Non to the negative. Did have eating problems on dry food,adverse nibbles at manure,dirt,sticks. Diet was lacking. I live on farm,with animal processors abundant around. I cut up my own food. There are manufactured RAW DIET FOOD. research is a good idea. I think it may help,we ALL of your dogs!!hoping you will investigate.