Greetings,

Has anyone a suggestion to help me deal with my dog? She has decided that it is her duty to clean up after all the barn cats. My dog is 11 years old and part Doberman, part beagle. No, I don't know which parent was which. I'm asked that alot. She is in very good health and the only thing the vet could suggest is to buy this special cat food that would make their waste "unpalatable" to my dog.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), September 19, 2001

Answers

My mothers dog likes to do that,, their vet said,,"its normal",, maybe,, still ,,I dont like it. try spraying the area with something the dog doesnt like

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), September 19, 2001.

A friend's dog likes to make trips to the litter box and get what they call "Kitty Treats". *GAG* I don't know what to do to stop it, I'm just glad my dogs haven't discovered this delicacy!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), September 19, 2001.

I've heard that putting MSG in the cats' food will dissuade dogs from eating the cat poops. Don't know why or if it works.

-- Cathy in Mn (logholm@rangenet.com), September 19, 2001.

Well, we have found out that they taste "sweet" to the dogs. When our dog was inside, she "enjoyed" 8-\ helping me clean the cat litter. Yes, it is disgusting!! I'm sure there's something you can do--I just don't know what. dld

-- Dena Deweese (jedeweese@earthlink.net), September 19, 2001.

if, it really bothers you that much and by the way it's very common for most breeds of dogs to do this. pick up a 8 ounce pump applicator bottle of (grannick's) bitter apple product. it's used to spray on areas that the dogs chew or bite on i.e., after an injury. the taste .they do not like at all. just a few pumps on the cat doo & that should do it. lol bob m.

-- bob mccaffrey (bobmccaffrey1@netscape.net), September 19, 2001.

Feed the cats a little canned cat food dusted with a small amount of MonoSodium Glumanate (MSG, sold as meat tenderizer. A name brand is Accent or Adolphs, but store brand is fine). Our vet said it takes the desirable taste away from the "kitty kandy bars" that the dogs enjoy and isn't harmful to the cat. A treatment every 2 to 3 days usually suffices. It is especially important to keep dogs away from indoor kitty stocked "snack boxes" as the clay litter can block the dogs intestinal tract, resulting in death as the clay accumulates over a period of time.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 19, 2001.

Get a covered cat litter pan. My whippet loves "kitty crunchies", but can't get into the covered litter pan.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), September 19, 2001.

Yuck, I've lived with this for awhile too.. It's like filet mignon for every dog I've owned. Thanks for the tips!

-- Susan (smtroxel@socket.net), September 19, 2001.

At least your dog doesn't try to push up your shirt so he can lick your navel all the time.

-- Claudia Glass (glasss2001@prodigy.net), September 19, 2001.

Hey my dogs like goat "berries" and chicken droppings, how gross is that? Hopefully they won't discover the cat box!

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), September 20, 2001.

I thought that the only dogs that done this sort of thing was those that had a little bit of "possum" bred into them.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), September 20, 2001.

I thought that the only dogs that done this sort of thing was those that had a little bit of "possum" bred into them.(grin, grin, grin)

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), September 20, 2001.

Sorry I didn't know I sent the first one!

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), September 20, 2001.

Just curious. If MSG isn't supposed to be good for humans, how good can it be for a dog?

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), September 20, 2001.

who cares, really? every dog I've had, and known, eat crap. it's a delicacy, and easy to digest because it is already digested. dogs eat raw meat, even rotting raw meat, roll in disgusting piles (racoon is the must disgusting for a dog to wear) and sniff each others butts. they are really rather gross if you think about it. they lick their own butts and genitals.

so, if you really think about it, you'd never let a dog near you or lick your face.

but if you think about it you'd never go to a restaurant (where HAVE their hands been?), never use a public restroom, never touch a door knob, never touch money.... one could become obsessive about all things.

this isn't a criticism, but I used to be grossed out by this habit, and finally realized this is only one of a huge list of gross things they do (did I mention drinking out of toilets and sniffing hydrants and bushes for other dog's markings?), and I could continue with the gross thoughts and never touch a dog again, or be grateful that when I go to clean the cat litter there is a lot less in there, be glad that if a cat (or dog) pukes, it will get cleaned up for me by the dogs.....

the grossest part of it is the smell of their breath. ugh.

-- marcee king (thathope@mwt.net), September 20, 2001.

I am greatful that all my dogs do is eat poo! you should be greatful too! I mean what if you had a dog that liked to roll around in it!

Poo for dogs must be like chocolate to us!

Poosert!

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), September 20, 2001.

My bassett hounds will eat cat poop any chance they get too. yuck!! We used to keep a baby gat up, and keep the litter box in the laundry room where the dogs couldn't get, but now we have only outside cats..so no telling how much the dogs find and eat...I am glad I don't have to see it. Dogs are not allowed to lick my face..let me tell ya..and I LOVE my dogs.

-- Jenny Pipes (Auntjenny6@aol.com), September 21, 2001.

Think of the money you're saving on dogfood. Frugality IS important, isn't it?

Let's face it - rabbits do this too, given an opportunity - anyone who doesn't let rabbits eat their droppings is depriving them of their natural diet - and likely to have them suffer a vitamin deficiency as well.

Of course, I don't have dogs OR rabbits.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), September 22, 2001.

We have a golden lab cross and she has it pretty good here at our little farm. She prefers the sheep poop but has the choice of duck poop, chicken poop, cat poop, and the poop of our little Lhasa Apso. There are also plenty of deer, raccoon, pheasants and cattle all around our place so I am sure she has "gone out" to eat. We feed her a good brand of dog food so I don't think she is deprived of nutrients. I do believe it just what dogs do. Yuck!

-- JoAnn in SD (jonehls@excite.com), September 22, 2001.

Our labordor may she rest in peace had a simple philosopy for life, (if you follow a goat around long enough sooner or later it will poop.) You know what you call it in the winter? POOPcicles! ha ha

-- sherrie clifton (Bryrpatch35@aol.com), September 23, 2001.