Eating poo when we leave...Separation Anxiety?

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emjayoct

Boxer Pal
Ever since we've had oscar (he's 10 months old now), he's been very anxious when my husband and I leave the house to go somewhere. He wines as we are getting ready to leave, and when we close the door behind us, he jumps up to see us out the window.

Though we don't leave for a long periods of time, he has taken to pooing and sometimes peeing on the floorand then eating it (he leaves little traces of poo on the floor). We assume he knows what he did was wrong because he eats it. We also have another dog (a mix), but we know it's not her pooing. We can distinguish between the two. They get along great with no problems.

We are always sure to let Oscar out right before we go anywhere, and he pees and poos outside, then we bring him in and THEN we go out. We are also sure to not be gone long.

We have no idea what to do. I am going to be home with him for the next 4 weeks and can really work with him, but we have NO clue what to do.

Do any of you think this is separation anxiety?

Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated. We just don't know what to do!

~Oscar's mom
 
courtney323

courtney323

Energetic Moderator<br><img src="/forums/images/mo
emjayoct -

Please post your Introduction. This is something required of all new members, and is stated in the Rules (which you did agree to when joining)

Thanks
 
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BrodieBaby

Boxer Pal
My terrier use to do that, she wouldn't eat it though. It would be left on my dads bed. It didn't matter if we went across to the gas station. We got a kennel/crate and kept her in there while we were gone, we did that for awhile now she is fine to roam the house. I don't really have any advice though. Good luck. I am off to post my intro now.
 
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sgbtab

Banned
samson does this.
IMO they do this cause they are bored samson eats raw therefore he does not get any nutrients from it. it could be for you that the kibble poop has more undigested kibble in it. what kind of food is he on? even though samson has this bad habit and that is what it is. when ever he goes outside he will try to eat poop so I have to redirect him. since you will be home you can try to do that.
he is not eating the poop cause he thinks he did something wrong they do not understand that way.
 
wnt2adpt

wnt2adpt

Boxer Booster
I suggest crate training. Greta used to chew things, pee in the house, and poop in the house when I would leave her. foolicon I crate trained her though and now she loves it! appicon She will go into the crate during the day/night on her own. To start her, I offered her a treat for going inside. I only gave her the treat after she would go in and lay down. Treating her when she went in, as well as leaving treats in there for her to find on her own, have really helped. I put a blanket over the top of it and have a bed inside so it feels like a 'den'. It's her own little cubby hole!

Since you are able to be there with her for 4 weeks, it would be a perfect time to get her acclimated to a crate - if that's the way you want to go. You may not. If you do, just make sure it is never a place for punishment. This will make them connect the crate with punishment and they will not like it.

Whichever route you go, make sure you are consistent. Separation anxiety is a difficult thing to overcome. Make sure you don't make any huge issue out of leaving or returning. I will say 'bye' but that's it. When I come in, if Greta is too out of control, I will let her calm down a bit before I pet her. You could probably do a search on separation anxiety on this forum and find some great suggestions.

Good luck & I hope this may help you!
 
Maxxsmom

Maxxsmom

Boxer Buddy
Maxx was doing the same thing in his crate before the "crate incident." And we just thought he had trampled through it enough that none was just laying around. Now that he's out of the crate, he stays in our room while we are out, and we noticed little brown spots on the floor, but no trace of poo. We can't prove it but are pretty sure he was eating it (YUK!), so we just recently changed his food thinking he might be looking for certain nutrients. My husband said Maxx left a pile on his "pad" in the room yesterday so the food change may have worked. I have also read that you can try "Forbid" and it works well to stop him too. It makes their poo taste nasty. But I chose to change kibble first and see if it works.
 
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emjayoct

Boxer Pal
still confused

Thanks for all the responses...

We had Oscar all crate trained and everything was wonderful... until one day he ended up pooping in his crate (and peeing), eating it and laying in it. After 2 weeks of this, and after talking to a vet, it was decided that his puppy food (Eukanuba) was making him anxious. He had too much energy and was destrying his crate (he actually bent two metal rods together he was so mad). The vet recommended mixing the puppy food we had with some science diet adult food. We've been doing that and allowing him to stay in the kitchen area with no crate. He seems less anxious, but he's still eating it.

I think it totally has to do with the fact that we aren't there. He doesn't have accidents otherwise. Only when we leave. Even when we take him for walks, or take him outside to take care of business... he doesn't try to eat the poo outside.

We will have to try switching food. I just dont' want him to miss out on the proper puppy nutrients, etc.

Thanks for all the help everyone! It has given me some insight, and has opened my eyes to new ways to figure this problem out. I'll keep you updated.
 
Maxxsmom

Maxxsmom

Boxer Buddy
Science Diet is exactly what we just switched Maxx off of, and after reading posts on here, that was a very good choice. There are much better foods, and not only is Maxx pottying less now, he's not eating it, and we are 4 days into the new food.
 
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