Puppy Help - I have a poop eating puppy

[CAPSLOCK]

Easiest is a clothesline (literal clothesline to dry clothes) - it's nice and light for him to drag around. Since it's in the yard anyways, you don't have to worry about safety from it snagging on something or fraying or whatever.

 

[Moliphino]

Question about this leash.......does it work real nice and smooth without a lot of drag. We have an extendable leash at home, and it does have some drag and Otis does not like it at - he's much happier on a regular long (6ft) line leash. I'm not opposed to trying another one as long as it works nice, easy and smooth - he's only 12lbs, so he's not a strong big dog.

This one is probably overkill for a 12lb dog. It works great with my 80lb-ers (Rosie was already 16lbs when I brought her home at 8 weeks old, so I'm not at all used to small dogs ).

 

[slo]

This one is probably overkill for a 12lb dog. It works great with my 80lb-ers (Rosie was already 16lbs when I brought her home at 8 weeks old, so I'm not at all used to small dogs ).

Very good to know - thank you for letting me know this

 

[NC Belle]

I would suggest restricting length of leash at first until puppy learns to leave it alone plus use a command like leave it. I went though a lot of retractable leashes with Oreo. This summer, I used a 6' and 9' to deter her from get interested in deer, rabbit. chicken, and groundhog stuff. I can't remember if bitter apple spray help at all in either of my dogs.
Oreo wears a harness plus a collar (2 places on the collar for desired leash control. The harness helps as a back up because she can sometimes pull her collar off and she pulls too hard so I need her throat area protected.

I am hoping not to see if bear **** will get her interest this winter. My dad has a camera to take pictures of wildlife at night and they like their yard (regular community area).

 

[sibesx2]

I would take him for a walk and make sure he poops before you play with him in the backyard. It’s not going to stop poop eating but should stop it in that situation.

 

[Imzadi]

He loves to play fetch, so we do that a lot with him, and he can't do that on a leash, and sometimes while we are playing, he stops to poop.

I would take him for a walk and make sure he poops before you play with him in the backyard. It’s not going to stop poop eating but should stop it in that situation.

Animals tend to need to relieve themselves not long after eating. (Even humans. That's why there are lines to restaurant bathrooms after eating.) Figuring out the approximate time your puppy tends to poop after eating, it may be 5 minutes or 20 minutes, etc., and walking/keeping him on a leash during that time until after he has pooped, instead of letting him loose in the backyard until after will stop that part of the problem.

 

[goofyernmost]

Two things... First, kudos on training him to recycle. Second, think of the money you will save on dog food. I suspect that bad breath would be a factor but only if one wants to dwell on the negatives.

Spoiler: P.S.

Yes, I know that was not very helpful, but you got some very good advice from the previous posts so I thought maybe a little levity would be appropriate.