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Guide To Australian Shepherd Training & Care

When "Leave It" Doesn't Work

by jcrply

My 2.5 year old Aussie knows the "leave it" command, and she usually obeys. "Usually" is not good enough. She just had a bout of really bad, mucusy diarrhea that needed two trips to the vet. The only thing I could think of that might have caused it was some unknown poop that appeared in our backyard. I saw her nose on it and yelled "leave it" and she backed off, but I thought she may have licked it or eaten a little.

Well, she has finally recovered from the diarrhea. But today as soon as we went into the backyard, she started sniffing and made a beeline for another pile of the mystery poop. This time yelling "leave it" did not make her back off, and I know that she ate a little before I could get to her. My backyard is fenced in. So it's not dog poop, unless there's a dog that can climb a 5 ft tall chainlink fence... just to poop in my yard... in the middle of the night. It's hard for me to spot the poop because it's light greyish tan in color and is down in the tall leaves of the Saint Augustine Florida-type grass. I really hate to have to keep my dog on leash inside her fenced yard.

Forty years ago when I lived in the country our dogs were loose outside most of the day. We had a lot of animals and there were lots of critters in the woods. I never saw my dogs eat the horse or chicken poop or anything else on the ground. Maybe they did and I just didn't see it. But I do know that none of them ever had diarrhea or other digestive upsets. My current dog has a very well balanced diet with human-quality foods. This is very frustrating. Any ideas from anyone?

Comments for When "Leave It" Doesn't Work

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My pups did too
by: Becky T.

My pups were 8 wks when we brought them home. We fought a losing battle w/ this and had numerous vet bills. The one could not kick the watery stool. Finally we changed vets, went holistic, and put them on an herb. They are 6mos. now and much better. Partially because they don't seem to hunt for the mystery poop as much now. Good luck.

Poop eating
by: Anonymous

My aussie eats the poop in the yard... cat, raccoon, other dogs, and sometimes her own. She has never been sick - the heartworm medication covers most worms. I guess she has been lucky.

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Guide To Australian Shepherd Training & Care

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