Bad Dog #1: The Poop Eater

Yup. He eats his poop.

When Jasper was 6 months old, we worried he wasn't having normal potty functions because there was rarely any poop to pick up. Then one day he gave my Mom a lick with his poop-breath and she got the real truth on what was going on.

Her Banfield vet said it wasn't normal, but not uncommon. The problem is this: you can't train your pup not to eat it unless you catch him at it and reprimand him then and there. Imagine us taking turns at his puppy pad, waiting for him to squat so we could gently scold him if he tried to turn around and eat it. A trial for everyone involved--including Jasper, who really wanted some privacy for these moments!

Under the vet's suggestion we tried adding crushed pineapple to his food. That didn't work...if anything, he smacked his lips over it (yuk!). We put a vet-prescribed additive in his food, which worked a bit better. But really, the only thing that worked 100% was cleaning up his poop immediately so he didn't get the opportunity to eat it.

Within a month or two his poop could sit for a few hours or so (like while out at the grocery, etc.) without being eaten. Hooray! ... Then one day in Jasper's busy puppy mind, his poop transformed from dessert (ew!) to play toy (ack!), and he would pick up a fresh piece o' poo and take it to his crate, or his bed, or Mom's new butter-colored leather sofa... (sigh!)

It happens less and less as he gets older, but your solutions, suggestions, and misery-sharing company are always welcome :D

Ehur? Frosty Paws? Doggy Ice Cream?!

Okay, Mom is putting together ideas for the puppy party and found ice cream for dogs?!

In the vast grocery section of our new Target--in the freezer section among the people ice creams--she found these Frosty Paw peanut butter ice cream treats made especially for dogs. Weird, weird, weird! My opinion is irrelevant of course, what's important is that Jasper loves them :D He licks his bowl totally clean after sucking away on a Frosty Paw--not something he does for his regular food.

Mom says she'll definitely have some at his party (and hopefully people ice cream for the humans attending...though I may just give the Frosty P a try?). She's also keeping plenty on hand to ease Furry J through these unprecedented hot days.

That said, I have a feeling the search for doggie birthday cake has already begun...


Got something to share on Frosty Paws or other summer solutions for pooches? Leave a comment!

Jasper is (almost) 1!

Well, my Mom's goldendoodle, Jasper, is almost 1 year old, and there are so many stories to tell it may take me the rest of this year to catch up!

He's a go'geous puppy, with longish wavy black hair and bright, intelligent eyes. People regularly stop my Mom on the street to ask what kind of dog he is...Poodle? Mutt? Well, yes and yes! But when she explains that he also has Golden Retriever heritage, that throws people off a bit. I think if they could see him putting his toys away every night, they'd get it...but more on his funny ways later.

All to say, I'm wondering if we should throw him a birthday party?

Has anyone else thrown a birthday party for their pet(s)? Post a comment and tell us how it went...