I'm the original poster. I think the Deter has made a bit of a difference. He is not devouring the poop, but is still messing with it occasionally. I think since he sees me clean it up from the pee pad, he thinks it is his job if I am not in the room. I have watched him for a few minutes when he has pooped in my presence and he will look at the poop and then look at me and wait. I don't know what goes on when I am not in the room at the time - I'd like to set up a camera and observe at what point he thinks it's his job to take over. I really think it is more him trying to "help" than liking the poop. It seems like he gives me X amount of time to deal with it, and usually I'm there to do so, but every once in a while I'm in another part of the house... I just might set up the camera one day soon and see what happens when he poops and I'm not in the room.
I will keep giving the Deter, because I want to do everything in my power to make poop unappealing (as if!!). We can go days without an incident and then have a day where he gets into it a couple times. I really want this to end. Years ago I had a Bichon that devoured his poop the second it occurred and nothing made him quit (he would also often throw up afterward (double yuck!)). I ended up rehoming him as we just could not live with it. Tucker is nowhere near as bad, thankfully and I am really hoping we can train him out of it!!!
I do reward him like crazy when he poops and leaves it alone!
Julie and Tucker
