Shitzu eating her and cat pooh

Question
I bought my Mum a Puppy now age approx 4 1/2 months. She is training well but is eating her "load" as she does it also load from any cats that stray into the garden. My mother is disgusted, has phoned various vets, behavior experts, has followed their advice, picked up immediately, changed food, put something in food etc but Mother has now decided pup has a psychological problem and is talking about having her put down.  I'm very upset and unfortunately cannot take this pup in as I have a rescue boxer who was used as bait for dog fighting and doesn't exactly trust/like other dogs plus husband would have a fit. Is there anything at all you can suggest as she has a lovely temperament, dog that is.  She also takes off running in circles around garden which again mother is using as another reason to say she has mental problems - my pups always took off!!!  I don't know what to do? It is certainly not the first dog my mother had although it is the first time she has had a pup since my Dad passed on.  Please help? Have you come across this before - thanks for reading

Answer
Well I don't know how me saying this is not unusual behavior will change your Mom's mind if she has listened to the Vets and still feels this way.

The dog has no psychological problem except what your Mom is causing. That's right. She has exacerbated the problem herself. She has probably scolded the dog loudly when she caught her eating the cat stool or her own. This causes the puppy to fear being caught so they will eat more of it since they equate the scolding with defecation, not the act of eating it.

She has probably put forbid in her food to make her stop eating her own stool but it is hard to get them to stop eating the cats. We have seen dozens of puppies with this habit. All of them stopped it when the owner stopped yelling at them and put them on a good quality food like Science Diet. The desire to eat the stool just vanished after eating a food that fulfilled their energy and nutrient needs.

Most dogs eat stool because they are lacking in something nutritionally but some eat it (the cat stool anyway) cause it tastes like cat food!! So your Mom has to be diligent in cleaning up the cat's stool BUT not do it in front of the dog.

She mustn't pick up the dog stool in front of her either- or where she can see her. That way the dog stops associating the idea that to avoid being in trouble, she must go to the bathroom then eat it so she isn't yelled at.
I know it sounds crazy but when our clients tried this it worked. They had to do it for a few months but it did work.

If your Mom is so determined to get rid of the dog then put her up for adoption through a Shih Tzu rescue instead. They will find someone that really wants a dog. I don't think your Mom wants this puppy deep inside or she would have more patience for her. Some times we think we want something like this after losing a loved one but we don't because it still doesn't fill the hole inside of us.

I know you meant well and it was kind of you to get your Mom this dog but it doesn't appear that it will work out if she is already talking death for this little doll. I am sure she is a sweet puppy.

Your Mom might be better off with a small, adult dog that needs a second chance at love from the shelter. My suggestion is that you adopt out the puppy to a Shih Tzu rescue and then take your Mom to a local humane society or shelter and give an older dog a chance at being loved.