dog eating strange things

Question
Hello.  I have a nine or ten year old Terrier mix breed we got from a shelter.  He is about knee height and weighs around 47 pounds.  Several years ago his vet put him on a diet to bring his weight back into control.  He is restricted to two cups of food a day.  He gets fed at dinner time each night.  My problem lies in a couple of areas.  

Since then he has turned into a scavenger.  He did NOT have this behavior prior to the diet.  He now is constantly tearing up things from the trash (my daughter's diapers, feminine hygiene items, tissues) and digging food out of the garbage.  It doesn't help that my oldest daughter's cat seems to be in league with him and she drags stuff off the counter for him to get into.  He's even torn apart my other daughter's book bag to get at something (food related) inside the book bag.  At one time the cat drug a brick of rat poison off the laundry room work table onto the floor and he ate the ENTIRE brick of rat poison.  He took vitamin K for two weeks and had no ill effects.  We thought that would stop the behavior, but it didn't.

My other issue is with him eating from the cat litter box.  Any idea why this is going on and how in heaven's name do I stop it???  I tried putting him on a multi-vitamin thinking he was deficient in something and that was why he was eating cat feces.  It didn't help any.

I am at my wit's end and am not sure what to do.  I am ready, between the two cats getting in the garbage as well and stealing food, and the dog's behavior, to get rid of them all.  I never would but I am so frustrated!!!  Can you give me any advice?

Thank you so much!

Holly

Answer
Your dog isn't getting adequate nutrition; his food may be of a lesser quality.  He is also starving.  Feeding him once a day isn't doing it.  I would reconsider the food you are feeding; go for the highest quality dry kibble you can find.  Two cups a day for a 47 pound dog is not adequate unless the food is highly nutritious and of the best quality.  Even then, he needs to be fed twice a day.  Blood sugar drops precipitously and hunger drives anyone (even a human) to forage.  You clan also supplement his food with carrots and celery.  Quality of life is as important as quantity.  If he begins to gain a little weight, EXERCISE HIM.  Take him out on long walks and bring the kids, it's a wonderful family experience.

Unfortunately, your dog has now learned about the garbage and other places he can find "delicacies" (like your daughter's backpack.)  It's quite difficult for us mothers to convince our children to put their things AWAY.  Make lemonade out of this lemon: if your daughter does NOT put her backpack in her room out of reach of the dog and cats, then she has to walk around with a HOLE in it!  Meanwhile, booby trap the garbage: get four or five soda cans (empty), put five pennies in each, pinch the cans, and GLUE them to a long string of strong paper towel; NOW, fold the paper toweling and sandwich it between two pieces of bread with peanut butter.  Whether the cat instigates this or not, when the dog pulls this wad of towels out of the garbage for the "sandwich" he will get a bunch of LOUD, scary and unexpected extras.  This should keep him from foraging in the garbage.  Of course, putting the garbage where he can't get at it to begin with...or purchasing a metal can with a step on device which he won't be able to open, works too.

regarding the litter box, dogs LOVE cat poop.  In fact, they love it so much that I once heard a well know behaviorist joke that he was offering it as treats when he trained dogs!  You must keep the litter box clean, but this is mandatory anyway in order to keep your cats from developing aberrant litter behavior and for the health of your family in general.  You must also make it impossible for the dog to get into the litter box; you do this by giving the cats two (one for each cat is the rule) CLOSED litter boxes with the access hole faced TO the wall, so the dog cannot get into it.

I understand your frustration; you have a household and children and these three incorrigible animals.  But remember, your children are watching.  Dumping the dog because he's hungry (no thanks to the vet, I'd find another one) and has attempted to help himself is not a good signal to your children, no matter how frustrated you are (and tired of cleaning up after him.)  These animals are part of your family; they are your responsibility.  This is a lifetime commitment and your children will learn a great deal from how you fulfill it.