rabbit poop

[Lynne A]

We have a lovely fenced backyard that Nutmeg has been enjoying for the two months we've had her. It's been great to conveniently let her out to go to the bathroom and let her zoom around the yard and play fetch without worrying about her running away. Up until now, the worst thing she does out there is chew on a stick or a bit of mulch. But all of a sudden we are finding rabbit poop all over the yard, and she is obsessed with eating it! She came to us from the breeder with coccidia (which is long since treated and gone), so I'm paranoid about her getting a parasite again. Are my only alternatives to leash her or follow her every move around the yard? My husband planted our garden a few weeks ago, so I suspect that there's something in there that the rabbits are attracted to, since we didn't seem to have the poop out there until recently. Is there anything we could spray or plant that would repel them from coming into the yard? 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

oh dear- no advice, just sympathy!  just wondering what could make rabbit turds so tasty!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Sigh... I wonder about that too.  Luna loves them.  She REALLY likes eating clumps of dry grass (the ones left over when people mow their lawn) and I'm guessing rabbit poop has a fair amount of undigested plant material in there too so that's what attracts her.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Sounds like you may have to take her out for walks or on-leash only in the back yard :/  

Unfortunately pretty much anything (that I can think of) that you could have there to deter the rabbits would also possibly be hazardous for your pup.  

I know this sounds silly... but maybe a plastic owl on the fence?  They do eat bunnies after all...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unfortunately, the only way to prevent her from eating rabbit poop (or anything else outdoors) is to supervise her, and it may require a leash or a long lead until her "leave it" command is solid. You can still play fetch and let her zoom around the yard; she can't eat anything when she's running, or when she has a ball in her mouth, and you are right there to stop her if she gets distracted by rabbit poop.

I have not found anything that is effective for repelling rabbits and also safe enough to be used around a dog. But even if you could prevent the rabbits from coming into the yard, there are still too many things outdoors that can harm a puppy if she eats or drinks them. Some plants are toxic. Mushrooms spring up in the grass overnight. Even mulch can cause problems. And drinking standing water is the number one way dogs get giardia. 

So I would not let her out there alone for now. Supervise her, use a long line if necessary so you can correct her without having to follow her closely, and also work with her on the commands "drop it" and "leave it". At least if you have to be outside with her every time she goes out, it's a good time of year for it. :-)

Your DH's garden may not be the reason you suddenly have rabbit poop in the yard; I have no garden in my backyard, and my yard is suddenly filled with rabbit poop, too. It's just that time of year. :-) 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We have had the rabbit problem.  So far, what we have done this year is to lower the gates on the fence and put ugly sticks at the crack openings.

I can post a picture if you wish.  What type of fence do you have?  Can you reinforce anywhere? i.e. place extra boards along the bottom and the openings so the rabbits do not have an entry way

Hang on, I'll go out an get some photos

[Lynne A]

We have a split rail fence, but there is mesh screening that pretty much seals up all the spaces. I suspect the rabbits get in through the space between the gate/door and adjacent post, because there is a bit of space there (but not enough for Nutmeg to get through!). I suppose we could try to cover that space in some way -- maybe staple some additional screening to the posts to close it up.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Lynne  I have the photos. Give me a few minutes to process and post.

My take on this is that a leash is not an option.  We live in our yard all Summer. It is a stay-cation.  We want free roam for our dog, which is why we put a fence in, in the first place. We want to play ball  and RUN etc  :)  

Be right back with photos

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Joanne, I also put in a fence for those same reasons. But I have an adult dog who does not dig, does not ever eat anything other than his own food, does not drink water from anything other than his own bowl, and who comes in when I call him, immediately, every time. And even so, he is rarely ever in the yard alone.

When I talk about using a long line, I'm talking about it being a temporary thing, and for more than just rabbit poop. I don't think it is ever a good idea with a young puppy to "just let them out." I think someone needs to be supervising them for many reasons. Obviously, you need to know what they are getting into. How many times has someone posted about a puppy vomiting or having some other digestive issue, and the person mentions that they think the dog might have eaten fillintheblank in the yard. I want to know what the dog ate.

It's not even just what they might get into. I think it's the an opportunity to monitor their health and digestion by knowing exactly when they pee, when they poop, and to pick it up immediately. Certainly, it's a must for effective housebreaking. It's an opportunity to do a lot of training, especially on the "come" command, as well as the "leave it" and "drop it". It's an opportunity to stop a digging habit from ever starting. There are so many reasons why it's important to be out there with them at all times when they are young. It's not just the leash or line, it's the supervision issue, too. A leash might not be necessary,"No" may be good enough for many puppies, but you have to be out there to say it, lol. 

JD can also run just fine with a 30 ft line attached to his collar. We use this to be able to play ball in a big soccer field that is not fully fenced. The line doesn't impede his movement at all. 

[Lynne A]

Hi Karen - I just wanted to clarify that we do not leave Nutmeg unattended out in the yard, but she seems to be seeking out the rabbit poop as soon as she gets out there, and it's hard to get to her in time. We have been working on leave it and drop it, but we just started puppy K two weeks ago. We also have a long line (which we bought when Nutmeg started going into the ivy bordering our yard -- we ended up getting the ivy torn out because I couldn't handle her going in there!), but she usually just lies down in the grass when she is tethered to it. I think for now we will try to cover up the space in the gate opening and just follow her closely around the yard and/or try to keep her occupied with a ball when we are out there. My kids, unfortunately, are no help in keeping her from the rabbit poop (they are 5 and 7), other than yelling "Nutmeg's eating rabbit poop!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks for the clarification, Lynne. The supervision is the main thing. :-) 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Karen, I agree with you. You know my dog is NOT outside alone, ever, he is not food motivated but once he was fascinated by rabbit poo but knows the command 'leave it,  he comes when he is called, etc.  Basically, an older reliable good boy, just like JD.

He is always with one of us. I really didn't read what you wrote, my comments were for critters coming into the yard, full of disease. I am having  was having a horrible problem with this issue because I have an abandon home next door and a acres and acres of wooded land throughout the neighborhood.  I just don't want things in my yard, trapped, that my dog will chase out or corner, then attacked.

So, my answer was to have NO CRITTERS! NONE!   I want to go out into my yard, play with my dog, drink my coffee, Critter and Disease Free.

A young puppy, just going potty, I agree. But, in the summer, we want to spend hours out there.  Key word is WE. And WE do.  Now, rabbit, fox, feral cats, groundhogs, skunks, coyote FREE.  My answer was a solution to her fencing problem and you know, it was not an 'OKAY' to leave a dog out, alone, in the yard  :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

:-)

I do know.