Weimaraner has discovered the cat box

[IcarusSomnio]

I got a kitten, and placed the box in a hard-to-reach corner thats still cat accessible. It has heavy boxes in the front, a wall in the back and one side, then a huge chest of drawers on the other side (cat goes under that to reach box).
Well, my four year old Weimaraner continues to push, shove, and force his way back there to eat out of the box. It's driving me nuts, and it's HIGHLY unhealthy. Not just because of the litter, but because this kitten has a heavy worm load I'm battling. Then he eats the poop the second I'm out of the room!

I've tried jumping out at him, shake cans, scolding, and kenneling. He still eats it. He has an automatic feeder FILLED with food (did I mention he constantly eats the cat food too?), he gets plenty of exercise, he's wormed, UTD on shots and Frontline...I'm at an utter loss here.

What was honestly the last straw was when I was eating breakfast and he came in and vomited what he just ate onto the carpet. I've been trying and trying with him. My Danex girl tried it ONCE, after ONE scolding she didn't try it again.

He's not the brightest cookie in the box, usually he's to 'OMG I LOVE YOU HOW CAN I PLEASE YOU LOVELOVEOMGPLEASEOMGLOVE' to really to much with him. He just can't concentrate past the basic 'sit, lay down, stay, go in your kennel' type commands. He is a loving dog, plays with Hazel well, and he does has potential as a good tracking dog (which is what I'm working with him on currently) he just has issues with focusing. And not eating poop.


Any ideas? He's in his kennel again after the latest eat-and-puke episode. I want him to have free roaming privileges of the house, but at the same time I can't follow him around constantly or always make him heel/lay down/sit.

 

[danischi24]

I would put it in a place that he CAN'T get to. He's a dog, not a bear so there are things too heavy for him to move aside.

 

[Mamaperreca]

I agree, set the box up high. Like on a shelf, on on your washing machine, etc.. The cat can easily jump up to it and it is out of the dogs reach. We had the same problem, and out of reach was the only solution.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

So many people do not realize how persistent dogs can be to get at something that they KNOW will bring them a reward. You have to put the cat box where he can't get to it, period. Put up a baby gate, put it up on the dryer, or get one with a hood that he can't get into.

Each time a dog performs a behavior and gets a reward, he is more likely to do it again. We use this to help us train dogs. Unfortunately, they can also use this to train THEMSELVES, that countersurfing, garbage can diving, etc, is very rewarding.

THIS is why constant and complete supervision of puppies who are learning to live in the house is SO important, and why keeping things put away and out of their reach is as well. Once they find a jackpot, they will NEVER forget, and will always be checking for it.

SO....

FORGET about trying to train him to leave it alone. Not happening.

Put the cat box in something like Fort Knox, where the dog can NOT get to it.

 

[burquechick]

Cat poop isn't really bad for dogs. It's very high in protein. Which isn't to say, I don't find it disagreeable either. It can get a bit nasty when they dump over the litter box and spread it out all over the floor. And you kind of wonder what the attached bits of litter does to their digestive systems. I have a cat door now, so all the cat poo eating is done outside. But I keep my cat food in a bedroom with a child gate in the door. That's the only thing I've found to keep my dog out of the cat food. I got a cheap bamboo child gate from Babies R Us. It works great. I just lock it into the door frame (I can still close the door) about 5 inches off the ground (one of my cats is lame). That way the cats can squeeze underneath. The only downside is that I have to step over it to get into my bedroom.

 

[burquechick]

Oh yeah, when I did have it inside, I used a cat box with a lid and put a chair in front of the opening.

 

[gritsar]

We put the cat litter box in the bathroom for this very reason. The dogs are forbidden to step one paw over the bathroom door threshold and they know it.

 

[LyonFuzz]

Put up a baby gate elevated just a bit above the floor for kitty to get under...good luck!

 

[EweSheep]

Baby gates will NOT work with some persisent dogs. I've got collies that would clear the fence in no time or pushed it out of wrack that it would make indentations on the door jams. A door with cat door would work well unless you have a dog that is small enough to get thru that cat door.

 

[IcarusSomnio]

I'd put it up high...but this is still a tiny cat! He has problems just climbing up onto the regular computer chairs still

I just emptied out a solid hunker of a cage...I'm thinking of putting that in front of the box, PLUS hefty cardboard boxes filled with electronic stuff or books (I have books, books, and more books...and books.)


I SHALL PREVAIL!
I'm worried that the sand would make him constipated. I have him a raw egg treat today and he has constant access to water, of course, so I'm hoping it'll flush through his system.