Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? And How to Stop It
Short answer: Dogs eat poop for a mix of instinct, curiosity and habit. Mother dogs clean up after their puppies, puppies explore with their mouths, and bored, stressed or very food-driven dogs can turn it into a routine.
A medical problem can also be behind it, so a vet check comes first. After that, steady management and force-free training usually work far better than any powder or punishment.
This guide explains why dogs eat poop, which causes need a vet, how to tell what kind of poop-eater you have, and a step-by-step plan to stop it.
What Is Coprophagia, and How Common Is It?
Coprophagia is the medical name for eating feces. Veterinary behaviorists at VCA Animal Hospitals explain that coprophagia can have medical or behavioral causes, and sometimes both.
Poop eating is more common than most owners think. In a 2018 survey study from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, about 23% of dogs had been seen eating stools at least once, and 16% did it frequently, meaning they were seen at least six times.
The same study found that poop-eating dogs strongly prefer fresh stool. In its two surveys, 82% and 85% of these dogs went for stools no more than 2 days old. That makes fast clean-up one of your strongest tools.
The habit is manageable. The skills that help most, like coming to you on cue and walking past something tempting, are the everyday manners we build in our manners classes for dogs of any age.
Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? The Main Reasons
Dogs eat poop for instinctive, developmental and emotional reasons, and one dog can have more than one. These are the causes vets and researchers describe most often.
Instinct from mother dogs and wild ancestors
Mother dogs clean up after their newborn puppies, and PetMD lists this nursing instinct as a natural cause. The UC Davis researchers suggest a related instinct: eating fresh stool in the resting area may have protected wild canines from parasite eggs, which typically become infective after about two days.
Puppy exploring and copying
Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and VCA lists exploration and imitation among the behavioral causes. A puppy who sees an adult dog clean up may copy it. Fresh experiences matter at this age, so pair poop prevention with a plan for what your puppy should meet and when.
Greedy eaters and multi-dog homes
Food-driven dogs are more likely to eat poop. In the UC Davis study, 51.1% of poop-eating dogs were described as greedy eaters, compared with 28.2% of dogs that did not eat poop. Homes with two or more dogs also had more poop-eaters.
Boredom, confinement or stress
Boredom or stress can turn poop eating into a habit. The American Kennel Club lists isolation, confinement and anxiety among the triggers, along with attention seeking. Dogs who spent long stretches in a kennel may arrive with the habit, which is one more reason to plan the first three weeks with a rescue dog carefully.
Fear of punishment
A canine scientist at the University of Melbourne explains that dogs scolded for toileting accidents may eat the evidence to avoid future punishment. So scolding often makes the habit worse.
Why Do Dogs Eat Their Own Poop, or Other Animals' Poop?
Dogs usually eat their own poop and other dogs' poop for the same reasons: instinct, habit and freshness. In the UC Davis study of dogs eating dog stool, fresh stool was the clear favorite.
Other animals' poop is its own temptation. VCA lists the stools of other species among the things dogs eat, and cat poop is a common target in homes with a cat. If that is your problem, use our guide to keeping dogs out of the litter box.
Any stool can carry intestinal parasites, so a dog who snacks on poop should have regular fecal tests. Ask your vet how often to test.
Medical Causes to Rule Out With Your Vet
See your veterinarian before you start training, because some cases of poop eating have a medical cause. VCA's behaviorists say these problems must be ruled out before the behavior is treated as purely behavioral. The minimum workup is a fecal test for parasites.
The medical causes VCA lists include:
Intestinal parasites
Digestive enzyme deficiency or poor absorption of food
A poorly digestible diet
Underfeeding or strict calorie restriction
Diabetes, Cushing's disease and thyroid disease
Medicines such as steroids, which can increase appetite
Timing is a clue. PetMD advises a vet visit when an adult dog suddenly starts eating poop. Book one sooner if you also see changes in weight, appetite or stool.
If you are unsure how much to feed, our Canine Nutrition seminar on calories and food labels walks through caloric needs and how to read a label.
Which Kind of Poop-Eater Is Your Dog?
The fastest way to choose a fix is to match what you see to the most likely reason. Use this table as a starting point, and see your vet first if anything about your dog's health has changed.
What you see | Likely reason | Start here |
Adult dog starts suddenly, or has weight, appetite or stool changes | Possible medical cause | Vet visit and fecal test |
Young puppy eats poop in the yard or crate | Exploring and copying | Leash potty trips and fast clean-up |
Gulps meals, lives with other dogs | Greedy eater, more stool around | Clean up right away, feed with puzzle toys |
Eats poop when left alone or crated for long | Boredom or confinement | More enrichment and company |
Eats it quickly when you approach, or after a scolding | Fear of punishment | Stop scolding, reward potty outside |
Raids the cat's litter box | Easy access to cat stool | Block the litter box, teach "leave it" |
Why Punishment Makes Poop Eating Worse
Punishment makes poop eating worse because it teaches your dog to eat faster and hide it. Yelling or grabbing does not tell your dog what to do instead, and it makes potty time feel unsafe.
Rubbing a dog's nose in its stool is a common old tip, and VCA's behaviorists call it an "outmoded, inhumane and useless training technique" that may even encourage the habit. We also avoid spray or shock collars and leash corrections. Our training is force-free, so every step below uses prevention and rewards.
How to Stop a Dog From Eating Poop: A Force-Free Plan
To stop a dog from eating poop, remove the chance to practice the habit and reward a better choice every time. Follow these steps in order for at least two weeks before you judge the results.
Vet check first. Rule out parasites, diet and other medical causes.
Clean up right away. Because dogs prefer fresh stool, pick up within minutes of every potty break and walk the yard daily for anything you missed.
Leash potty trips. Take your dog out on a leash so you can step away from the poop the moment your dog finishes.
Potty then pay. The second your dog finishes, call them to you with a happy voice and pay with a high-value treat. Clean up while your dog eats it.
Teach "leave it". Build the cue in small steps, as shown below, before you need it outside.
Add enrichment. Use puzzle feeders, sniff walks and short training games so your dog has better things to do.
Keep a simple log. Note the time, place and what happened, so you can see patterns and progress.
The "potty then pay" step follows advice from both AKC and VCA: call your dog for a treat right after they eliminate. A fast, happy recall makes this easier, so practice a come-when-called cue your dog loves indoors first. AKC also suggests keeping feeding and potty areas separate.
How to teach "leave it" step by step
"Leave it" means "don't touch that, look at me instead". Teach it in short sessions, and move up a step only when your dog succeeds most of the time.
Hand: hold a treat in a closed fist. When your dog stops nosing your hand, say "yes" and give a different treat from your other hand.
Floor: place a treat on the floor and cover it with your hand or foot. Reward when your dog looks away or at you.
Walk-by: on leash, walk past a treat on the floor. Reward every time your dog keeps walking with you.
Real world: use the cue on walks and in the yard, and pay well every time your dog leaves poop alone.
How to stop a puppy from eating poop
To stop a puppy from eating poop, use the same plan with more supervision: leash potty trips, instant clean-up and a treat after every potty. AKC notes that many puppies grow out of it, but the UC Davis study found it is not just a puppy behavior, so don't wait it out.
Why enrichment helps
Enrichment helps because a busy brain has less need to invent its own entertainment. Food puzzles and nose games use the same urge to sniff and forage, and our trick and enrichment classes for curious dogs turn that energy into skills.
Do Poop-Eating Supplements and Home Remedies Work?
Supplements rarely solve the problem on their own. In the UC Davis study, owners reported that food additives or tablets marketed for coprophagy worked 0 to 2% of the time, across 11 products.
The behavior techniques owners tried on their own scored low too, from 1 to 4%. That is why we combine management, fast clean-up and a rewarded potty routine instead of relying on one trick.
VCA adds that taste deterrents are unlikely to work unless they are both unpleasant and odorless. Ask your vet before adding anything to your dog's food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my dog eat poop all of a sudden?
A sudden start in an adult dog is a reason to see your vet, because parasites, enzyme problems, diabetes, Cushing's disease, thyroid disease or steroid medicines can be behind it. Once your vet rules those out, look at stress or a recent change in routine.
Will my puppy grow out of eating poop?
Many puppies do, according to AKC, but you should not count on it. The UC Davis study found that poop eating is not only a juvenile behavior. Prevent practice now with leash potty trips, fast clean-up and a treat after every potty, so the habit never becomes part of your puppy's routine.
Is my dog missing a vitamin or nutrient if it eats poop?
Usually not. The UC Davis study found no link with the type of diet, and marketed supplements helped only 0 to 2% of owners. Underfeeding, poorly digestible food and enzyme deficiency can play a part, though, so ask your vet to review your dog's diet and weight.
Which dog breeds are most likely to eat poop?
In the UC Davis survey, terriers and hounds were the groups most likely to eat stools, and Shetland Sheepdogs were overrepresented. No Poodles in that sample ate poop. Breed is only part of the picture, though, and any dog can pick up the habit.
Can I let my dog lick me after it eats poop?
Avoid face licks right after your dog eats poop, because stool can carry parasites and germs. Wash your hands after handling your dog's mouth, keep up with fecal tests, and ask your vet about a parasite prevention plan that suits your dog.
When to Get Help, and Your Next Step
Start with a vet visit, then give the force-free plan two steady weeks. If your dog still finds poop faster than you can clean it up, or the habit comes with stress or other problems, a trainer can review your routine with you.
Our trainers in Crystal Lake teach formal obedience cues and household manners in calm, force-free classes. Pick a Level 1 Apprentice class, or call us at (779) 994-4200.
