Some dogs have a condition known as coprophagy, or eating poop. While this is very disgusting to humans, some dogs seem to think this is the normal way of taking care of business. The trick for the owner is to try and figure out why your four legged friend is adding this most interesting treat to his or her diet.

Why Do Dogs Eat Dog or Cat Poop and What You Can Do About It.

Let’s explore the reason why dogs may eat their poop.  While it is common knowledge that dogs do at times eat poop, the reasons for this behavior is not always well understood.

Nutritional imbalance

One of the easiest issues to fix is your dog may simply be hungry.  Are you feeding him a well balanced dog food? Not all dog foods contain all the nutrients a dog needs. There are really cheap dog foods, and really expensive dog foods, but the real issue is finding a food that meets the food requirement of your particular dog. Generally speaking, a dog food that is mid range in price will provide all the nutrients that your dog needs.

You may have the right dog food, but the wrong feeding schedule for your dog. Leaving food out for your dog all the time is usually a very bad plan. But if you have a tiny dog, or one that is very active, you may want to feed them twice a day. For instance, if your dog should get two cups of food per day, give them 1 cup in the morning and then 1 in the evening. Try to establish a feeding routine that the dog gets used to, so they know food will be coming.

Your dog food and feeding schedule may be perfect, but your dog may still be hungry. This could be an indication they have intestinal parasites or worms.  If you suspect this is the problem, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Most veterinarians will request a stool sample to be brought in with the dog, when they go in for their yearly check.

Is your dog a puppy?

Sometimes puppies eat poop simply because it is there and they haven’t tried it yet. DO NOT FREAK OUT. You do not want this to become your puppy’s newest game. You are hollering and dancing around as you are grossed out about the puppy eating his poop, and the puppy is all excited about this new game. He eats poop, you dance and provide entertainment that seems to be related to his new found skill. If it is a one time occurrence, the puppy was simply being a puppy and giving it a try.

Is your dog a new mother?

If your dog is a new mother and eating the babies’ feces, she is simply following nature, and trying to hide any trace of the babies from predators. She does not want any animal to be able to smell the babies and then find them.  This is not an issue to worry about. Just be grateful that humans invented diapers!

Boredom + Stress

Those were the easy issues. Now we are going to move into the more complex ones. Sometimes the poop eating happens because your dog is bored or stressed out. If you have a high-strung dog that is then put in a stressful situation, he may eat poop. Your task is to then find ways to de-stress the situation or let your dog release tension in a more acceptable way. Dogs love to get out and move! A nice brisk walk, a little game of Frisbee, what ever you two like to do together, may help the situation. Try to be in tune with your buddy, they can’t tell you in English when something is wrong, but they will tell you in what they are eating!

A natural reaction to your dog eating poop is an OVER REACTION. This may actually cause the problem to increase. You need to stand back for a minute from the problem and analyze all the components.  If you are busy and can’t give your dog much attention, he will take what ever attention that you can give, even if it is negative. Try giving less attention to the bad behavior and more attention to good behavior. Take a couple of different moments from your day to play with and pet the dog. An additional benefit from petting your dog is, it will lower your blood pressure and it just feels good!

Dogs will sometimes eat their poop if they are harshly punished after an accident. They can “eat the evidence,” as it were. Again, over reaction will make the problem worse. Dogs love to be part of the pack. When you own a dog, you are a de-facto member of the pack. Usually, a stern “No” and separation from the human part of the pack for a bit is enough discipline.

You may be the reason and don’t even know about it.

Unfortunately just the act of you picking up the poop to comply with “pooper-scooper” laws may be enough to make your dog become interested in his poop. You pick it up, package it nicely and then have to dispose of it. So he is going to copy you and pick it up before you do. Not having opposable thumbs leaves your pawed buddy to dispose of the poop another way. You have to be impressed by his willingness to help in this process! Make sure you do not make a fuss about picking up the poop, this is not game time. Pick up the poop, dispose of it without fuss, and then reward him for letting you handle the prize. A stern “no” will let him know that you are not happy with his behavior, if he tries to get to the poop before you do. Be sure, though, to reward good behavior. That really makes an impression on the dog.

Adopted behavior

Eating poop can also be a learned behavior. Your dog watches another dog eat poop and his little doggy brain thinks “oh, that is what you do with that stuff”. Again, your job is to let him know that is not how things are done in the pack he lives in. Give your pet a stern “no” when the behavior is bad, and then be sure to reward him for good behavior. Your dog really wants to please you and get abide by the rules of his pack.

Dominant dogs

These last two reasons are the hardest to overcome, but not impossible.  Some dogs eat the poop of more dominant dogs that are in their”territory”. If you have had your dog for awhile, you probably know if you have an “alpha” dog. These are the dogs that want to be the leader and in fact may have challenged you to be the alpha. Some dogs are just very territorial.  Start with the least difficult solution possible, which again is the stern “no” and then reward for good behavior. Divert his attention to something else, such as a game or a treat.

Sometimes, you may need to revert to more stringent forms of making the poop less attractive. You can spray the poop with a solution of vinegar water. This means you have to take a squirt bottle with you on your walks. Some folks have used pepper sauce on the poop, which makes it less desirable to eat, and masks the smell that has your dog’s attention.  If your dog is just content to urinate on the offending poop, that is acceptable behavior.

Sometimes it is the matter of a taste

The last problem can be very difficult to take care of.  Some dogs just like the taste of their own poop.  If you have looked at all the other issues presented here, and have worked through them, you may need to make your dog’s poop taste bad to him. I know you are thinking “and how could I possibly make it less appealing?”  Try adding a couple of teaspoons of canned pumpkin to his dog food. You can also add a bit of fresh pineapple or spinach his menu. Dogs like the taste of these foods on the way in, but hate them on the way out. Just remember that initially as you are adding more fiber to the diet, you may have more poops to deal with initially.

One last easy resolution to this problem is to remove the temptation. If your dog has a back yard to run in, scoop the poop as often as possible.  So, take heart!  It is a problem that can be fixed.

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