Why Is My Puppy Eating Poop?

"...my dog eats poop...how can I stop
dog from eating poop?..."

We're often asked why dogs eat their own poop, so we thought it deserved an explanation here.

There are several methods you can use to help stop your puppy eating poop. Try one, or combine several, of the methods listed below until your puppy stops the anti-social habit of coprophagia.

• Feed your puppy well balanced and nutritious meals.
• Feed him two or three times a day, and at regular times, rather than once a day. This way your puppy is less likely to be hungry and won't be tempted to eat his own dog poop.



• Don't overfeed your dog - his body may not be able to digest it properly.

  When your dog's food isn't properly digested, his poop may smell quite appealing (to him!) as it's likely to smell like his dinner!

• Mixing a tablespoon of crushed pineapple into your puppy's food may help. Pineapple contains an enzyme that helps to break down the food, leaving no undigested meat in his stool.
• Adding bonemeal to your puppy's food will help to make his dog poop dryer and less palatable to him.


• A good quality kibble is more easily digested than tinned or other wet dog food and usually results in poop that is dryer and less appealing to the dog.
• Your local pet shop, or your vet, may sell specially formulated products to help stop your puppy eating poop.

Clean And Tidy

• Always keep your dog's living and playing area clear of faeces, so the opportunity for your puppy eating poop will be removed.
• Don't let your puppy see you clearing up after him otherwise there's a small chance that, as he's watching you, he learns to mimic your behaviour by eating his dog poop in a bid to clean up after himself.

Excercise and Playtime

• Ensure your puppy gets plenty of exercise and training to stimulate both his body and his mind - if he's mentally and physically challenged, he's less likely to become bored and resort to eating dog poop.
• Don't forget to play with your puppy too. Regular playtime will not only help to tire him out and help to stop him becoming bored, it's also good for his physical and mental development.

Obedience Commands - Stop Your Puppy Eating Poop

• Teach your puppy the 'Leave It' command or the 'Off' command. Once learned, either of these commands may be sufficient to stop your puppy eating poop.

Immediate Reward

• As soon as your puppy has pooped, - don't even give him time to sniff it - enthusiastically call his name. Get him to come to you - praise him, and offer him a treat, or let him play with his favourite toy for a few minutes.



• If you give him something more interesting to do, or more rewarding, it will block his mind to any thoughts he may have had about eating his poop.
• It's important that you do this immediately after he's pooped so that he associates the reward with moving away from his toilet.
• If your puppy learns that after relieving himself something good happens, he's less likely to begin munching on his own poop, especially when there's something much more exciting available.
  

  He'll automatically look to you for his reward, and with a bit of luck, you'll no longer have a puppy eating poop!

Rattle Bottle

• If none of the above work for your dog, including the 'Leave' and 'Off' commands, you could try using a rattle bottle to help stop your puppy eating poop.
• Always use a rattle bottle with care, and use it as he's approaching the poop - it's more effective this way. If he's already begun to eat it, the rattle bottle may be ineffective.

Consistency Is The Key!

• Consistency is the key if you're to stop your puppy eating poop.
• Try to be around whenever your dog does his toilet - consistency is important if your puppy is to learn. This may not always be possible if your dog is off the lead, and it may be difficult to stop him eating his own, or other animal's poop, particularly when he's running free - on the beach, in the woods, or in the countryside.
• When your puppy is not on his lead, you could try using a muzzle to prevent him from eating anything undesireable. Once he's broken his coprophagic habit, you can then stop using the muzzle.

Important Note: Dogs eating poop (Coprophagia) is a rather nasty habit.

If your dog is eating poop, we recommend you speak to your vet in order to rule out any underlying medical problem before tackling his anitsocial behaviour.

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