Canines & Coprophagia: Why Does My Dog Eat Their Poop?

Now this isn’t going to be a pleasant topic, but unfortunately, it is a subject many dog owners must face.

Coprophagia (the less glamorous term is poo-eating) is a relatively common behaviour in our canine companions. There is much you can do to stop your dog from indulging, however, first, we must dive into why dogs eat poop.

Why do dogs eat poo?

There are many reasons why dogs will partake in this delightful activity.

Hunger

Some dogs will munch on their poo, or the faeces of other animals if they are not feeling satisfied enough with their diet.

If your dog suddenly searches for food sources outside, it could be that you aren’t feeding them enough. If you are doing more activities, your dog may need more energy for their adventures.

It is best to increase their dinner slowly, by 10% and see if that improves their behaviour.

Alternatively, it could be that their diet just isn’t keeping them full for very long. A high-meat-content food that uses slow-release carbohydrates can help balance their energy needs better. Browse our natural dog foods.

Boredom or Stress

Poo eating can be a sign of anxiety or boredom.

If your dog is bored, this could indicate a need to make their walks and play more exciting. Why not invest in some exciting interactive toys or try out a different walking route? This will help keep your dog distracted and hopefully avoid them picking up poop.

Watch our video on Making Walks More Fun.

Stress will be more challenging to overcome, firstly it’s important to work out why your dog is feeling more anxious. You may be able to work through these problems alone, however, sometimes you may need some professional help from a vet or behaviourist.

Habit

Puppies can start poop-eating from a very young age, normally due to watching their mother eating their faeces. It is normal for mothers to do this, unfortunately, sometimes pups don’t grow out of the habit.

Medical Reasons

Although it’s not as common, sometimes there is a medical reason why dogs eat their poo.

If the behaviour is very sudden and is accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss or bowel changes it is worth checking in with your vet.

How to Stop Your Dog Eating Poop

There are no quick fixes when it comes to stopping this behaviour. However, with patience and consistency, it can be done!

These are the steps to take:

• Distract your dog - supervise your dog’s outdoor time closely and as soon as they approach a poo recall them.
• Offer Tastier Treats- after recalling your dog back to you, offer them something much nicer than any poo. Shop high-meat dog treats. If your dog is on a diet invest in an exciting toy they only get to play with during their walks.
• Pick up poo- if you spot a poo, get rid of it before your dog has a chance to gobble it up.
• Be Patient! – as with learning anything, it can take dogs time to realise they aren’t supposed to be eating poop. Be patient and positive!

Remember you should never punish your dog for poo eating, or any undesired behaviour. Dogs don’t understand being shouted at. Instead take a deep breath and keep up with training and positive reinforcement.

If you feel you need a helping hand, it is worth investing in a local positive dog behaviourist to support you.

Does Pineapple Stop Coprophagia?

You may have heard that pineapple is the magic elixir to stop all poo eating. Sadly, it isn’t quite as straight forward as that.

It can be effective for some dogs, as all the sweetness from the pineapple is gone once it comes out the other end. Leaving behind a bitter unpleasant tasting poop.

This will certainly be a deterrent for some dogs, however not for all. It is also worth noting that this can only work on your dog’s own poop. If your hound loves to munch down on wildlife or livestock poo, this definitely won’t be effective!

Even if your dog is deterred by pineapple poops, are you really willing to pop a few chunks everyday into their dinner? This will become VERY expensive, so it’s worth only doing this as a temporary measure alongside training.

Want some more dog healthcare advice? Here are our 5 Tips for Supporting Dog Digestion.