A Problem with Poo

It’s a bit of a stinky situation, and one that we get asked about, more than you’d want to think. Poop eating in dogs, also known as coprophagia, is something that occurs in 64% percent of dogs, though just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s any less gross to observe.

There are multiple reasons why dogs eat faeces, and having an idea about the potential ‘why’ of this behaviour is a great way to start understanding how to manage it - especially if you’ve been avoiding face-licks and love because of your dog's cheeky little habit.

If a dog is lacking something in their diet, like minerals or vitamins, some dogs eat their poop so that they can reprocess the contents and get the most out of it. This is why it’s extremely important to make sure you are feeding your dog quality kibble or ensure you know what is going into their raw diet, so that all those needs are getting met.

Another reason is it could simply be appetising. As much as it’s not pleasant to think about - dogs are animals and sometimes their kind of snacking looks a bit different to ours. Other animals poop, like birds or farm animals, just seem to hold an appeal that we can’t fathom - especially with cat poo!

One thing we don’t think about, is how our response can affect how much our dogs want to consume something. If you have make a big deal when you notice your dog going to eat a morsel, then your dog can think that it truly is something important and delicious for them. It can make them more desperate to quickly consume it when they find it to avoid confrontation and not have it be taken away from them. On top of that, if they see you taking a lot of interest in their poop (because we have to bag it up and remove it), it can increase the interest they have. 
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When you have a dog who has a habit of eating their own poop, a strategy we recommend is bringing the dog away from their toileting site once they are done, and cleaning up without them watching you do it. This can decrease their interest in what you are doing - and with that, decrease their focus on their poo.

Management is the best way to prevent poop eating on walks and around the backyard. Alternatively, you can look at training a really solid ‘leave’ cue, or alternative behaviours like hand targets or side positions so that they have something else to do should you come across any packets of poop on the ground.

If you have major concerns about your dog's poop-eating habits, it never hurts to have a discussion with your vet. Making sure your dog is up to date with all their treatment, and checking to clear up underlying health issues, ensures there isn't anything sinister hiding in the background. But it's also important to remember... sometimes dogs are just being dogs. We may find it a bit gross, but it might be a little highlight in their day! Just avoid the face-licks for a little while if you happen to slip up on management...

Authored by Sarah Endres
Dog Trainer and Behaviour Advisor