How to Stop Your Puppy From Eating Poop

Most new owners are delighted by puppy antics, but a puppy that eats poop prompts anything but smiles. It could be any animal's feces, too. From its stool to your cat's litter box deposits to a neighboring horse's or cow's manure, some puppies don't discriminate when it comes to poo they're willing to eat. Although many puppies grow out of this phase at least to some extent, there are steps you can take to discourage and even stop the behavior.

Why Do Puppies Eat Poop?

Dogs often eat their own or another animal’s droppings, no matter what species of animal does it. There's even a technical term for it: coprophagia.

This behavior typically is normal for very young puppies, possibly to colonize the gastrointestinal tract with normal bacteria, and for their mothers to keep the "den" clean. The good news is that most pups outgrow the habit. The bad news is that some dogs hang on to the nasty practice throughout their lives.

There are a variety of reasons why your puppy eats poop:

Entertainment

When you wave your hands, shout with disgust, and chase the puppy all over the yard, that’s great puppy entertainment. Chasing can reward the behavior and encourage your puppy to play poopy-keep-away. Other times, poop eating stems from boredom. If a pup left out in the yard alone has little to occupy its time, it may turn to the one available thing.

Low-Quality or Low-Quantity Diet

Poor quality diets may lead to puppies snacking on their waste. For instance, if the dog's food is not being digested fully, the dog may look to its feces as a supplement because it's nearly the same as when it was eaten. It's also possible that a dog is simply not eating enough and its daily food intake needs to be increased.

Health Conditions

Some health issues may cause coprophagia as well. Diseases in the small intestine or pancreas may cause malabsorption or maldigestion. Also, conditions such as diabetes and thyroid disease often increase a dog's appetite and, if its regular diet isn't filling, it may resort to whatever's available.

Stress

Stress can also lead a dog to eat their feces, especially major stressors like coming to a new home after being adopted.

How to Stop Dogs From Eating Poop

It's best to put a stop to this behavior before it gets out of hand. Parasites are often transmitted through feces, so having a dog that sees it as a treat puts the pup's health at risk. There are several things you can do to put an end to this nauseating habit:

Make It Clear the Behavior Is Unwanted

Puppies may eat waste to get your attention, which means that even yelling may reward their behavior. If you catch your pup in the act, don’t make eye contact or speak. Instead, interrupt the act by shaking a can full of pennies or clapping your hands loudly.

Increase the Level of Activity

For bored pups, increase playtime to a minimum of 20 minutes several times a day or try aerobic exercise twice a day. If you leave your puppy in the yard while you're away, increase the number of toys available. A treat-spiked toy such as a Kong filled with peanut butter offers a tastier, healthier alternative.

Minimize Stress

If you believe stress may be playing a role in your dog's habit, try to offer some relief. This will entail addressing the reason for its anxiety and calming products such as Adaptil may help in the interim while you work on correcting that issue. Speak to your veterinarian for help with diagnosis and treatment.

Keep Your Pup On a Leash

Prevent access by walking your puppy on a leash and leading it away from a pile once the business is done. Offer it rewards for leaving stool alone. Teach the puppy to "come" and sit in front of you after each bowel movement—its own or another dogs’—and offer a fantastic treat while you pick up the waste.

Switch Foods

Some dogs may eat their stool when it hasn’t thoroughly "processed." In these instances, a more digestible food that offers all the nutrients your dog needs may help. Ask your veterinarian for a recommendation. Remember to make a gradual change to the new food as a sudden change could prompt tummy issues.

These Are the Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomachs

Minimize Access to Other Animal Waste

Place the litter box on a table or counter out of the dog's reach. If the cat doesn’t object, a covered litter box might deter the dog while allowing the cat access and privacy. Use a baby gate to keep the dog out of the cat’s domain. Some cats can jump over the standard gates, or you can install it a couple of inches off the floor so your kitty can slink underneath while the jumbo-size pup can’t get through.