Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? Causes of Coprophagia and How to Stop It

Your dog eats its own faeces and you don't know why. Here are the possible causes of coprophagia and the approach that actually works.

Your dog does its business outside – and then eats it. For many owners, this is one of the most baffling and unpleasant habits a dog can have. Yet coprophagia, eating (its own or another animal's) faeces, is far more common than you'd think, and is usually not a sign that something is fundamentally wrong with your dog. In this article, you'll find out where the behaviour can come from, when to take action, and which approach actually works.

Quick answer: why does my dog eat faeces?

Coprophagia usually has one of three types of causes: behavioural (boredom, attention-seeking, learned behaviour), diet-related (a lack of nutrients or enzymes, or too little food), or medical (parasites, a digestive problem, or a hormonal condition). In puppies up to around ten weeks old, it's also often simply curious, exploratory behaviour. In most adult dogs, the cause is behavioural and harmless, but suddenly appearing behaviour, weight loss, or changed stools are reasons to see the vet.

Possible causes: behaviour, diet or health

To tackle coprophagia, it helps to understand which category of causes best fits your dog.

Behavioural causes

• Boredom and too little stimulation: A dog that can't get enough mental or physical exercise is quicker to find its own occupation – including unwanted ones.
• Seeking attention: If you react strongly when your dog eats faeces, it may (unintentionally) interpret this as attention and repeat the behaviour.
• Learned during house-training: A puppy that was once corrected harshly after an accident indoors may learn that faeces are "dangerous" or "something to hide", and so eats them quickly.
• Instinctive behaviour in puppies: A mother dog cleans her puppies' nest by eating their faeces. Puppies themselves often continue this behaviour for a while, up to around ten to twelve weeks, which is normal.
• Stress or anxiety: Dogs that are tense, for example due to changes in the household, can develop this as a coping behaviour.

Diet-related causes

• Low-quality or poorly digestible food: If the food contains few nutrients, the stool can still retain a smell and residue that attracts a dog.
• Too little food: A dog that is structurally underfed may go looking for extra calories.
• Enzyme or vitamin deficiency: Some dogs lack digestive enzymes, meaning nutrients aren't absorbed sufficiently.

Medical causes

• Intestinal parasites such as worms can disrupt nutrient absorption.
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (the pancreas produces too few digestive enzymes).
• Malabsorption disorders or chronic bowel problems.
• Hormonal conditions such as diabetes or Cushing's syndrome, which can increase appetite.

💡 Unsure of the cause, or does the behaviour come with weight loss, a bloated belly, or changed stools? Have your vet rule out a medical cause before relying on behavioural training alone.

Is it dangerous for my dog?

Eating its own, fresh faeces is usually not very risky for a healthy dog that's regularly wormed. It's different when it comes to eating faeces from other animals, such as from a litter tray, from other dogs in the park, or from wildlife: these can contain parasites (such as worm eggs or Giardia) and harmful bacteria that can make your dog ill. So keep worming treatments up to date, and keep your dog away from other animals' faeces as much as possible.

Practical tips to stop coprophagia

• Clean up straight away. The most effective measure: simply don't give your dog the chance. Clear the garden daily and pick up faeces during walks immediately.
• Train a clear "leave it" or "off". Teach your dog to walk away from something on command, and reward this with a tasty treat from your hand – this makes walking away more appealing than eating. You'll find practical training gear in our dog training range.
• Check the quality of the food. A complete, easily digestible food with the right nutrients can reduce the behaviour. Take a look at our dry dog food if you're unsure whether your dog is getting enough.
• Make sure there's enough exercise and mental stimulation. A dog that can let off steam is less likely to get bored. Interactive toys keep your dog occupied in a positive way.
• Never punish after the fact. Getting angry after it's already happened isn't something your dog understands, and it can actually increase tension around faeces.
• Redirect attention. Walk straight on after your dog has done its business, or ask for a different behaviour (such as sit) and reward it.
• Block access to the litter tray if there's also a cat in the house, for example with a cat flap or a closed-off area.
• Have your vet take a look if the behaviour starts suddenly, persists despite the above approach, or comes with other symptoms.

Checklist: tackling coprophagia

• ✅ Garden and walking route cleared up straight away
• ✅ Worming treatment up to date
• ✅ Food quality and quantity checked
• ✅ Enough daily exercise and mental stimulation
• ✅ "Leave it" trained and rewarded
• ✅ Not punished after eating faeces
• ✅ Litter tray (if present) inaccessible to the dog
• ✅ Vet consulted in case of doubt, weight loss or a sudden onset

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for my puppy to do this?

Yes, in puppies up to around ten to twelve weeks old, this is more common and usually resolves on its own. If it continues after that, actively work on it using the tips above.

Do coprophagia sprays or taste deterrents actually help?

Products that make faeces less appealing in taste can help as an addition, but work best combined with cleaning up, training and enough stimulation – as a sole solution they're usually not enough.

When should I take this behaviour to the vet?

See the vet if the behaviour suddenly appears in an adult dog, or if there's weight loss, a changed appetite, diarrhoea or a bloated belly. If the standard approach hasn't helped after a few weeks, a medical check is also a good idea.

Can my dog get ill from eating faeces?

With its own, fresh faeces the risk is limited for a healthy, wormed dog. The risk increases with faeces from other animals, which may contain parasites or bacteria.

Summary and conclusion

A dog that eats faeces is unpleasant for you, but usually no reason to panic. In most cases, it's behaviour that can be tackled by cleaning up immediately, reducing boredom, training positively, and taking a closer look at food quality. If the behaviour persists, changes suddenly, or comes with other symptoms, have a vet take a look to rule out medical causes. With the right approach, coprophagia can be significantly reduced or even stopped altogether in most dogs.

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