Why Do Dogs Eat Their Own Poo? How to Stop It

Few things stop a pet parent in their tracks quite like spotting their beloved furry friend tucking into a fresh pile of poo. If you've ever wondered, "Why do dogs eat their own poo?" and felt a wave of horror (and maybe a little embarrassment), you're not alone. It's one of the most common — if least glamorous — questions dog owners ask.

The good news is that this behaviour usually has a perfectly understandable explanation, and in most cases it's easily managed. In this post, we'll explore why dogs eat poop, the behavioural and medical reasons behind it, when it's worth worrying, and exactly how to stop it — so by the end, you'll know precisely what to do the next time your pooch goes hunting for a snack it really shouldn't have. 

Why do dogs eat poop?

Let's answer the big question first. Dogs eat poo for a whole range of reasons — some of them rooted in ancient instinct, some behavioural, and some medical. The scientific name for this habit is coprophagia (sometimes written as coprophagy), and it's far more common than most pet owners realise. If you've searched "why do dogs eat poop" in a fluster, you're far from the only one.

So if you've caught your dog eating poop and asked yourself "why does my dog eat poop?", rest assured you're in good company. Plenty of pet owners type "why do dogs eat their own poop" into Google in a mild panic, and the answer is rarely as alarming as it feels. Understanding what's driving the behaviour is the first step to gently putting a stop to it.

Understanding Coprophagia

Coprophagia simply means the eating of faeces. It might seem revolting to us, but for our four-legged friends, it's often a normal behaviour with a logical explanation. In fact, research from the University of California-Davis found that around 24% of dogs were seen eating poo at least once, and roughly 16% eat it frequently — that's about 1 in 6 dogs classed as frequent stool eaters.

Whether we call it eating faeces, poo eating, or eating stool, the habit itself is the same — and eating their own poop is only part of the picture. So while not all dogs do it, poo eating is a genuinely common canine behaviour rather than a sign that something is deeply wrong with your pup. That said, it helps to know whether your dog's diet, behaviour, or a health condition is behind it — because that determines how you tackle it. Organisations like the Kennel Club agree it's a widespread, usually manageable habit.

Did you know?

Natural instincts

Some of the reasons your dog eats their own poo go right back to their wolf ancestors. Dogs are descended from wolves and wild dogs, and much of their behaviour is shaped by instinct passed down through generations of these ancestors.

In the wild, wolves and other pack animals would eat faeces to keep the den clean and free of parasites. A soiled nesting area could attract predators or spread disease, so the drive to clean up the den — and helping to hide the evidence — was a smart survival strategy. This instinctive, instinctual behaviour still lingers in our modern-day dogs.

• Keeping the den clean: The urge to clean up after themselves and clean up the den is deeply wired into canine behaviour.
• Scavenging roots: As natural scavengers, dogs evolved to make the most of any available food source, and scavenging behaviour sometimes extends to droppings.
• Mother dogs: Nursing mums, or mother dogs, instinctively eat their puppies' waste to keep the nesting area spotless and protect the litter from predators.

So in many cases, this is a natural behaviour rather than a problem, and it's often perfectly natural behaviour handed down from their ancestors — the instinct to be scavengers runs deep.

Exploratory puppy behaviour

If you have a young pup, take a breath — puppy poop eating is extremely common and usually nothing to fret about. Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and that curiosity naturally leads some to sample a bit of everything, including their own poo.

There are a few reasons puppies eat their poop:

• Copying their mum: Puppies learn by watching and will mimic their mother, who cleans up after the litter. It's easy to see how a puppy might copy this.
• Pure curiosity: A puppy's curiosity means they'll investigate the taste and texture of just about anything on the ground.
• Learning boundaries: Before they're fully weaned and toilet training kicks in, puppies simply don't know any better.

Reassuringly, most puppies grow out of it as they mature. If your dog is still eating their own poop well into adulthood, though, it's worth digging a little deeper — plenty of adult dogs never grow out of the behaviour without a helping hand.

Curious about your puppy's early days? Take a peek at our guide on what to expect during a young puppy's development.

Behavioural causes of coprophagia

Once we've ruled out instinct and puppyhood, we come to behaviour. For many dogs, eating poo is less about the poo itself and more about what's going on in their head. Let's look at the most common behavioural triggers.

Attention-seeking behaviour

Dogs are clever, and they quickly learn that certain actions get a big reaction from us. If your pooch has noticed that eating poop sends you sprinting across the garden waving your arms, they may repeat it as attention-seeking behaviour. Any attention — even the "no, drop it!" kind — can feel like a reward to a dog craving your focus. In this case, seeking attention becomes the whole point.

Stress, anxiety or boredom

Emotional wellbeing plays a huge role, too. A dog that is stressed, anxious, or simply bored may turn to eating poo as an outlet. Boredom and a lack of stimulation are big culprits — a dog left with nothing to do may go looking for entertainment in all the wrong places.

Stress and anxiety can also trigger the behaviour, particularly separation anxiety in dogs who struggle when left alone or home alone for long stretches. Some dogs eat their poo to hide the evidence if they've been punished for accidents during potty training in the past — which is exactly why we never recommend that you scold your pup.

Don't ignore this

Not sure whether it's boredom or something deeper? Learning to read your pup helps — our guide on understanding dog body language is a great place to start.

Medical causes of coprophagia

Sometimes there are genuine medical reasons behind coprophagia, and these are the ones we most want to rule out. If your dog has suddenly started to eat faeces or it's a new behaviour, a medical condition should be top of your list to investigate with your vet. A number of medical conditions can be behind it, and these are the most important medical causes to explore first.

• Parasites and worms: Intestinal parasites such as whipworms, hookworms and roundworms steal nutrients from your dog, leaving them hungry and prone to poop eating. That gnawing hunger can be enough to send them scavenging, and a genuinely hungry dog is far more likely to go looking for a snack.
• Malabsorption and enzyme deficiencies: Conditions like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) cause digestive enzyme deficiencies, leading to malabsorption of nutrients and undigested food in the stool that smells appealing to your dog.
• Diseases that increase appetite: Diabetes, Cushing's disease, and thyroid issues can all drive an increased appetite. When a health issue like diabetes or Cushing's disease takes hold, that runaway appetite often pushes a dog towards faeces. Certain medications, such as steroids, also increases their appetite.
• Digestive problems: General digestive issues, gastrointestinal problems, gastrointestinal disease and even gastroenteritis can leave undigested matter in the droppings.

A healthy gut microbiome matters too. Bacterial imbalances — too much harmful bacteria and not enough good bacteria — can affect digestion. Watch for other symptoms alongside the habit, such as weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea (or diarrhea), lethargy, or a decreased appetite, and mention these to your veterinarian. Viruses like parvovirus and other intestinal parasites can also disrupt the gut bacteria and beneficial bacteria that keep everything running smoothly.

Nutritional deficiencies and your dog's diet

One of the most talked-about medical reasons is diet. If a dog is on an imbalanced diet or inappropriate diet, a nutritional deficiency may drive them to seek out missing nutrients wherever they can find them — including in faeces. Left unchecked, these nutritional deficiencies can keep the habit going.

A nutritional deficiency or nutrient deficiency — for example a shortage of certain vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, or not enough protein — can leave a dog craving essential nutrients. A lack of nutrients of this kind is exactly why feeding a well-balanced diet and good-quality dog food is so important, and why your dog's diet is always worth reviewing. Occasionally, eating non-food items points to a condition called pica, which your vet can help investigate.

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Dangers of dogs eating poop

We know it's grim, but is it actually harmful? For the most part, when a dog eats poop of the fresh, own variety the risk is fairly low — but there are real dangers worth knowing about, especially when your dog is eating other animals' waste.

Health risks

The biggest concern is the transfer of parasites and disease. Eating faeces from other dogs, wildlife or livestock can expose your pup to worms, harmful bacteria and viruses like parvovirus. Here's what to keep in mind:

Because of these health risks, it's always wise to clean up after your dog and cut off access to the poo of other animals wherever possible.

How to stop dogs from eating poop

Now for the part you've been waiting for: how to stop your dog eating poo. The good news is that with a little patience and consistency, most dogs can be gently steered away from the habit. Here's how to stop it, step by step.

Dietary adjustments

Start with the bowl. Feeding a nutrient-rich diet and quality dog food ensures your dog gets all their essential nutrients, reducing any deficiency-driven urge to eat faeces. Ask your vet about enzyme supplements, vitamin supplements, or a stool eating deterrent — these home remedies and supplements can make the droppings far less appetising. Always run any dietary change or supplements past your veterinarian first.

Training techniques

Good dog training works wonders here. Use positive reinforcement rather than telling off — teaching a solid "leave it" command gives you a reliable way to redirect your pup. Pair the leave it command with a high value treat and a generous reward so your dog learns that walking away pays off far better than a mucky snack. A little distraction goes a long way, so distract your dog with a favourite toy or game the moment they show interest.

Tips to train your dog to stop eating poop

Here's a simple, gentle routine to follow:

1. Clean up poo immediately

   The simplest fix of all. Clean up after your dog straight away, pick it up before they can, and keep your garden tidy so there's nothing to find.

2. Supervise and limit access

   Keep your dog on the lead in poo-prone spots, supervise closely, and limit access to areas where other animals go. In severe cases, a vet may suggest a basket muzzle for walks.

3. Teach "leave it" with rewards

   Practise the leave it command daily using a high value treat. Reward every success — positive reinforcement builds the habit you want. A quick toy or game to distract your pup works brilliantly, too.

4. Beat boredom and hunger

   Provide plenty of exercise, mental stimulation and physical stimulation. Interactive toys and puzzle toys keep a bored pup busy and reduce the temptation, and making sure your furry friend isn't left feeling hungry between meals helps too.

5. Never punish or scold

   Whatever you do, don't punish. A dog that's been punished or scolded may simply eat faster to hide the evidence next time. Punishment makes coprophagia worse, not better — so don't punish your pup, and remember that no amount of punishment beats a calm redirect.

Need help tackling boredom and mischief? Our puppy training guide and tips on how often to walk your dog are full of ideas.

Why does my dog eat cat poo?

Ah, the litter tray raider. Many dog owners find their pup is far more interested in cat poop than their own. Why does my dog eat cat poo? Because cat poo is high in protein and undigested matter left behind by your cat's diet, which makes it smell irresistible to a dog. That rich smell and taste is simply too tempting for many greedy eaters, especially a pup driven by hunger.

To stop it, move the litter box out of reach, use a covered litter tray, or set up a baby gate. Cleaning the litter box frequently helps too, as dogs prefer fresh faeces. The same goes for droppings from other animals on walks — think horse dung, cows in a field, or wildlife — all of which can appeal to a scavenging pup.

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Is it dangerous for my dog to eat poo?

To recap the earlier section: eating their own fresh poo is usually low risk, but eating the poo of other animals can expose your dog to parasites, harmful bacteria and disease. If your dog is otherwise happy, healthy and up to date on worming, the occasional nibble of their own poo is rarely a medical emergency — but it's still a habit worth breaking for hygiene's sake.

If the poop eating comes with vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss or lethargy, or if it's a new behaviour that seems out of character, contact your vet promptly to rule out an underlying medical cause.

Do all dogs eat poo?

No — not all dogs eat poo. As we saw, roughly 24% of dogs have been caught doing it and around 16% eat it frequently, so it's common but far from universal. Some dogs never touch the stuff, while others are dedicated stool eaters. If your dog isn't interested in poo eating, count yourself lucky — and if they are, remember that with the right approach, it's a very manageable habit.

Quick questions

Prompt clear-up is the single most effective habit here, because the less time it sits there the less opportunity there is. A roll of heavy duty dog poo bags by the back door turns it into a five-second job.

Remember, a happy, well-exercised and well-fed dog is far less likely to go looking for poo to eat. With a little patience, the right diet and consistent training, you can gently break the habit for good. And if it persists or seems out of character, don't hesitate to consult your vet — better safe than sorry! For more on the loo-related mysteries of dog life, have a read of why dogs kick after they poop and why your dog might be pooping in the house.

Sources & further reading

• Tuff Pets: Your Puppy Training Guide
• Tuff Pets: Feeding at Different Life Stages
• Tuff Pets: How Often Should My Dog Poop?