Its one question all nearly all dog owners have had because to ponder…just why do dogs eat poop? It is really not pleasant…more than a little gross and even dangerous. But rest assured if your dog is a poop eater, he’s not the only one! It is actually not uncommon, though it does worry many dog owners. Its clinical name is coprophagia and it can signify more deep rooted problems (dietary or anxiety)

There can be many reasons why do dogs eat poop. They might just be hungry or even be trying to maintain a clean living area. If they are not being fed or if they are being kept in dirty conditions then trying to rectify this they are left with no other choice than to eat poop.

There might be a medical reason why do dogs eat poop too. For instance dogs can host parasites such as worms etc that limit the nutritional value of their food…so then they do not get enough of what they need from their food…so their body tells them to seek it elsewhere – yes even in poop.

Another cause could be a dog mirroring another dog’s behavior. If they have seen another dog eat poo…or even if they have witnessed you cleaning up their feces they could be copying this behavior. It could even be caused by anxiety.

The key fact to keep hold of is that whatever the reason behind the poop eating– it can be addressed and often without too much trouble.

How To Stop Dogs Eating Poop

If your dog likes eating poo, then the first step is to eliminate any health issues. This is particularly relevant if the poop eating is a new behavior that has suddenly presented itself. Work together with your vet to get to the bottom of this behavior and treat it ASAP.

Once you (and your vet) have ruled out any health issues – if there is no other obvious reason why your dog is still eating poop then you need to determine what else might be the reason they are eating it.

First job is to keep your garden poop free! Clear away the poop from your garden everyday. Check all the nearby pavements and always pick up any poop that your dog leaves (you and all responsible dog owners should already be doing this). Buy removing the poop you than remove the problem.

Modifying the Behaviour

The other answer is to take further steps to prevent dogs eating poop. You can make the poop less appealing (I know…it shouldn’t be appealing in the first place but dogs can be gross sometimes) Adding peeper or something bitter will deter dogs from eating poop. You could also try deterring you dog by scolding him when he eats poop or squirting him with water.

The only surefire way to stop dogs from eating poop altogether is to remove the cause i.e. Remove the poop but should you let your dog off lead a lot you may want to look at taking alternative measures. Above all remain consistent, keep a close eye on them and oh, and I wouldn’t have mine anywhere near my face!