Why does my dog eat their own poop?

Common causes include: nutritional or parasitic deficiency (the dog seeks enzymes or nutrients), hunger (ration too small or meals too far apart), anxiety or stress, learned behaviour in puppies (imitating the mother), boredom, or simply because they find the smell appealing. Rule out medical causes with the vet before tackling the behavioural side.

Is it dangerous if my dog eats poop?

Eating their own poop carries less risk than eating other animals’ faeces. The main risk is parasites and pathogens from other dogs, foxes or wildlife. If your dog eats poop regularly, make sure their worming schedule is fully up to date.

How do I stop my dog eating poop?

The most effective approach is preventing access: pick up immediately on walks, clean the garden often. Telling them off after the fact does not work. Teach a strong "leave it" cue and reward generously every time they walk away from poop voluntarily.

My dog eats poop (coprophagia): why it happens and how to stop it

What is coprophagia?

Coprophagia is the eating of faeces — the dog’s own (autocoprophagia), other dogs’, or other species’ (cats, rabbits, horses, foxes). It looks revolting to us, but it has specific, addressable causes.

Medical causes — rule these out first

Intestinal parasites: they interfere with nutrient absorption and can alter eating behaviour. Make sure worming is current.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI): the pancreas does not produce enough digestive enzymes; the dog malabsorbs and tries to compensate.
Enzyme or nutrient deficiency: more common on poor-quality diets.
Underfeeding: the dog eats poop because it is hungry.
Malabsorption syndromes: undigested faeces are more "attractive".

Behavioural causes

Maternal imitation: bitches stimulate puppies to defecate and clean up by eating the faeces — some puppies imitate the behaviour.
Curiosity: especially in puppies under 9 months.
Anxiety or stress: in severely anxious dogs, coprophagia can become a self-soothing behaviour.
Boredom: lack of physical and mental stimulation.
Inappropriate punishment for indoor toileting: the dog may try to "hide the evidence" by eating it.

Which animals’ poo attracts dogs most?

Dogs are particularly drawn to cat poo (very high in protein), rabbit droppings (cecotropes are nutrient-rich), and horse and cow manure. Other dogs’ faeces on a wet diet are also especially attractive.

How to fix it

1. Eliminate access (the single most effective step)

Pick up immediately on walks.
Clean the garden several times a day if your dog has free access.
If there is a cat in the home, put the litter tray out of dog reach or use a covered tray with a small entrance.

2. Teach a solid "leave it"

Redirection beats punishment. Train "leave it" in calm contexts first, then use it as your dog approaches faeces. Reward generously when they turn away.

3. Increase stimulation

If boredom is the driver, more exercise and environmental enrichment (puzzle feeders, longer sniffing walks, short training sessions) reduce the behaviour.

4. Food additives

Products containing enzymes or "coprophagia deterrents" can be added to the food to make the resulting faeces less appealing. Evidence is moderate, but they can be a useful adjunct.

5. What does NOT work

Telling the dog off after the fact — they cannot connect the punishment with the act and you simply create anxiety.
Rubbing their nose in it — cruel and counterproductive.
Hoping they will "grow out of it" — in adults this rarely happens without active intervention.

When to see the vet

If the behaviour has started suddenly (not present before) or if there are other digestive signs (diarrhoea, weight loss, bloated abdomen), the cause may be medical. The vet can run faecal and blood tests to rule out parasites, EPI or other issues.

How CanAI helps

Log diet changes, worming and any episodes in CanAI’s health tracker. The AI chat can help you tell behavioural from medical causes and draft a step-by-step plan.