Why does my dog eat poo (coprophagia)
Eating poo has a name, coprophagia, and it's far more ordinary than people think. The largest study on the subject, run in 2018 on around 3,000 dogs, found that about 16 % of dogs eat poo regularly. Two profiles stand out: the greedy dog, and multi-dog households, where there is simply more poo to find. No link at all, on the other hand, with what he eats, his age, or how house-trained he is. It's almost always fresh poo, less than two days old. That study offers an explanation: an old reflex inherited from the dog's ancestors, who kept the den clean this way, before the parasite eggs it held had time to become infectious. In short: not filth, not stupidity, and no deficiency to make up for.
In puppies, this behaviour is even more common, and usually a passing phase. He copies his mother, who cleans the nest by swallowing the puppies' faeces during the first weeks, and he explores the world with his mouth. It generally sorts itself out with age, well before he's grown up.
What's ordinary, and what should get your attention
Nothing to worry about
- He goes for another dog's fresh poo, found at the park or out on a walk.
- He's a fairly greedy dog, or there are several dogs at home.
- He's in great shape: good appetite, shiny coat, usual energy.
- He has always done it, and nothing else has changed for him.
Have a word with your vet
- It starts all of a sudden, in a dog who never did it before.
- He eats his own poo, not just other dogs'.
- He's losing weight, he's hungry all the time, his coat turns dull, or his stools change.
- He has had diarrhoea dragging on for several days.
Manage access, rather than punish
Before you start, gather what you need to make the training easy.
0 / 3The right method has two parts: manage access to poo, and make walking away pay better than the poo itself.
Pick up the poo straight away
At home and out on walks, in the garden or along your usual route: no poo on the ground, no temptation. It's the single most useful thing you can do, and it also blocks the parasites' route in.
Walk him on a long line, without pulling it tight
Always keep some slack in it, never tension, and hold the spare coiled in your hand so you can gather it in fast if needed. Keep that extra supervision going in poo-heavy areas (dog park, path edges) for several weeks, long enough for the habit to fade, before giving him his freedom back bit by bit.
Teach him “leave it” in a calm setting
Close a treat inside your fist, hold it in front of his nose and say “leave it”. The moment he stops nosing at it and pulls his muzzle back, even for a second, mark it with a marker word (“yes!”) and give him a treat from your other hand, never the one he was after. Do five to ten repetitions per session, two or three short sessions a day. Once he backs off cleanly as soon as you say “leave it”, nine times out of ten, move from the garden to walks, first far from any poo, then closer and closer.
If he keeps working at your fist
In a greedy dog this is common: he nibbles or paws at your hand to force it open. Stay perfectly still and silent, and only mark with “yes!” the moment he backs off by himself. If he really can't manage it, the treat in your fist is too tempting: use a more ordinary one, or move your hand a little further from his nose, and go back to easier repetitions.
Teach him the swap, “give”
For the day he already has something in his mouth, teach him to swap it calmly, using a toy. Show him a treat that's genuinely better than what he's holding, say “give” and offer the swap with an open hand. When he lets go, mark with “yes!” and hand over the treat. Never chase him and never force his mouth open: the chase turns it into a game he loves, and a hand in his mouth pushes him to swallow faster so he isn't caught.
Spot the moment he has scented a poo
Learn to read the signs before he dives in: his muzzle drops and locks onto one spot, he speeds up straight towards somewhere, or he suddenly pulls on the long line. That's when you say “leave it”, not once his nose is already on it. Offer a game or a treat right away, and praise him in a bright voice, with a treat to follow, as soon as he turns away. A solid recall, trained separately, also helps him come back to you before he gets there.
Keep his head busy
A greedy dog who's bored tries to hoover up everything. More chewing, more scent games and more mental exercise bring the urge down.
The cat, the park, or himself
He dives into the cat's litter tray
- Cat food is richer and fattier: that makes cat poo appetising to a dog.
- Put the litter tray up high or behind a barrier, out of his reach, and clean it often.
- Stay alert: swallowing clumping litter can also block up his gut.
He gulps down poo at the park
- It's other dogs' fresh poo that draws him in: a very common situation on walks.
- Keep the long line slack, say “leave it”, and call him back before he makes a dash for it.
- Don't skip his worming treatments, and ask your vet for the right rhythm: a dog who often comes across other dogs' poo is a higher-risk profile, sometimes right up to monthly treatment.
He eats his own poo
- This is the scenario that deserves the most attention.
- Pick up straight after every outing, to break the habit at the root.
- If it goes on, or if it's new, have your vet check his digestion.
- Hart et al. — The paradox of canine conspecific coprophagy, Veterinary Medicine and Science (2018)
- Guideline GL1: gut worms and worming, ESCCAP (2025)
- Position statement on training methods and punishment, AVSAB (2021)
Going further
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dog eat his poo?
Most of the time, it's ordinary behaviour: a 2018 study of around 3,000 dogs found that about 16 % of dogs do it regularly, mainly on other dogs' fresh poo. It's neither a deficiency nor filth, but rather a greedy dog, a multi-dog household, and an old reflex inherited from his ancestors.
Why does my dog eat his own poo?
Eating his own poo is the case that deserves a bit more attention. If it's new, or if it comes with weight loss, unusual hunger or stools that change, have your vet check his digestion before treating it as a simple training issue.
How do I stop my dog eating poo?
Pick up the poo straight away, keep him on a slack long line in risky areas, and teach him “leave it”, rewarding him for backing off with a marker word (“yes!”). Deterrent products, for their part, almost never get past a few per cent success.
Why does my dog eat cat poo?
Because it's appetising to him: cat food, richer and fattier, flavours the cat's stools. The answer isn't to tell him off but to manage access: put the litter tray up high or behind a barrier, and clean it often. Also stay alert that he doesn't swallow clumping litter.
Is it dangerous for a dog to eat poo?
In itself, it's mostly just grim to watch. The real risk is parasites: swallowing another dog's poo is a way in for worms. Hence the value of picking up quickly, not skipping his worming treatments, and washing your hands. If it appears out of nowhere, though, that does warrant a vet's opinion.
My puppy eats his poo, is that normal?
Yes, it's common and usually a passing phase: the puppy copies his mother, who cleans the nest, and he explores the world with his mouth. It generally sorts itself out with age. Pick up quickly, never punish him after the fact, and have a word with your vet if it persists, starts suddenly, or involves his own stools.
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