Reasons My Dog Is Eating Poop

There are a number of reasons why a dog might eat poop. Some of these are perfectly normal, while others may be a cause for concern. Whether or not it’s normal also depends on whose poop your dog is eating. It may be common for a dog to eat the poop of other animals but it’s not terribly common for dogs to eat other dogs’ or their own poop.

If you want to stop your dog from eating poop, you’ll first need to learn why.

Reason #1

Your Dog Is Nursing

A dog that has just given birth and is currently nursing may eat the puppies’ poop. This is an instinct done to keep the den clean. This is perfectly normal and the behavior will stop on its own once your dog is no longer nursing.

Reason #2

Your Dog Thinks Poop Tastes Good

A dog may eat the poop of another species of another animal simply because it thinks it tastes good. This might be because the poop contains nutrients that could be beneficial to your dog's diet, which is what creates the instinct to eat the poop. It can be normal for a dog to eat another animal’s poop. However, it also could contain bacteria that could be harmful to your dog.

Reason #3

Your Dog Is Ill

A dog might eat their own or another dog’s poop if they’re suffering from a gastrointestinal illness. If you see your dog eating dog poop, their own or otherwise, keep an eye out for other symptoms that might indicate an illness.

Reason #4

Your Dog Wants Attention

A puppy may eat poop in order to explore. If you react to this by running toward your puppy and shouting, they may interpret this as a game and continue to eat poop in order to initiate play.

Reason #5

Your Dog Is Afraid of Punishment

A dog that fears punishment for pooping inside the house may eat it in order to hide the evidence. Make sure that you don’t punish your dog for accidents during the house training process. You should also keep a close eye on your dog so you can clean up the results of an accident before they eat it.

Reason #6

Your Dog Has Anxiety

Dogs that are anxious may defecate and then eat it as a form of displacement behavior. This may occur more often if you confine a dog that is anxious.

How Do I Stop My Dog from Eating Poop?

The best method for stopping the behavior is to determine what’s causing it in the first place. You can also ask your vet for advice because sometimes, eating poop is a sign of an illness or anxiety that can be treated with your vet rather than a behavioral problem.