Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

Dogs eating poop (or coprophagia) is a disgusting habit that only some dogs partake in. Unfortunately, if your dog is guilty of this crime, it can be pretty disturbing. But then again, dogs do a lot of disgusting things – they are dogs, you know! Dogs eating feces seems to be one of those things that defies logic and scientific study; no one knows for sure why they do it.

It’s natural for dogs to want to sniff a pile of poop – almost all dogs will do this – because the pooping dog’s anal gland left a kind of “calling card” for other dogs to read. For many dogs, it’s just as natural for them to eat these little calling cards. We just don’t know why. And it does seem to be a matter of personal preference; some dogs love eating poop, others seem to be at least a little more refined.

Here are some theories about why dogs eat poop.

• A dog eats poop to supplement his diet, which is lacking in some nutrition that he needs. He’s not getting the vitamins and minerals he needs from his own diet, so he hopes to find it second hand in a pile of poop that another animal left behind. This is a possibility, but studies have been made that suggest malnourished and well-nourished dogs will both indulge in approximately the same ratio.
• It may be from boredom or stress. This is kind of a stretch, but it could be true.
• Sometimes, dogs have compulsive habits. These include chasing their tails, chewing off their fur, and possibly poop eating. In other words, he might not have anything better to do.
• Nursing female dogs will sometimes eat poop of their puppies to keep the den area clean, and there is a possibility that the puppies are trying to emulate what their mommy does.

Here’s a short list of ideas to cope with the behavior and minimize the “disgust factor”.

• Clean it up as soon as he leaves it. If it’s not there, he can’t eat it. Plus, this eliminates the smell, the flies, and the chance of the kids stepping in it and bringing it into the house!
• Teach your dog the “leave it” command. This is a necessity anyway, and all the more important if your little friend has this wonderful habit.
• There are substances and foods you can buy that make the poop of that animal very unappealing to dogs. This might be a good solution that I know worked for my mother-in-law. (I meant her dog, you know).