Behavior and Health by Team Vekaan: Your Expert Guide to Canine Health, Behavior, and Care.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and focuses on behavioral management. Coprophagia can be a symptom of underlying medical conditions such as parasites or malabsorption. If your dog suddenly starts this behavior, or if it is accompanied by weight loss or vomiting, please consult your veterinarian immediately to rule out health issues.

It is the one habit that horrifies dog owners more than any other. You lean in for a puppy kiss, only to realize what they were snacking on in the yard five minutes ago.

The scientific term is Coprophagia, and while it is repulsive to us, it is a relatively natural behavior in the canine world. However, as professional boarders, we treat it as a habit that must be managed for hygiene and health reasons.

Here is the definitive breakdown of why it happens and how to stop it.

1. The Medical Reasons (Rule These Out First)

Before you treat it as a behavior problem, you must ensure your dog isn’t trying to correct a nutritional imbalance.

• Enzyme Deficiency: If a dog isn’t producing enough digestive enzymes, they may not fully digest their food. The resulting waste is still rich in undigested nutrients, making it “appealing” to eat again.
• Parasites: Intestinal worms can leach nutrients, leaving the dog constantly hungry and seeking calories anywhere they can find them.
• Poor Quality Diet: Low-quality foods with hard-to-digest fillers often pass through the system largely unchanged, smelling very similar to how they went in.

Vekaan Tip: If this is a sudden new behavior in an adult dog, a vet checkup (with a stool sample analysis) is mandatory.

2. The Behavioral Reasons (The Habit)

If your dog is healthy, the cause is likely in their head.

• The “Clean Up” Instinct: Mother dogs naturally eat their puppies’ waste to keep the den clean and hide their scent from predators. Some dogs retain this instinct.
• Boredom: A dog left alone in a yard for hours may eat waste simply because there is nothing else to do.
• Attention Seeking: If you scream and chase them every time they go near a pile, you have inadvertently turned it into a high-stakes game of tag.

3. How to Stop the Habit

Breaking this cycle requires a mix of management and diet adjustment.

A. The Pineapple/Zucchini Trick

Many owners have success adding natural deterrents to the dog’s food that make the resulting waste taste terrible (even to a dog).

• Fresh Pineapple: Contains an enzyme called bromelain.
• Zucchini: Often makes the stool unpalatable.
• Commercial Deterrents: There are safe supplements (chews or powders) designed specifically to ruin the taste of the stool.

B. The “Hawk Eye” Management (The Only 100% Cure)

The most effective training method is simply denying access.

• Leash Walks: Do not let a poop-eater roam the yard unsupervised. Take them out on a leash.
• Immediate Cleanup: Pick up the waste the second it hits the ground. If it’s not there, they can’t eat it.
• Recall Training: Reinforce your “Leave It” and “Come” commands (see our Recall Guide) with high-value treats. You must make the treat in your hand more valuable than the waste on the ground.

4. Is It Dangerous?

Generally, eating their own stool is harmless (though gross). However, eating the stool of other animals (cats, wildlife, or strange dogs) poses a significant risk of transmitting parasites like Giardia, Hookworms, or Roundworms.

Conclusion: Coprophagia is a solvable problem, but it requires diligence. Improve the diet, verify their health, and keep the yard clean. With consistency, the habit will fade, and you can go back to enjoying those puppy kisses (safely).