Eating poo in dogs is called coprophagia, and it is more common than many owners think. In puppies it is often temporary and part of their curiosity; with an adult dog that suddenly or repeatedly eats poo, it is better to look at the pattern. The key is simple: first pay attention to which poo your dog ate, check for warning signs, and then tackle the behaviour with good management, training and, if needed, the vet.
Why dogs eat poo: gross, but often easy to explain
When a puppy eats poo, it is often about exploring with its mouth. In adult dogs, it is more often a learned or context-related behaviour: the smell is interesting, the taste is tempting, or eating faeces has at some point been rewarded by accident. That can lead a dog that eats poo to keep repeating the behaviour.
In addition, boredom in dogs, stress, too little distraction, and things related to diet or digestion can sometimes play a part. There is rarely one simple cause. So always look at age, the type of poo, when it happens and what the stool looks like. That overall picture tells you more than just "my dog eats poo".
Not every poo is the same: risk by type of stool
| Type of stool | Attractiveness | Risk and considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Own stool | Common in puppies, sometimes a habit | Usually assessed differently from unknown poo, but still unwanted |
| Other dogs | Often interesting because of the smell | Higher chance of parasites or bacteria |
| Cat poo | Often especially attractive | Take extra care because of pathogens |
| Human faeces | Can be very tempting | Higher risk because of bacteria and traces of medication or drugs |
| Droppings from other animals | Varies | May be contaminated or irritate the stomach and intestines |
Your dog has eaten poo: what do you do now?
- Calmly move your dog away and stop them from eating any more.
- Check what kind of stool it was: their own poo, another dog's, a cat's, a human's or another animal's.
- Note when it happened and keep a close eye on your dog for the next few hours.
- Watch for foaming, excessive drooling, restlessness, being unable to focus, vomiting, diarrhoea, trembling or lethargy.
- Call the vet sooner if it was human or unknown stool, if there are symptoms, or if it is a puppy or small dog.
Stopping poo eating without the drama: what works most often
- Clear up stool straight away and prevent successful attempts with extra supervision or a short lead.
- Actively teach alternative behaviour, such as "leave it", turning away, coming straight back to you and teaching the drop it command.
- Reward straight away with something small and tasty, for example small natural training treats from Braaaf.
- Punishing afterwards often backfires; a predictable routine and keeping your dog occupied indoors usually work more calmly.
- Also make sure there are sniffing opportunities and suitable chewing moments, and look at diet, stools, triggers and which chew treat suits your dog.
Do pineapple, different food or a "miracle cure" really help?
Usually not as a standalone solution. With poo eating, you are more likely to see lasting improvement from a combination of finding the cause, preventing it and training. A product that is supposed to change the taste of stool sounds appealing, but coprophagia is far from always just about taste. Habit, stress, timing and the environment play just as much of a part.
On forums, home remedies such as pineapple or other taste changers are often mentioned. For one dog that may seem to make a difference for a while, for another not at all. What is more, it usually does not solve the real trigger. If your dog has recurring bowel complaints, inconsistent stools, suddenly shows different eating behaviour, or if you have doubts about how digestible the food is, it makes sense to review the diet again, as well as any dog chew treats. Preferably do that together with the vet, so training and physical causes are not tackled separately.
