Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?

At a glance

• Coprophagia, the technical term for eating faeces, affects an estimated 16-24% of dogs, according to a widely cited study from the University of California, Davis.
• Common causes include poor nutrient absorption, an imbalanced gut, boredom, stress, and normal maternal behaviour learned in puppyhood.
• Puppies frequently grow out of the habit between 6 and 9 months old as their curiosity settles and their digestion matures.
• Eating poop from an infected dog can transmit parasites such as roundworm or protozoa like Giardia, so prompt worming and vet checks matter.
• Improving diet quality and digestibility often reduces the behaviour, though training and management usually need to work alongside it.

Why do dogs eat poop in the first place?

Dogs eat poop because of a mix of instinct, digestion, and behaviour, not because something is fundamentally wrong with them. Mother dogs clean up after their puppies by eating their waste, and puppies sometimes copy this instinctively or out of curiosity as they explore the world mouth-first. For adult dogs, the habit can persist because of nutrient deficiencies, poor digestion of their current food, anxiety, boredom, or simply because they get a reaction from their owner when they do it.

Coprophagia is one of the most common behavioural complaints vets hear, and it rarely points to a single cause. A 2012 study of over 1,000 dogs found no strong link to diet type, breed, or house-training method, but did find that dogs who ate faeces were typically eating stools that were fresh, less than two days old. This suggests the behaviour is driven more by opportunity and instinct than by a nutritional emergency, though poor digestion still plays a role for many individual dogs. Understanding the full range of triggers is part of the wider picture covered in diet and your dog's health, where digestion, behaviour, and nutrition all intersect.

Could poor digestion or diet be the real cause?

Yes, dogs that cannot fully digest and absorb nutrients from their food are more likely to eat stools, including their own or other animals', because undigested food particles still smell appealing. Diets high in fillers, low-quality proteins, or poorly balanced fibre pass through the gut without being properly broken down. That means more of the original smell and nutritional content survives into the stool, making it more attractive to a dog searching for something it is missing.

Fibre plays a particularly important role here. Too little fibre can slow digestion and increase inflammation, while the right type and amount supports healthy stool formation and gut bacteria. The right fibre balance keeps digestion moving properly and stools well-formed, which reduces the appeal of what comes out the other end. Diets with genuinely high-quality, well-digested protein leave far less residual smell and nutrient content in the stool. Marleybones recipes are FEDIAF compliant, meaning they meet the nutritional standards set for complete dog food across Europe, and are slow-cooked in-pack to preserve nutrients that heat-intensive processing can damage.

Is eating poop dangerous for my dog?

Eating poop is not usually dangerous on its own, but it carries a real risk of parasite and bacterial transmission if the stool belongs to an infected animal. Roundworm eggs, Giardia, and certain bacteria can pass between dogs this way, particularly in shared spaces like parks where multiple dogs toilet. Regular worming treatment, prompt cleanup in the garden, and vet check-ups reduce this risk significantly.

Persistent coprophagia alongside other symptoms such as weight loss, changes in appetite, vomiting, or diarrhoea needs a vet visit, since these can point to malabsorption issues, pancreatic insufficiency, or parasites that need proper diagnosis and treatment. A vet can run faecal tests and bloodwork to rule out underlying medical causes before assuming the behaviour is purely habitual.

How can I stop my dog eating poop?

The most effective approach combines management, training, and, where relevant, diet changes, since no single fix works for every dog. Management removes the opportunity: picking up stools promptly in the garden and keeping dogs on a lead near other dogs' waste on walks cuts off access before the habit can be repeated.

• Clean up after your dog immediately, especially in the garden, to remove the temptation entirely.
• Increase mental stimulation with puzzle feeders, training games, and daily walks, since boredom is a common trigger.
• Review the current diet for digestibility, ensuring your dog is on a complete and balanced food appropriate for their life stage.
• Teach a solid