How To Stop A Puppy From Eating Poop – Top Dog Tips

Does your dog suffer from coprophagia? You’re probably thinking that you have no idea what that is, but I bet you do! Coprophagia is the technical term for a dog that eats feces. There are behavioral and psychological reasons why your dog may be doing this, but we’ll get to that later in this guide for how to stop a puppy from eating poop.

It is common for puppies to try eating stool – both their own and that of other animals. While it is virtually harmless to eat their own poo, eating another animals fecal matter could be dangerous. Viruses and parasites can be easily contracted this way.

An interesting study performed in 2012 by Dr. Benjamin Hart revealed some disgusting, yet fascinating information about coprophagia. For example:

• female dogs are most likely to eat poop;
• intact males are least likely to eat poop;
• 92% of poop eaters prefer fresh stool that is 1-2 days old;
• and dogs that steal food from the table are more apt to be poop eaters.

Most puppies will outgrow this gross habit. Thankfully there are a number of ways to discourage the habit. When learning how to stop a puppy from eating poop, it’s important to start as soon as the habit stops (or as soon after as possible).

How To Stop A Puppy From Eating Poop

The first thing to note is that you cannot reward your dog with any kind of attention – positive or negative. Waving your arms or chasing the dog around may seem like a game to your pup. While you see it as a way to get him away from the stool, he’ll see it as entertaining play.

Instead, clap your hands to divert your dog’s attention. Clap once to redirect his attention, and then try to move him along to another area. If he goes back to the stool pile, clap again and continue trying to redirect him in a calm manner.

A poor diet is one of the leading causes of coprophagia. Dogs seeking additional nutrition may look for it in stool. Undigested nutrients are passed through stool, which may attract a malnutritioned pup.

If your dog is eating poop and you’re feeding him a low quality diet, you should consult your veterinarian for advice. They can evaluate your pet’s nutrition to help you assess any unmet needs. You will also need to transition him to a higher quality diet that will meet his unique nutritional needs.

Boredom can also lead to coprophagia. If a puppy is left unattended for too long, he will look for things to entertain himself. As gross as it may seem to you, searching for a snack in the yard will be engaging for your dog. Go outside with your dog and keep him entertained.

ALSO: Dog Poop Color Chart – What It All Means

Play fetch or tug-of-war. Take your dog for a long walk to burn his energy. If your dog is a feces eater, it’s best not to leave him outside unattended while learning how to stop a puppy from eating poop.

In very rare cases, there may an underlying healthy condition causing your dog to eat poop. Certain diseases that cause an increase in appetite and some diseases of the pancreas and small intestine can cause dogs to seek out stool to eat.

If your dog begins eating feces out of the blue, you should consult your veterinarian.

It may be that your dog is exceptionally stubborn. If so, you will need to walk your pup on a leash. If he goes near a pile of poop, redirect him and reward him for leaving it alone. Use a single command, such as “No” or “Leave it”, and then lead your dog away from the stool.

If all else fails, enlist the help of a trained professional. Call dog trainers in your area and ask if they have experience with this type of training. Choose a trainer that has worked with poo eating dogs before.

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