When I was living in Chicago, my landlady had a wonderful golden retriever that was incredibly friendly, smart and fun to play with - but he had one ridiculous habit: he liked to eat his own poop. When we watched the dog for her, it was hilarious because we had to follow him around with a plastic baggy to catch the crap before it hit the ground, preventing him from eating it. Over the years I've discovered that this wasn't unique just to that one silly boy - this is something that's actually not uncommon in dogs, so I wanted to look more deeply at the subject to figure out why this was. Here's what I discovered.
What Men's Health Issues Concern You Most?
- It's surprisingly common - One in four dogs has eaten poop at least once, and 16% are considered "serious" stool eaters
- Females do it more than males - Research shows female dogs engage in coprophagia more frequently than their male counterparts
- Fresh is preferred - Nine out of ten poop-eating dogs prefer feces under three days old, indicating this isn't just random scavenging
- Multi-dog homes see more of it - Households with multiple dogs experience coprophagia in about one-third of their pets versus one-fifth in single-dog homes
- It's often not about their own waste - About 85% of canine poop eaters prefer the feces of other dogs or animals instead of their own
Why Dogs Eat Poop: The Real Science Behind This Behavior
The core reasons dogs eat poop stem from millions of years of evolution, their incredible sense of smell, and nutritional factors that most dog owners never consider - understanding these helps explain why this gross habit is actually normal canine behavior.
Evolutionary Programming: Why This Behavior Exists
Technically called coprophagia, this behavior isn't as random or disgusting from your dog's perspective as it is from yours. According to evolutionary biologists, this behavior served important survival functions for wild canines. Wolf mothers routinely consume their pups' feces to keep den areas clean and avoid attracting predators - a behavior that domestic dogs still carry in their genetic programming.
Dr. Benjamin Hart's research at UC Davis reveals that coprophagia likely evolved as a parasite prevention mechanism. Fresh feces (under three days old) contains fewer parasites than older waste, which explains why dogs prefer the "fresher" options. This evolutionary hardwiring means your dog isn't being gross - he's following millions of years of survival instinct.
The canine digestive system also plays a role. Dogs have significantly shorter digestive tracts than humans, meaning nutrients often pass through incompletely digested. What seems like waste to us can actually contain valuable proteins, fats, and vitamins that your dog's system recognizes as nutritionally beneficial.
Your Dog's Super-Nose and How It Drives Food Choices
Your dog experiences the world primarily through scent, and his nose is roughly 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than yours. According to canine behavior researchers, dogs can detect specific nutritional components in feces that we can't even imagine. That cat poop your dog finds irresistible? It's genuinely rich in protein because cats are obligate carnivores with different digestive efficiency.
This heightened olfactory sensitivity also explains why dogs who eat and eliminate in close proximity might develop associations between food and waste odors. When your dog's feeding area is too close to his bathroom spot, his powerful nose can literally blur the lines between dinner and disaster.
Modern Diet Gaps That Drive Nutritional Seeking
Today's commercial dog foods, while nutritionally complete on paper, differ significantly from the varied diet dogs evolved eating. According to veterinary nutritionist Dr. Susan Wynn, modern kibble is often higher in carbohydrates and lower in the enzymes and raw nutrients that wild canines consumed.
Research from the 1980s identified vitamin B deficiency as a common factor in coprophagic dogs. Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency specifically can trigger unusual appetite behaviors, including poop consumption. Your dog might genuinely be trying to supplement missing nutrients, even if he's going about it in the most disgusting way possible.
Social and Behavioral Motivations in Pack Animals
Dogs are social creatures, and coprophagia often has behavioral motivations beyond nutrition or instinct. Some dogs eat feces specifically to get reactions from humans - and our disgusted responses can inadvertently reinforce the behavior.
Stress and environmental factors significantly influence this behavior. Dogs kept in isolation, crowded conditions, or high-stress environments show increased rates of coprophagia. A 2018 study found that dogs spending most of their time alone in basements or kennels were significantly more likely to eat feces than dogs living as integrated family members.
Punishment-based training can actually increase coprophagia. Dogs who've been harshly corrected for house accidents sometimes eat their waste to "hide the evidence" and avoid punishment. This creates a problematic cycle where the dog's attempt to please you by removing evidence actually disgusts you more.
In multi-dog households, dominant dogs sometimes eat the feces of subordinate pack members - a behavior rooted in instinctive pack protection. According to animal behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell, this behavior stems from wild pack dynamics where removing traces of weaker members helped avoid predator detection.
When to Worry: Health Issues That Increase Poop Eating
While coprophagia is typically normal behavior, sudden onset or excessive frequency can signal underlying health problems that require veterinary attention.
Malabsorption syndromes prevent proper nutrient absorption, leaving dogs chronically hungry despite regular feeding. Intestinal parasites can create similar nutritional deficits. Endocrine disorders like diabetes, Cushing's disease, and hyperthyroidism all increase appetite and can manifest as coprophagia. Certain medications, particularly steroids, can also trigger increased appetite and unusual food-seeking behaviors. If your dog suddenly develops this habit or does it excessively, veterinary consultation is essential to rule out underlying medical issues.
Practical Solutions for Stopping This Behavior
The key to addressing coprophagia is understanding that punishment and dramatic reactions typically backfire. Instead, focus on prevention and positive redirection strategies.
- Immediate cleanup eliminates opportunities - Clean up waste immediately and supervise outdoor bathroom breaks to prevent access.
- Enzyme supplements can address digestive deficiencies - Adding digestive enzymes helps your dog extract more nutrition from regular food, reducing nutritional seeking behaviors.
- Vitamin B supplementation addresses common deficiencies - Thiamine supplements specifically can reduce appetite-driven coprophagia in many dogs.
- Train "come" and "leave it" commands for reliable redirection - Consistent training gives you tools to interrupt the behavior before it happens.
- Position feeding areas away from elimination zones - Separating food and bathroom areas prevents scent association confusion.
What This Really Says About Your Dog
Here's something that might change how you think about this behavior: coprophagia doesn't indicate poor training, low intelligence, or behavioral problems. Some of the smartest, most well-trained dogs engage in this behavior because it's fundamentally normal canine behavior that conflicts with human sensibilities.
The fact that your dog trusts you enough to engage in natural behaviors around you actually indicates a strong bond. He's not trying to gross you out - he's simply being a dog in the most authentic way possible.
