Why does my dog eat poop, and how to stop it

In puppies

Common and usually a passing phase — most grow out of it by around 9 months1

Common causes

Curiosity, habit, attention, or copying another dog in the house; sometimes a nutrient-poor diet12

Medical causes

Parasites, poor nutrient absorption, diabetes and some other conditions can increase it — only a vet can check for these12

What helps

Picking up stools straight away, supervising on walks, and rewarding him for coming to you instead12

What to avoid

Scolding or pushing his nose toward it — this is an outdated technique that doesn't work and can make the habit worse2

Why dogs do this

It's more common than most new owners expect, and in puppies especially it's often just exploring the world with his mouth, copying his mother — who cleans up after very young puppies — or another dog at home, or simple habit1. In adult dogs it can also be attention-seeking if being caught in the act gets a big reaction from you, or it can follow being confined for long periods or trained with harsh house-training methods that make him anxious1.

Diet plays a part too: a dog whose food is hard to digest, or who isn't getting enough to eat, may be more likely to do this, and some vets suggest a digestive-enzyme or diet change can help in certain dogs — that's a conversation for your vet, not a home guess12.

What actually helps

• Pick up stools from the garden or yard as soon as you can, so there's nothing left to find — in the home, and on walks where it's practical12.
• Supervise him outside rather than leaving him unsupervised with access to stools, especially if there's another dog or cat in the house12.
• Train a solid leave it and come when called, and reward him generously the moment he walks away from stools or comes back to you — see the 30-day training plan for how to teach both1.
• If it keeps happening straight after a meal, ask your vet whether his current food or portion size could be part of it, rather than switching foods on your own12.
• Never scold him or push his nose towards it. One veterinary hospital calls this an 'outmoded, inhumane and useless' technique that tends to make the behaviour worse, not better, because it can turn the stool into something he hides rather than stops being drawn to2. Reward-based training is also simply more effective: dogs trained this way show fewer stress signs and better long-term obedience than dogs trained with any punishment-based method3.

On walks past street dogs, cows or open drains

Many Indian walks go past street-dog droppings, cow dung or open drains, which a curious dog may investigate the same way he would in the garden. The same approach applies: keep him on a lead where you can, practise 'leave it' before you need it, and reward him for walking past rather than pulling him away after the fact. See how to stop pulling on the lead if keeping him close on these walks is the harder part.

Ask your vet to rule out medical causes

Checked against vet sources. Not yet reviewed by a vet.

Sources and how we check

Facts checked against the official and veterinary sources below by Thapki. Not yet reviewed by a vet. Written with AI help from the sources below, then checked line by line; the Thapki team reads and approves every page before it goes live. How we check

• 1Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?American Kennel Club (AKC) · seen 5 Oct 2026
• 2Coprophagia in Dogs and CatsVCA Animal Hospitals · seen 5 Oct 2026
• 3AVSAB Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (2021)American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) · seen 5 Oct 2026