Milo went through a phase of eating goose poop on every walk. I tried everything. What finally worked: a treat in his mouth before every approach to grass. Couldn't carry both.
What's actually causing it
The 6 most common causes.
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It's instinctive
Mother dogs eat their puppies' poop to keep the den clean. Some dogs carry the instinct into adulthood. Especially common in herding breeds.
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Nutritional gap
If their food doesn't provide certain enzymes or nutrients (especially B vitamins), they may seek them out wherever. Switching foods or adding a digestive enzyme often helps.
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Boredom or attention-seeking
Bored dogs experiment. If you react dramatically every time they eat poop, they learn that poop = attention.
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Hunger
Underfed or food-anxious dogs may eat what's available, including poop. Common in rescues or in multi-dog households where food anxiety exists.
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Anxiety or stress
Some dogs eat their own poop to 'hide evidence' if they were previously punished for accidents during potty training. Never punish for accidents.
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Medical issues (rare)
Diabetes, Cushing's, malabsorption diseases can increase appetite for unusual things. If poop-eating starts suddenly in an older dog, vet check.
Red flags
When to actually worry.
- ·Sudden onset in a dog who never did it before
- ·Eating poop from unknown sources (parasite risk)
- ·Eating cat poop (especially from outdoor cats — parasites)
- ·Paired with weight loss, increased thirst, or change in appetite for normal food
Practical steps
What to actually do.
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Pick up poop immediately in your yard. Out of sight, out of mind.
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For walking: keep your dog on a short leash and redirect with treats whenever they approach poop.
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Try a [digestive enzyme supplement](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=dog+digestive+enzyme+supplement+probiotic&tag=mesurajpandey-20). Often resolves the behavior within 2-3 weeks.
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There's a product called Forbid (or generic 'stool eating deterrent') — you sprinkle it on your dog's food, makes their poop taste bad to them. Mixed results.
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Never punish. Punishment creates anxiety and often makes the behavior worse.
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Make sure they're not bored. More exercise + puzzle feeders.
Sunday letter
One honest review. Every Sunday.
Plus the occasional photo of Rex destroying something he wasn't supposed to. About 400 words. Skip a week and I'll understand.
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