Have you ever seen a dog eat poop? While this may turn your stomach, it really doesn’t do your dog any harm. So you do not have to worry about your do getting sick from eating feces and in case your are wondering, it is technically called coprophagia.

Vets Baffled at Coprophagia

While this dog behavior has baffled veterinarians and dog trainers alike for years, it seems some dogs just like to dine on feces. Some theories believe that dogs do this because of a lack of proper nutrition in diet. This has not been proven true. Studies have been done on dogs eating both on well-bell balanced diets and dogs that do not. It seems they both eat feces. On a personal note, well-known service animal organizations who feed their dogs the best well-balanced nutrition on the planet have dogs eat feces.

Other theories have dogs eating feces because they are bored. Again, I must go to the service animal organizations. If a service animal who works eight hours a day and then plays at night is eating feces when they get a chance, then a regular pet owner does not stand a chance.

There is hope for those who hate this habit and find it disgusting. While you cannot stop a dog bent on eating feces if they want, you can do things to slow down the behavior.

Tip #1 Pick it up

This is the most simple and the most obvious. If the dog does not have access to the poop to eat, then they will not eat. There are products you can buy to make the poop less palatable but it is much easier to pick it up. But if you really cannot stand to pick it up then try Tabasco sauce.

Tip #2 Teach “Leave It”

When you are out and about, the “leave it” command comes in very handy. Not only is it good for leaving poop alone, it is good for poison, candy, and anything else you want your dog to leave alone. Every dog should know the leave it command no matter if they eat poop or not!

For Further Information For more information on bewildering canine behaviors – what they are, how to recognize them, why they happen, and what to do about them – check out Secrets to Dog Training. Written by an experienced dog-trainer, it’s packed with useful and valuable information on training your dog and coping with problematic behaviors. No responsible dog-owner should be without a copy! You can check out Secrets to Dog Training by clicking the add below.

Why does a dog eat poop? Read the article to find out why Coprophagia exists.