Why our pups are so infatuated with poop and how to make sure they don’t keep eating it
Whether it is your 10-week old puppy or your 10-year-old gray-haired alpha, a fun walk can turn into a tug of war when they spot something that’s caught their nose: poop!
Why does poop make good doggos start going crazy, chomping at the bit for a taste of something so disgusting to us humans we flush it down the toilet as quickly as we can?
And more importantly, if your best furriend is always on the lookout for doggy doo-doo, what can you do about it?
Dung-eating Dogs are More Common Than You Might Think
First off, dogs being obsessed with poop (scientifically known as canine conspecific coprophagy) is not a rare phenomenon as we may think.
According to a 2018 survey study led by University of California veterinary researchers, at least 23% of dog owners have seen their dog eat their own crap. And even more surprisingly, 16% of dog owners have seen their pups consume theirs or another dog’s excrement more than six times! Out of the over 1,800 completed surveys, their findings revealed the following:
Of the frequent doggy dung eaters, more than 80% favor feces no more than two days old. Apparently, even poop eaters can be picky!
Think your well-behaved pup who can do all the tricks in the world could never touch the smelly brown stuff? Think again! The research team found that recurring stool-eating dogs were just as common for house-trained pooches as it was for other dogs.
In fact, what stood out to researchers was that there was no statistically significant evidence linking age, dietary differences, and different compulsive behaviors (think chasing your tail, separation anxiety, or excessive barking).
Why Are Dogs Obsessed with Eating Poop?
So what possible explanation could there be for a good portion of the canine population enjoying a very different kind of brownies?
Interestingly, the lead researcher behind the study, Dr. Benjamin Hart, explains that it has to do with dogs being descendants of wolves.
Specifically, he argued that due to how injured or ill wolves may have had to cope with pooping near their den, they would just eat their excrement as quickly as possible to ensure that it wouldn’t get them sick. Quickly disposing of the poop would help prevent parasites from developing as they need a two-day or more incubation period to hatch.
Hart’s theory also has some relevant support as mothers typically instruct puppies to clean feces off of themselves by licking or eating it, while still encouraging them not to poop right in the middle of the den ;)
Why Some Dogs Eat Poop and Others Don’t
Though a scientific reason for why some dogs eat poop and others don’t may not be determined quite yet, dog owners facing this problem probably don’t need to know the reason why Fido is consuming his leave-behinds.
For that, the study didn’t have the best news.
Specifically, respondents weren’t able to demonstrate a clear pattern showing things like behavior modification, including rewarding dogs for not eating poop or commercially available solutions as effective.
But fear not, there’s still good advice out there as what may not work for one dog can work for another dog. Again, each is different so we’ve tried to round up as many solutions as possible. Several of these are categorized so you’ll have a few good ideas to try out!
How to Keep it Clean (and Poop Free)
Our dogs love to run around in the backyard and that space also has become a big advantage in helping house train our puppy Peaches. That being said, remove poop from the yard as often as possible so your doggy dung eater doesn’t have access to offending plops.
Love having a feline companion for your furriend? Just remember, that litter box should either be cleaned as often as possible or completely out of your dog’s reach. Again, taking away the option for the dog to eat any type of poop is really important to instill good behavior.
Walks are not only great mental stimulation, but they also can help you ensure your pooch isn’t munching on poops in the neighbor’s yard. Monitor and avoid any dog excrement while out getting your daily exercise.
Training Helps Stop the Poop Eating
“Leave it” isn’t just for keeping your slippers hole-free! Ensuring your pooch listens to you when on command, specifically with “leave it” and “come” emphasizes avoiding the poop that may be drawing your pup’s attention. Emphasizing these commands and getting them down early is really key. Focus on training inside and outside the home as a well-trained pooch inside your family den doesn’t always make for a non-poop eater at the dog park.
Drop the droppings. Your pooch probably won’t give up on poop eating all at once so training them to “drop it” and get the offending brown stuff out of their mouth is another critical part of training. In the early stages, you’ll likely need to offer them something better so learn how to give them a “treat pawty” and drop multiple treats in an attempt to draw their attention away from poop. Like all training, we recommend positive reinforcement leads to better long-term results!
Sometimes, Diet Matters
The American Kennel Club has a few recommendations related to diet and possible food remedies that could help you get your dog over their crappy habit:
Vitamin supplements: Vitamin-B deficiency has been cited as a possible cause for poop eating so may be worth experimenting with as you seek answers.
Enzyme supplements: With today’s foods, dogs are getting lower amounts of meat-based proteins and fats so adding papain has, anecdotally at least, helped.
Taste-aversion products: There are products out there that attempt to make poop smell less appealing. Look for products containing things like monosodium glutamate, camomile, pepper-plant derivatives, yucca, garlic, and parsley.
Again, all of these things may need to be tried and even experimented with in combination.
Please remember though:
Eating their own fresh poop is not considered dangerous
Older stools from other dogs or other animals can lead to health issues ranging from parasites to viruses or toxins.
Getting this behavior under control will ultimately lead to better health for your best furriend!
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