How to Stop a Dog From Eating Poop: 9 Steps That Actually Work

Watching your dog eat poop is one of the least glamorous parts of dog ownership. You’re not alone: it’s so common that vets have a name for it, coprophagia. The good news is that it’s usually a habit, not a disease, and habits can be broken.

This guide explains why dogs do it, when it’s a sign of a health problem, and a step-by-step plan to stop it.

Quick answer: how to stop a dog eating poop

1. Pick up poop immediately, every time, for at least 3–4 weeks.
2. Go out with your dog (on leash if needed) so you can intervene.
3. Teach “leave it” and reward heavily for walking away.
4. Call your dog to you right after they poop and give a treat, so “poop, then run to my human” becomes the new routine.
5. Rule out medical causes with your vet, especially if the habit is new.
6. Feed a complete diet and make sure your dog isn’t hungry.
7. Block access to litter boxes and other animals’ waste.
8. Add enrichment so your dog isn’t bored in the yard.
9. Never punish. It often makes dogs eat poop faster, to hide the “evidence”.

How common is it?

Very common. In a survey of about 1,500 owners published by researchers at UC Davis in 2018, roughly one in six dogs were described as serious poop eaters, and about a quarter had been seen doing it at least once. The same study found that:

• Poop eaters overwhelmingly prefer fresh stools, usually less than two days old.
• Dogs described as greedy eaters were more likely to eat poop.
• It was more common in multi-dog households.
• Most commercial deterrent products and home remedies didn’t help.

That last point matters. It means the solution is mostly about management and training, not a magic powder.

Why do dogs eat poop?

It’s instinctive

Mother dogs lick their puppies to make them eliminate and then eat the waste to keep the den clean. Wild canids scavenge, and fresh feces contain partly digested food. To a dog’s nose, poop can smell a lot like dinner.

Puppy exploration

Puppies investigate everything with their mouths. Most outgrow coprophagia by about 9–12 months, but if it’s rewarding (and it is, to a puppy) it can become a lasting habit.

Learned behavior and attention

If every poop-eating episode leads to you running and shouting, some dogs learn it’s a great way to start a chase game. Others learn to gulp it down fast before you get there.

Boredom and stress

Dogs left alone in a yard for long periods, kept in kennels, or confined near their own waste are more likely to eat poop. Anxiety and under-stimulation both play a role.

Hunger and diet

Dogs on strict diets, or fed too little, may scavenge more. Rarely, a diet that doesn’t meet a dog’s needs can contribute.

Medical causes

See your vet, especially if the habit appeared suddenly in an adult dog, if it comes with weight loss, diarrhea or increased appetite, or if your dog is eating poop obsessively. Possible causes include:

• Intestinal parasites
• Malabsorption or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), where food isn’t properly digested
• Diabetes, thyroid disease or Cushing’s disease, which increase appetite
• Medications that increase hunger, such as steroids
• Cognitive decline in senior dogs

The 9-step plan to stop it

1. Clean up immediately

This is the single most effective step. If there’s nothing to eat, the habit can’t be rewarded. Pick up straight after every bowel movement for at least 3–4 weeks while you train.

2. Supervise toilet breaks

Go outside with your dog. If the problem is serious, use a leash even in your own yard so you can calmly guide your dog away.

3. Teach “leave it”

1. Hold a boring treat in a closed fist. Let your dog sniff and lick.
2. The moment they pull away, say “yes!” and give a better treat from your other hand.
3. Repeat until they pull away immediately, then add the words “leave it” just before you present your fist.
4. Progress to treats on the floor under your foot, then toys, then real-world items on walks.

4. Make “poop, then come to me” the new routine

Every time your dog finishes pooping, call them happily and reward with something amazing: chicken, cheese, a favorite tug toy. Within a couple of weeks, many dogs start running to you after they go, which leaves no time to turn around and eat it.

5. See your vet

Rule out parasites and digestive issues, especially in adult dogs who suddenly start. Ask whether your dog’s weight and diet are appropriate.

6. Review your dog’s diet

Feed a complete and balanced food, in the amount your vet recommends for your dog’s ideal weight. If your dog is always ravenous, ask about higher-fiber options or splitting meals into smaller, more frequent portions.

7. Block access to cat litter

Cat feces are high in protein and irresistible to many dogs. Use a top-entry or covered litter box, put it behind a baby gate with a cat flap, or raise it out of your dog’s reach. Scoop at least daily.

8. Reduce boredom

Dogs with more to do eat less poop. Add:

• Sniff walks, where your dog sets the pace and explores
• Puzzle feeders and snuffle mats instead of bowls
• Short training sessions (5 minutes, twice a day)
• Chew toys and safe long-lasting chews

9. Don’t punish

Yelling or rubbing your dog’s nose in it doesn’t help, and it can backfire. Dogs may learn to eat poop before you see it, or become anxious about toileting in front of you, which can lead to hiding accidents in the house.

Specific situations

Eating other dogs’ poo on walks

Keep your dog on a leash in parks and on paths where people don’t pick up. Scan ahead, and when you see poop, cue “leave it” or turn and walk the other way with a treat at your dog’s nose. For persistent scavengers, a well-fitted basket muzzle (one your dog can pant and drink in) is a kind, temporary safety tool while you train.

Eating cat poop

Litter box management solves most cases (see step 7). If your dog also raids the yard for cat poop, check fences and garden beds for neighborhood cats.

Eating horse, cow or wildlife poop

Livestock manure may contain dewormer residues that can be harmful to some dogs, and wildlife feces can spread parasites. Leash your dog in these areas and practice “leave it.”

Senior dog suddenly eating poop

A new habit in an older dog warrants a vet visit. It can signal increased appetite from illness or medication, or cognitive changes.

What doesn’t work (or barely works)

• Pineapple, pumpkin or meat tenderizer: popular home remedies with little evidence. They’re harmless in small amounts but rarely solve the problem.
• Commercial “stool-eating deterrent” chews: the UC Davis survey found very low success rates.
• Hot sauce on poop: unkind, and dogs often learn to avoid only the doctored poop.
• Punishment after the fact: your dog can’t connect it to the behavior.

When to call a professional

Book a vet visit if the behavior is sudden, obsessive, or comes with weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting or increased hunger. If your dog guards poop or the habit persists despite consistent management, a certified positive-reinforcement trainer can help tailor a plan. You can also run through our free pet behavior analysis tool for a quick plan.

Related guides

• Why do dogs eat grass? (and when to worry)
• The complete potty training guide
• How to stop a dog from chewing everything
• Dog training glossary: “leave it”, coprophagia and more

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dog eat poop?

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Usually habit and instinct. Mother dogs clean up after their puppies, wild canids scavenge, and fresh feces still smell like food. Puppies explore with their mouths, and some dogs learn it gets attention. Less often it’s linked to hunger, a poor diet, parasites or digestive problems that cause poor nutrient absorption.

Why do dogs eat their own poop?

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Eating their own poop is the most common form. Mother dogs clean up after their puppies, puppies explore with their mouths, and some dogs learn it after being scolded for accidents. Fresh poop (under two days old) is what most dogs go for. Picking up straight away, a good diet and plenty of enrichment usually solve it; see your vet if it starts suddenly.

Is it harmful if my dog eats poop?

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Eating their own fresh poop is mostly a hygiene problem. Eating other animals’ feces carries more risk: intestinal worms, Giardia, parvovirus, Salmonella, and medication residues (for example dewormers in horse manure). Keep your dog’s parasite prevention up to date and stop the habit as early as possible.

Do pineapple or stool-eating deterrents work?

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The evidence is weak. In a large 2018 UC Davis owner survey, commercial taste deterrents and home remedies helped very few dogs. Prevention (picking up immediately) plus training “leave it” and a strong recall works much better.

Will my puppy grow out of eating poop?

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Many do. Coprophagia is very common in puppies and often fades by around 9–12 months, especially if the yard is kept clean so the habit never becomes rewarding. Don’t count on it, though: start management and training now.

How do I stop my dog eating other dogs’ poo on walks?

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Keep your dog on a leash in high-risk areas, scan ahead, and practice “leave it” with very high-value treats. Reward your dog for looking at you when you pass poop. A comfortable basket muzzle can be a short-term safety net while you train.

Should I punish my dog for eating poop?

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No. Punishment often teaches dogs to eat poop faster or hide it, and can create anxiety around toileting, which makes things worse. Calmly interrupt, call your dog away, and reward them for coming.