Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? Don't Tell Pixie I Told You About This

Why do dogs eat poop? Is it ever "normal" or a sign of something bad? Don't tell Pixie I told you this story.

A couple of years back, I took Pixie and Bruno for a walk when I caught Pixie doing something horrifying.

She was sniffing the grass, wagging her tail, and then—no. NO.

Before I could stop her, she ate something she definitely shouldn’t have, something that someone had very thoughtfully left in the grass.

My dog—my sweet, adorable Pixie—ate poop.

I gagged. She looked proud.

Bruno just looked disgusted, in a "something ain't right about the girl" kind of way.

So, long story short, "coprophagia in dogs (yes, there’s a name for it)" is a thing. Here's why they do it and how to stop it.

Is It Normal for Dogs to Eat Poop?

Short answer: Yes—but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Trigger warning: this will be gross. But we're here to get to the bottom of this disgusting behavior. So, here we go...💩.

• Puppies do it while they’re exploring new scents, tastes, and textures.
• Mother dogs do it to keep their puppies' butts and the den clean.
• All dogs lick their butts to stay hygienic...in their own way.
• Dogs sniff the butts and poop of other dogs to identify them and maybe to judge if they're healthy or not.
• Poop can contain undigested protein and fat, so it may actually taste good to some dogs. I knew a dog that would not stay out of the cat's litter box. Not my Pixie. Even she has her limits.
• My dog's ancestral wild dogs are scavenger omnivores. That means they will eat almost anything, including rotten food and sometimes poop, when food is scarce.

And finally,

• Some adult dogs do it out of boredom and stress.
• They may have nutritional deficiencies.

Can Eating Poop Make Dogs Sick?

Absolutely. They can catch dangerous parasites, parvovirus, and distemper from other dogs. They also expose themselves to E. coli, salmonella, and other harmful bacteria. It's not a good look and definitely not good for dog health.

How to Stop Dogs from Eating Poop

While there are some legitimate reasons here for dogs to sniff butts and even eat feces in small amounts, a middle-aged dog like Pixie really shouldn't be doing this.

So, let's look at some of the fixable causes.

1. Nutritional Deficiencies

If a dog isn’t getting enough nutrients, their body might tell them to scavenge (which really means eating anything that's not poison).

Common culprits?

A dog eats low-quality food, missing essential vitamins, minerals, protein, or healthy fats.

A dog isn't getting enough protein to meet their needs. Most kibble is 18% protein. But many dogs need 20% or higher.

Doesn't sound like a big divide, I know. But their body is telling them to make up the difference.

Enzyme deficiencies, gut microbiome disruptions, and even parasites can make it harder to digest food properly. So, dogs with these conditions aren't getting all the nutrition they're eating. Again, instinct tells them to compensate.

Let's fix it:

• Give them extra protein. And I'm not talking about giving them more kibble. They'd have to eat too many calories to get the right amount. Instead, give them high-protein dog treats like marrow-filled dog bones, organ meat treats, and grass-fed beef trachea chews.
• Avoid dog food and treats with excessive fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. Some are okay. But dogs need protein.
• Avoid added sugar. You wouldn't believe how many dog treat companies put sugar in their treats because they don't taste good. Say no to that!
• Consider adding probiotic-rich foods like plain yogurt and more fiber like fresh green beans and pumpkin.
• Stay away from artificial flavors, colors, and texturizers that might disturb digestion. That's really all of them.
• Give single-ingredient, protein-rich treats—like K9 Connoisseur’s beef lung bites—to support a healthy digestive system.

Okay, that last one was a shameless plug. But it's what I did for Pixie—and it worked. Bone marrow contains collagen. This structural protein strengthens the gut lining. It also contains omega 3 and 6, two healthy fats that support immune health and reduce inflammation. Vitamins and minerals? Grass-fed beef marrow dog bones took care of that, too.

2. Anxiety & Boredom

If dogs are anxious about other dogs encroaching on their territory or stealing your affection, they might resort to poop-eating. It's as if getting rid of the evidence tells the other dog they can't poop here. But, of course, that doesn't work.

Dogs can become anxious for all kinds of reasons: separation, past experiences, lack of mental stimulation, boredom, and nutritional deficiencies.

Let's fix it:

Aside from trying to limit their fear triggers when possible, it's important to address why they're so anxious. And that comes down to mental stimulation, so:

• Develop a more consistent dog routine so that eating, walks, playtime, and cuddles all happen close to the same time. This makes life seem more predictable and less scary.
• Train your dog with dog training commands. This reduces the frustration energy in the home by helping your dog understand how to act in certain situations. Schedule training time for 5-10 minutes a day. Training can lower their stress level for hours.
• Provide them with regular mental stimulation in the form of a dog bone chewing session. Marrow bones are like dog puzzles. Dogs flip, chew, and lick the dog bones, trying to get the marrow out. This is both mentally challenging and entertaining to dogs.

3. Address Learned Behaviors (Monkey See; Monkey Do)

Puppies usually grow out of poop-eating. Eventually, they're like, "been there, done that, got the t-shirt". They don't need to do it anymore.

But some pups don't stop. They saw their birth mother doing it and were too young to understand she had a good reason. Most puppies leave their moms by around 8 weeks, and so they don't learn any better from their family of origin.

Fix it:

• Interrupt the habit when you see it.
• Redirect them to something acceptable to chew, like a dog bone.
• Keep their environment clean to remove temptation.
• Put the litter box somewhere they don't go often if you have cats
• Keep an eye on them on walks. Some pet parents aren't as good as you are about cleaning up after their pups.

4. Parasites or Health Problems

If you think your dog might be eating poop because of parasites or a health condition, please take them to see their dog doctor for an evaluation and treatment.

Bottom Line: Don't Reinforce the Poop-Eating

Your Don't List.

• Don't yell, “STOP THAT!”. That's like saying, "This is exciting. Let's do it again."
• Don't chase them. Doing so makes poop-eating into a fun game. Coprophagia in dogs isn't a game; it can make them sick.

Your Do List:

• Do stay calm.
• Do redirect without appearing to reward the behavior.
• Do reward better choices using positive reward training methods.

To learn more about how positive reinforcement training can stop dangerous and destructive dog behaviors and help you live in harmony with your dog and all their face licks, be sure to sign up for the 7-Day Dog Training Challenge.

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