Stopping Dog From Eating Poop

A Practical Guide to Coprophagia

Few dog behaviours make owners recoil faster than watching their dog happily eat poop. You may call your dog, offer a treat, or try to distract them, only to watch them turn around and swallow it before you can react.

It is unpleasant, frustrating, and surprisingly common.

The good news is that stopping a dog from eating poop is usually possible when you address both the behaviour and the circumstances that encourage it. Your dog is not necessarily being “naughty,” and punishment rarely solves the problem. Instead, you need management, consistent training, and an understanding of why your dog is doing it.

At mydogtrained.com, the focus is on practical dog training that works in real homes with real dogs. In this guide, you will learn why dogs eat faeces, how to prevent access, which commands to teach, what mistakes can make the problem worse, and when veterinary advice is appropriate.

Why Is My Dog Eating Poop?

The technical term for eating faeces is coprophagia. Although it sounds alarming, it can occur for several different reasons.

Some puppies investigate almost everything with their mouths. Others develop the habit because eating faeces has become rewarding in some way.

Possible causes include:

• Curiosity and exploration
• Puppy behaviour
• Boredom
• Lack of mental stimulation
• Attention-seeking
• Anxiety or stress
• Habit
• Competition with other dogs
• Hunger or inappropriate feeding
• Cleaning behaviour
• Previous punishment for toileting
• Certain medical or dietary problems

The first step is to look at when and where the behaviour happens.

Does your dog immediately turn around after toileting? Does it happen only when you are not watching? Does your dog eat their own faeces, other dogs’ faeces, or both?

These details can provide useful clues.

Puppies Often Need Extra Supervision

Puppies are particularly likely to experiment with things that humans find disgusting.

A young puppy may not understand that faeces are something they should leave alone. If the puppy discovers that eating it produces an interesting taste, sensation, or reaction from you, the behaviour can become self-reinforcing.

That is why early intervention matters.

Stopping Dog From Eating Poop Starts With Prevention

One of the biggest training mistakes owners make is giving the dog repeated opportunities to practise the unwanted behaviour.

Every successful poop-eating episode can strengthen the habit.

For that reason, management comes first.

Pick Up Immediately

The simplest strategy is also one of the most effective.

As soon as your dog finishes toileting, calmly move in and remove the faeces.

Do not wait five minutes.

Do not assume your dog will ignore it.

If your dog is particularly fast, keep waste bags ready before taking them outside.

Supervise Toilet Breaks

For dogs that regularly eat poop, toilet time should initially be supervised.

Take your dog outside on a lead if necessary. When they finish, immediately call them away and reward them.

The sequence should become:

Toilet → come away → reward → poop disappears.

With enough repetition, your dog begins to expect something good after toileting rather than looking for the faeces.

Control Access to Other Dogs’ Faeces

This is especially important on walks.

You cannot control everything your dog encounters outdoors, so use management tools such as:

• Keeping your dog on a lead in high-risk areas
• Watching the ground ahead
• Calling your dog away before they reach faeces
• Avoiding heavily contaminated areas
• Using a secure, appropriately fitted basket muzzle if recommended and properly introduced by a qualified professional

The goal is not to control your dog forever.

It is to prevent rehearsal while you train a better response.

How to Train a Dog to Stop Eating Poop

Training should focus on teaching your dog what to do instead.

Simply shouting “NO!” after your dog has grabbed the faeces does not teach the alternative behaviour.

Here is a practical training process.

Step 1: Teach “Leave It” Away From Poop

Do not begin training with faeces.

Start somewhere clean and boring.

Place a low-value object on the floor and keep your dog on a lead if needed. When your dog investigates it, say “Leave it” in a calm voice.

The moment your dog moves away from the object, reward them with something better.

Repeat.

Gradually increase the temptation.

Your dog learns that ignoring something can produce a better reward.

Step 2: Practise With Increasing Distractions

Once your dog understands “Leave it”, practise in different rooms and outdoor areas.

Use toys, food, tissues, sticks and other harmless objects.

Do not constantly repeat the command.

Say it once, give your dog an opportunity to respond, then reward the correct choice.

You want the command to become meaningful.

Step 3: Teach “Come”

A strong recall is extremely useful for stopping dog from eating poop.

Start indoors.

Say your dog’s name followed by “Come!” in a happy voice. When your dog reaches you, immediately reward them.

Gradually move outside and introduce distractions.

Never turn recall training into a constant source of punishment. Your dog should learn that coming to you is worthwhile.

Step 4: Practise After Toileting

Now combine the skills.

Take your dog outside on a lead.

Allow them to toilet without interference. As soon as they finish, cheerfully say “Come!”

When your dog turns towards you, reward generously.

You can then pick up the faeces.

This creates a new routine.

Finish toileting → hear recall → run to owner → receive reward.

That routine is far more useful than repeatedly telling the dog what not to do.

Use High-Value Rewards

If your dog considers poop extremely rewarding, your training reward needs to compete.

That does not necessarily mean giving enormous amounts of food.

Instead, choose something your dog genuinely values.

Examples include:

• Small pieces of cooked chicken
• Tiny pieces of lean meat
• A favourite training treat
• A short game with a favourite toy
• Praise combined with food

Keep treats small so you can reward frequently without overfeeding.

The reward should arrive immediately after the desired behaviour.

Make Your Dog’s Environment More Interesting

Boredom can contribute to many unwanted behaviours.

A dog that spends much of the day with little stimulation may invent their own entertainment.

That can include chewing, digging, barking and investigating faeces.

Give your dog appropriate outlets for their natural behaviours.

Increase Mental Stimulation

Consider:

• Sniffing walks
• Food puzzles
• Short obedience sessions
• Hide-and-seek games
• Scatter feeding
• Scent games
• Appropriate chew items
• Basic trick training

You do not need to exhaust your dog physically every day.

Mental exercise matters too.

A five-minute training session can be surprisingly valuable when it requires your dog to think and make choices.

Never Punish Your Dog for Eating Poop

This deserves special attention.

Hitting, yelling, rubbing your dog’s nose in faeces, or aggressively chasing them can make the situation worse.

Your dog may learn that humans become frightening around faeces.

Some dogs respond by swallowing the faeces faster. Others may begin toileting secretly because they are trying to avoid punishment.

Neither outcome helps.

Instead, remain calm and focus on prevention and training.

Avoid Turning It Into a Chase Game

If your dog grabs faeces and you immediately chase them around the yard, they may interpret the situation as exciting.

You have accidentally created a game.

Instead, use your trained recall or “Leave it” cue and calmly move away when possible.

Reward cooperation.

Check Your Dog’s Diet and Health

Behavioural training is important, but persistent coprophagia can sometimes have a medical component.

If your dog suddenly starts eating faeces after never having done so previously, talk to your veterinarian.

Veterinary assessment may be particularly appropriate if the behaviour is accompanied by:

• Weight loss
• Increased hunger
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Changes in drinking
• Changes in appetite
• Poor coat condition
• Lethargy
• Other unusual behaviour

Some health problems can alter appetite or digestion, so it is sensible to rule out medical causes when the behaviour is persistent, sudden, or accompanied by other symptoms.

Do not assume your dog simply needs a supplement.

Products marketed specifically to discourage poop eating have varying evidence behind them, and they should not replace proper management and training.

Common Mistakes When Stopping Dog From Eating Poop

Giving Too Much Freedom Too Soon

If your dog has a long-standing habit, unrestricted access to the yard can make training much harder.

Use supervision until the behaviour is reliably improving.

Repeating Commands

Saying “leave it, leave it, leave it, LEAVE IT!” teaches your dog that the first few repetitions can be ignored.

Give the cue once.

Then act.

Rewarding Too Late

Timing matters.

If your dog leaves the faeces but receives a treat 30 seconds later, they may not clearly connect the reward with the desired behaviour.

Reward immediately.

Expecting Overnight Results

Habits take time to change.

If your dog has been eating poop for months or years, expect to spend some time building a new routine.

Progress might look like your dog hesitating before approaching the faeces.

That hesitation is valuable.

Reward it.

An Expert 7-Day Training Plan

Here is a simple starting program.

Days 1–2: Prevent Access

Focus almost entirely on management.

Supervise toilet breaks and remove faeces immediately.

Begin practising “Leave it” indoors.

Days 3–4: Build Recall

Practise “Come” several times throughout the day.

Use excellent rewards and keep sessions short.

Days 5–6: Combine the Skills

Practise immediately after your dog toilets.

Call them away, reward them, and remove the faeces.

Day 7: Add Distractions

Practise in different parts of the yard or on controlled walks.

Keep expectations realistic.

The objective is not perfection in one week. The objective is establishing a repeatable training system.

What If My Dog Eats Another Dog’s Poop?

This can be more challenging because you have less control over the environment.

Your priorities should be distance, awareness and recall.

Watch the ground ahead of your dog and intervene before they reach faeces.

If you regularly visit a dog park or shared area where faeces are present, consider choosing quieter locations while you work on the behaviour.

A reliable “Leave it” command becomes particularly valuable here.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will My Dog Eventually Stop Eating Poop?

Some dogs naturally grow out of the behaviour, particularly puppies, but you should not rely on age alone.

The more often a dog performs a behaviour, the more established it can become. Early management combined with training gives you a much better opportunity to change the habit.

2. Is Eating Poop Dangerous for Dogs?

Eating faeces can expose dogs to bacteria, parasites, and other contaminants, depending on the source.

If your dog regularly eats faeces, particularly faeces from other animals, discuss the behaviour with your veterinarian. Keep parasite prevention and routine veterinary care up to date.

3. How Quickly Can I Stop My Dog From Eating Poop?

There is no universal timeline.

Some dogs respond quickly once access is removed and an alternative behaviour is heavily rewarded. Others require several weeks or longer, particularly when the behaviour is deeply established.

Consistency is more important than speed.

Conclusion: Stopping Dog From Eating Poop Is Achievable

Stopping dog from eating poop is not about finding a magic product or shouting louder when your dog makes the wrong choice.

It is about changing the environment, preventing access, teaching reliable behaviours, rewarding those behaviours and staying consistent.

Start with the basics:

• Pick up faeces immediately
• Supervise toilet breaks
• Teach “Leave it”
• Build a reliable “Come”
• Reward your dog generously for moving away
• Provide more mental stimulation
• Avoid punishment and chasing
• Speak to your veterinarian if the behaviour is sudden, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms

Most importantly, do not let embarrassment stop you from addressing the problem.

Your dog does not need to be labelled “disgusting” or “bad.” They need clear guidance and a better behaviour to perform.

Start with one controlled toilet break today. Reward your dog for coming away, remove the temptation, and repeat the process tomorrow.

Small, consistent training sessions can turn an unpleasant habit into a manageable behaviour—and that is exactly where your dog’s progress begins.