Why Do Dogs Eat Poop
Posted on September 4th, 2010 Written by +Brian Benson Email Author
Some dog owners find themselves asking “Why do dogs eat poop?” Yes, it is kind of disgusting to think about and picture on your mind, but there are actually some valid reasons why some dogs exhibit this kind of behavior. Very much like people and other animals and creatures, dogs also have their own reasons and motives behind their individual behaviors. A dog eats poop for many possible reasons based on the dog’s age, the dog’s training, the dog’s diet, and the dog’s living conditions. According to dog experts and veterinarians, there are several primary reasons why dogs eat poop.
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Why do dogs eat poop?
In the first part of this article, which is the part you are currently reading, it will discuss the main reasons behind dogs eating poop. With these facts, you could possibly answer for yourself why do dogs eat poop in the first place. In the second part of the article, you will find several helpful tips on how to stop your dog from eating poop. Thos who are reading this article are most likely having problems with the behavior of their dogs. You will find some comprehensive remedies and ideas on how to stop the dogs eating poop.
Why do dogs eat poop? Coprophagia is the name of the problem.
The activity of dogs eating poop is actually a habitual and behavioral problem termed by experts as Coprophagia. It is defined as the ingestion or eating of poop or feces that are neither incidental nor accidental. This type of dog behavior is done deliberately and habitually.
As a matter of fact, there a number of behavioral eating problems that are exhibited by some dogs such as pica, the ingestion and eating of non edible objects or materials; psychogenic water drinking, the consumption of high volumes of water which is more than necessary; anorexia, the tendency to starve oneself resulting to substantial weight loss; and gorging, the opposite of anorexia which involves overeating at unhealthy levels. It seems that dogs are a lot like humans too, eh? Notice how some of these eating disorders and behavioral problems can be found among people as well.
However, the focus of this article is on why dogs eat poop which is scientifically termed as coprophagia.
Why do dogs eat poop? It is embedded in their genes.
Arguably, one can say that dogs were “born” to eat poop. Why so? Long ago, before the dogs were tamed and domesticated humans, they were mostly scavengers. They lived in packs and lived off of whatever food or edible object they could find in their environment. Many years ago, probably numbering to the tens of thousands, dogs eating poop was completely normal. They often fed on the waste and food scraps that were left by other animals or other dogs. In short, the reason why dogs eat poop may just be relic from their distant ancestors.
Nevertheless, today, dogs eating poop may be considered normal in certain situations. For instance, mother dogs eat the poop of their newborn puppies. This is perfectly normal behavior among dogs. Mother dogs have that keen instinct to keep her nest and litter clean all the time.
Sometimes, you will see this dog eating poop behavior in households with several dogs. Similar to a pack of wolves, dogs living together have a political hierarchy of sorts. The dogs in the lower part of that hierarchy often eat the poop or stool of the dominant dogs as a sign of submission.
Why do dogs eat poop? Dogs are great students.
It is quite common knowledge that dogs are highly intelligent animals. More often than not, they pick up and learn things very quickly from their surroundings, even the things that you certainly do not want them to learn. For example, picture a dog that was punished due to housebreaking rules. If the mutt got punished for accidentally getting his nose dirty when he sniffed some poop, the next time around he might attempt to “get rid” of the evidence once and for all.
In some cases, a dog might witness and look curiously on his master cleaning up the poop he left behind. As a result, the dog might misunderstand this scenario and attempt to imitate his master’s actions in a similar fashion, so just picks up his poop and stool himself. Moreover, your dog might actually see other dogs eating poop, so they get curious and tend to copy and learn the habit from them.
On the other hand, poop eating behavior may just be a learning experience for some young dogs and puppies. This is basically how they learn things: by putting and tasting almost everything they rest their eyes on. Normally, puppies develop that certain distaste for poop as they grow older. Thus, if your doggy is still a puppy and tends to eat his poop, there is no need to get alarmed and distressed right away. However, you should still observe the puppy’s behavior closely. Also, you should clean up the stool lying around right away as much as possible to prevent the development of bad habits.
Why do dogs eat poop? Dog: “It’s healthier and tastes better than real food.”
According to veterinarians and dog experts, the digestive system of dogs is dependent on a particular mix or set of enzymes in order to remain healthy. These enzymes are necessary for the breaking down and digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates for the dog’s nutritional needs. Some studies and research findings suggest that the digestive system of dogs is not yet well adapted to the composition of modern diets which include more plant proteins and carbohydrates and less animal proteins. Some veterinarians and animal nutritionists have said that dogs eating poop are actually dogs attempting to replenish their store of digestive enzymes, so they could digest their food better.
Additionally, the findings of other studies support that hypothesis, as they have found that most dogs eating poop are actually lacking in the nutritional department. They suggest that dogs resort to poop eating to in an attempt to replenish nutrients in their bodies. Coprophagia, according to studies, is often caused by low levels of Vitamin B in the body.
Why do dogs eat poop? Dogs eat poop to catch their owners’ attention.
In many situations, the behavior of a dog can be linked and associated with the behavior of his owner. Some dogs will eat their poop just to get the attention of their owners. This is especially true for dogs that do not get to spend quality time with their owners; for the dogs, negative attention is better than no attention at all. The common mistake by owners is to scold or reprimand their dogs for eating poop, for it mostly reinforces the behavior rather than correct it.
Bored and lonely dogs sometimes play and eat their poop as a pastime activity. Additionally, some dogs just resort to eating waste and poop because they do not get enough food or are not being fed well by their owners. In some cases, dogs eat poop in an effort to keep their living area and surroundings clean. If their living area is not kept sanitary and clean, some dogs have the tendency to exert their own housekeeping methods by eating their own poop.
Some tips on how stop your dog from eating poop
Now that we have sorted out and discussed the primary reasons why dogs eating poop exhibit the behavior in the first place, let us move on to the second part of the article: the methods on how to prevent and stop the poop eating behavior. Obviously, the main thrust of these tips is to address the primary reasons and causes of the poop eating behavior. Yes, scolding and reprimanding your dog for eating his poop will not suffice. Of course, it would be wise to take your dog to a certified veterinarian and seek advice there, but it would be wiser if you augment and reinforce that advice with some basic methods of your own in your home.
Stop dogs eating poop tip number one: Maintain your dog’s healthy diet
As mentioned above, one of the primary reasons why dogs eat poop is because of nutritional imbalance. The easiest to access balanced food to feed to your beloved dog is kibble, or more specifically, dry kibble. Dry kibble is very high in nutrition and has everything dogs need. Moreover, it prevents tartar and harmful bacteria from building up in your mutt’s teeth and gums. However, you need to make sure that the kibble you get is of high grade and quality. Plain dry kibble is good enough. Stay away from brands that put in fillers in the kibble, as this may worsen the situation instead of remedying it.
Stop dogs eating poop tip number two: Help your dog cope with stress.
Why do dogs eat poop? Most probably, the poor mutt is experiencing stress and anxiety. Dogs in distress are problematic dogs and exhibit various types of abnormal behavior like poop eating. The first thing for you to do is to identify the possible sources of stress for your dog. If your dog gets stressed because of the noise the washing machine makes, help him cope with it. You can avail the services of a certified dog trainer and have him or her practice desensitization exercises with your dog, or you can learn the exercises yourself. Some of these exercises are simple enough and can be practiced and implemented by anyone.
If your dog shows proper behavior and calm, give him a treat and affirm his efforts with a good praise and some scratching on his favorite spots. While doing the desensitization exercises, you just have to keep in mind that the sessions should be short, rewarding, and fun for your dog. This will help him cope with the stressful stimulus and re-associate it with positive experiences instead.
Stop dogs eating poop tip number three: Keep your mutt occupied and busy as much as possible.
why does my dog eat poop? It is because he is probably bored and has nothing else to do. Bored dogs often resort to poop eating and other behavioral problems. Keep in mind that the health of a dog does not rest solely on food and nutrition and the physical aspect; dogs have mental and emotional needs as well. As much as possible, spend some quality time with your dog regularly. A good idea would be to walk or jog around the neighborhood with him every morning or afternoon.
Additionally, you can provide your dog with some stimulating toys. This type of toys will surely keep him engaged and occupied for long hours. Stimulating toys for pets come in various designs and shapes. You can avail of them in your local pet store or supermarket. Also, you could buy several different types of stimulating toys instead of one to make sure that your dog does not easily get tired or bored with the toy.
Stop dogs eating poop tip number four: Maintain a clean living area for your dog.
Why do dogs eat poop? It’s because he is probably attempting to take the trash out by himself. Dogs generally do not like unsanitary surroundings, so it would be best if you maintain the cleanliness of your dog’s living area at all times. You should pick up and clean out his stool as soon as possible. If you maintain everything clean and in order, there will be fewer chances for him to do that poop eating habit. For those dogs that have developed a bad dog eating poop habit, their owners may have to train and teach them anew with good potty habits. This may seem quite difficult at first, but with consistency and firmness, you will surely pull through.
