Kroki

Question · Dog

How do I stop my dog eating poop?

The short answer

Start with a vet check, especially if the habit is new, your dog seems hungry or has lost weight. Then prevent rehearsal: pick up at once in the garden, keep your dog on a lead or long line where poo is common, and reward it generously for walking past or turning to you. Teach a strong Leave it and a swap for found items. Scolding usually backfires. Kroki, a reward-based training app for puppies and dogs, teaches Leave it, swapping and rewarding check-ins.

How to do it, step by step

  1. See the vet first, especially if it is new

    A sudden start, a bigger appetite, weight loss, diarrhoea or new medication are all reasons for a vet check. Older dogs in particular can change their eating habits because of health changes, and that needs a vet, not training.

  2. Remove the opportunity at home

    Pick up in the garden straight after your dog has been, and go out with it rather than letting it out alone. In multi-dog homes, clean up after every dog. Keep litter trays out of reach.

  3. Pay for the poo routine

    When your dog has finished, call it cheerfully away and give a high-value treat. Over time it will turn straight to you after pooing, which keeps it away from the pile.

  4. Build a strong Leave it and a swap

    Practise Leave it with food in your hand, then on the floor, then with smelly decoys outside. Teach a swap for things it already has in its mouth, so you never need to pry its jaws open.

  5. Manage walks with a lead, line or muzzle

    Where poo is common, such as fields with horses, sheep or many dogs, use a long line attached to a harness. A well-fitted basket muzzle that your dog has learned to like is another option for persistent poo eaters.

  6. Reward check-ins on walks

    Whenever your dog looks back at you, mark it and give a treat. A dog that keeps an eye on you is easier to steer away before it finds something, and it earns rewards for the right choice.

Your dog is still a puppy?

In puppies, eating poo is very common and often fades with age. Prevention is simpler at that stage: go out together, clean up straight away and reward the puppy for coming to you. The puppy page explains that gentler start.

Why poo eating is so hard to stop

Two online surveys from the University of California, Davis looked at thousands of dogs. In one, 16 percent had been seen eating dog poo at least six times. These dogs mostly went for fresh poo up to two days old, were more often described as greedy eaters, and were more often found in homes with more than one dog. No link with diet or age turned up (Hart and colleagues 2018).

The same surveys asked what owners had tried. Sprays, powders and food additives were reported to work in almost no cases, and training approaches did hardly better (Hart and colleagues 2018). The behaviour is deeply rooted, so it makes sense to rely on management, quick clean-up and good rewards, not on a single product.

Harsh methods add risk without adding results. A review concluded that aversive methods can harm a dog’s physical and mental health, with no evidence that they work better than rewards (Ziv 2017). A dog told off near poo may simply learn to grab it faster or to avoid you when it finds some.

Situations that need extra planning

  • Multi-dog homes: the other dog’s fresh poo is the most common target, so walk both dogs and clean up at once.
  • Rescue dogs: some have lived in kennels with little food and learned to clean up. Feed measured meals and give it time.
  • Cat poo: put the litter tray behind a gate or in a cupboard with a cat flap.
  • Fox, horse or sheep droppings: use a long line in those places and keep a treat ready for walking past.

Common mistakes with grown dogs

  • Shouting or chasing your dog. It may swallow faster or start avoiding you outdoors.
  • Relying on additives only. Owners rarely report lasting success.
  • Skipping the vet because “it’s just a habit”. New or worse poo eating can be a sign of illness.
  • Using a spray or shock collar. It adds fear and does not teach what to do instead.

When to see a professional

Poo eating can have health causes. See a professional if:

  • the habit is new or getting worse, or your dog has diarrhoea, vomits, loses weight, drinks more or seems constantly hungry

    Have a vet take a look

  • your dog stiffens, growls or snaps when you come near poo or other found items

    Get support from professionals

  • your dog may have eaten something poisonous outdoors, such as rat bait, or is suddenly weak, shaking or collapsing

    Emergency: get help now

The help pages list services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Elsewhere, ask your vet practice who they recommend near you.

Frequently asked questions

Why has my older dog suddenly started eating poop?

A sudden change in an older dog is a reason to see the vet, because health problems and some medicines can increase appetite. Training only comes after medical causes have been checked.

Does adding pineapple or courgette to food stop dogs eating poop?

There is little evidence that it works, and owners in a large survey reported almost no success with additives. Ask your vet before changing your dog’s diet.

Why does my dog eat the other dog’s poop?

Fresh poo from a housemate is the most common target. Go out with both dogs, clean up straight away and reward the poo eater for coming to you.

Is a muzzle a good idea for a dog that eats poop on walks?

A well-fitted basket muzzle that your dog has learned to like can be a safe tool in places with lots of droppings. It should allow panting, drinking and taking treats.

Is eating poop dangerous for my dog?

It can pass on worms, other parasites and germs, especially from other animals. Medicines given to horses or other animals can also end up in their droppings, so ask your vet about local risks.

Can a grown dog unlearn eating poop?

Many dogs eat less poo with good management and rewards, but some keep trying for life. Plan to manage the habit long term rather than waiting for it to disappear.

Sources