Behavior
How to Stop a Dog From Eating Poop
Behavior · 5 min read · Updated November 12, 2026
Yes, it is gross, and yes, it is very common. Most dogs that eat poop are healthy dogs with a bad habit. The fix that works best is simple: pick up poop right away, teach a strong leave it, and pay your dog well for leaving it and coming back to you.
Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and mother dogs clean up after their pups, so pups may copy that. Some adult dogs are just bored in the yard, and some plain like the taste. The plan below covers cleanup, training, and making the yard less fun for snacking. If your dog also gets into other yard trouble, our guide on how to stop a dog from digging pairs well with this one.
Why dogs eat poop
A dog's sense of smell and taste is not like ours. Poop from other animals, and even their own, can smell like food to a dog, above all if some of the meal did not fully digest. To us it is waste. To a dog it can be a snack.
Habit and boredom play a big part too. A dog left alone in the yard with nothing to do will find her own fun. One thing that does not help is scolding her after you find the mess. She cannot tie your anger to what she did an hour ago, and some dogs just learn to snack when no one is watching.
Clean the yard fast
This is the least fun step and the one that works best. You cannot eat what is not there. Pick up poop every day, and for a while, go out with your dog and pick up right after she goes.
Leash walks for bathroom trips make this easy for a few weeks. Walk her, let her go, pick it up at once, then let her play. Do the same for litter boxes indoors. Put the cat box behind a gate or in a room your dog cannot reach, because cat poop is a top prize for many dogs.
Teach leave it and a happy recall
Leave it gives your dog a clear job when she finds something gross. Start indoors. Hold a treat in a closed fist. When she stops sniffing and pulls her nose back, say yes and pay her with a better treat from your other hand. When that is easy, practice with a treat on the floor under your shoe.
Then take it to the yard. The second your dog sniffs at poop, say leave it, call her name with a happy voice, and pay big when she comes, with cheese, chicken, or her favorite treat. You are teaching her that leaving poop and running to you pays more than the snack does. Dogs who put their mouths on everything also do well with our guide on how to stop a dog from chewing.
Make the yard boring, and know when to see a vet
Supervise yard time while you train. Give your dog something better to do out there, like a stuffed food toy, a sniff game in the grass, or a few minutes of play with you. A busy dog snacks less. Puppies are the worst offenders, since the same mouth-first stage also drives puppy biting.
Most of the time this is just a habit, not an illness. But if an adult dog starts eating poop all of a sudden, or it comes with weight loss, loose stool, or a big change in appetite, see your vet. That needs a vet check in person. A guide cannot tell you why it is happening, and your vet can rule out health causes.
Frequently asked questions
Is eating poop dangerous for my dog?
Usually it is more gross than dangerous, but poop can carry worms and germs. That is a good reason to stop the habit and to keep up with the checkups and care your vet sets for your dog.
Do taste deterrent products work?
Results are mixed. Some dogs dislike the taste they add and stop, and some dogs do not care at all. Fast cleanup and training work for almost every dog, so start there and treat products as a backup, not the plan.
My dog eats the cat's poop. How do I stop that?
Block access first. Move the litter box behind a baby gate, a door strap, or into a room with a cat-sized door. Most dogs find cat poop hard to resist, so management beats training here.
Will hot sauce or pineapple on the poop stop it?
These home tricks are hit or miss, and you have to treat every pile, every time. Most people find that picking up fast and teaching leave it works better and takes less effort in the long run.
My puppy eats poop. Is that normal?
Yes, it is very common in puppies, and most grow out of it. Clean up at once, start leave it early, and keep paying your pup for coming to you. Puppies put everything in their mouths, so our guide to [stopping puppy biting](/guides/how-to-stop-a-puppy-from-biting) is useful for the same stage of life.
When should I call the vet about poop eating?
Call if an adult dog starts the habit all of a sudden, or if you also see weight loss, vomiting, loose stool that does not clear up, or a dog eating lots of things that are not food at all. Those signs need a vet check, not a training plan.