How to Stop Your Dog from Eating Feces

Why Dogs Eat Feces

Dogs may eat feces due to instinct, boredom, or taste. Some dogs, especially those from stressful backgrounds like puppy mills, develop the habit from lack of stimulation and play. Jasmine, a dog from a shelter, played with her own feces like a toy—something she likely did during long, lonely hours in confinement. This behavior is often linked to oral fixation, scavenging instincts, and a lack of appropriate outlets.

Dogs with strong scavenging tendencies may eat feces quickly, similar to how they’d eat food to avoid competition. Fast eating during meals can also be a sign of this instinct. While some believe feces taste good, smell plays a bigger role—dogs are drawn to strong odors, which may signal food.

Stop the Behavior with Immediate Cleanup

The most effective way to prevent coprophagia is to remove access. If your dog can’t reach the feces, she can’t eat it. Be vigilant: clean up after your dog immediately, especially in yards or on walks. This is the only guaranteed method to stop the behavior, as no deterrents are consistently reliable.

Some people try bitter sprays, pepper, pineapple, or Tabasco on feces, but these often fail. Bitter tastes only register if they pass over the rear third of the tongue, and fast-eating dogs may swallow without tasting. Plus, dogs may just avoid treated feces and eat untreated ones instead—meaning the behavior isn’t changed, only made more selective.

Use Positive Reinforcement Training

Train your dog to respond to “leave it” and “look at me” when she shows interest in feces. If you catch her about to eat, interrupt her with a firm “leave it,” then redirect her attention to you with “look at me.” Reward her with a treat when she focuses on you.

This works best if you’ve already trained these commands. The reward must come immediately after the correct behavior. Even if your dog eats the feces first, reward her anyway—don’t scold. She may be afraid of your reaction or trying to get the treat. Over time, she’ll learn that ignoring the feces leads to rewards.

Reward After Pooping to Redirect Behavior

Give your dog a high-value treat right after she poops. This teaches her that pooping outside leads to something good—reinforcing outdoor bathroom habits and shifting her focus from feces to you.

This method also supports potty training. The dog learns that going outside is the right place, not inside. It’s a simple, effective way to build positive associations with elimination.

Address Boredom and Scavenging Instincts

Many dogs eat feces out of boredom or lack of stimulation. Jasmine, for example, lost interest in her poop once she got toys and playtime. Provide durable chew toys, hide treats around the house, and create “treasure hunts” to satisfy her natural scavenging instincts.

A raw meat and bones diet may also help. Kibble-fed dogs often produce bulkier, more flavorful feces due to fillers and additives. Raw diets are digested more completely, leading to less odorous, less appealing stools. While not guaranteed, this dietary change may reduce the appeal of feces.