How to stop your dog from eating poop in a Gresham, OR yard
It's gross, but it's common. Many dogs eat poop at some point, especially puppies. Most grow out of it or stop with a few changes at home. Here's why dogs do it, when to talk to your vet and what works best.
The short answer: take away the chance
The most effective fix is a yard with nothing to eat. Pick up poop right after your dog goes, or at least on a regular schedule, and stay with your dog in the yard for a while so you can step in. Training and a vet check help too, but they work much better when the poop isn't sitting there every day.
Why do dogs eat poop?
Vets call it coprophagia. There usually isn't one cause, and often it's a mix of these:
- Puppy habit. Puppies explore with their mouths, and mother dogs clean up after their litter. Many puppies copy that and grow out of it.
- Boredom. A dog left alone in the yard with little to do may find its own entertainment.
- Attention. If eating poop gets a big reaction from you, a dog may keep doing it because it works.
- Hunger or diet. A dog that isn't getting enough food, or isn't absorbing it well, may look for more.
- Stress or anxiety. Changes at home, being kenneled for long periods or being punished for accidents can play a part.
When should I call the vet?
Call your vet if the habit starts suddenly in an adult dog, or if your dog also has diarrhea, weight loss, vomiting or a bigger appetite than usual. Digestive problems, parasites and some other conditions can cause it, and a fecal test and a checkup can rule those out. Ask your vet before changing your dog's food.
The health risk. Eating poop is the fastest way for worms and giardia to get from the yard back into a dog, including a dog that was just treated. Our post on whether a dog can get sick from poop in the yard explains how that cycle works.
How to stop it
- Keep the yard clean. Pick up right after your dog goes when you can, and at least once a week no matter what. Less poop in the yard means fewer chances.
- Go out with your dog. For a few weeks, take your dog out on a leash or stay with them in the yard. Pick up right away so the habit doesn't get a chance to repeat.
- Call your dog away and reward it. Right after your dog poops, call them to you and give a treat. Over time, many dogs learn to come to you instead of turning around.
- Teach "leave it." A solid "leave it" helps in the yard and on walks. Practice with low-value items first, then work up.
- Stay calm. Don't yell or punish. Some dogs learn to eat it faster so they don't get caught, which makes it worse.
- Add exercise and things to do. Walks, play and puzzle feeders help with boredom, which is a common cause.
- Block the litter box. If you have cats, put the litter box where your dog can't reach it.
Some owners try products added to food that are meant to make poop taste bad. Results are mixed, so ask your vet before relying on one.
How often should I scoop if my dog eats poop?
As often as you can. While you're breaking the habit, pick up right away or at least every day. Once your dog stops, weekly is usually enough for most yards. Our guide on how often to scoop covers schedules by number of dogs, and a pooper scooper service can handle the weekly cleanup while you work on the training.