Why do dogs eat poop

Imagine sitting down and enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning, and your dog jumps into your lap and gives you a big lick on the face. I know for most dog owners that is not hard to imagine, and it's just written off as love or affection, right? Now think about what happened while you were making your coffee. Did you let them outside to go potty? Did they just sample another dog's chocolate soft serve that was left in your yard? Now how sweet were your morning "kisses"?

We have all seen it. Dogs eating their poop or getting a snack out of the litter box, but why do they do it?

The scientific term for this behavior is coprophagy. The eating of feces is widely distributed in the animal world, and among mammals, it is found in rodents, rabbits, beavers, elephants, and non-human primates, to name just a few.

It's the general belief that the droppings being consumed still benefit from nutrients that were not fully extracted during the digestion process and still provide useful dietary resources. As humans, we tend to find this to be gross and unacceptable; it is also one of the main reasons that pets get surrendered to shelters.

Are there breeds where this is more common?

In general, all dogs are prone to the consumption of fecal matter. Studies have shown that neither the age nor the diet changes the behavior; however, having multiple dogs does increase coprophagy. Maybe it's because there are more droppings or one dog is a hoggish eater.

Researchers have found that certain breeds are more likely to eat the droppings of other animals. Breeds like Hounds and Terriers are more likely to consume fecal matter than other breeds, whereas Poodles are the least likely.

How do I get my dog to stop eating poop?

Many studies have been conducted and just as many techniques that people have tried.

There are many different manufacturers that have tried to make poop taste bad. The thinking is that making poop taste bad (more poopy?) is supposed to stop dogs from eating their poop. Products with names like "Deter," "Nasty Habit," and "Potty Mouth" make claims to prevent stool eating. When it comes down to it, the success rate is dismal, ranging from 0 to 2 percent.

Behavioral techniques can improve things but not as much as you would think. Chasing dogs away from stools when they approach it, rewarding successful responses to the command "leave it alone," lacing stools with pepper, or punishing the dog by using electronic, sound-emitting, or citronella dispensing collars have success rates of 1 to 4 percent.

So what's the best way to keep my dogs from eating poop?

The best way is to keep a clean, poop-free environment for your pets. Picking up frequently or having a service come clean and haul away feces. No poop means no poop to eat. This also helps with the spreading of diseases or parasites. Hiring a pet waste removal company to take care of your dog's poop can help keep your pets, family, and yard safe and disease-free.