Why Does My Puppy Eat Poop And How Can I Stop It?

Background and Instinctual Behavior: Coprophagia, or poop eating, is an instinctual behavior in some puppies that can be traced back to the ancestral behaviors of wild canines. Wolves and other wild canids often consume the feces of herbivores to extract any remaining nutrients from undigested plant matter and to keep their environment clean by removing fecal matter that might attract parasites. This behavior, which has potential benefits such as nutrient recycling and den sanitation, might have been inherited by domesticated dogs. In the context of domestic dogs, mothers may consume their puppies' feces to keep the den clean and protect them from parasites, suggesting a natural basis for this behavior.

Understanding the Behavior: Coprophagia is observed in domestic dogs, potentially as a vestigial trait from their wild counterparts. It may also serve practical functions, such as territory marking or den sanitation in many settings.