Why Does My Dog Eat Other Dogs’ Poop on Walks?
It’s one of those moments that makes every dog owner cringe — your dog lunges toward a pile of poop on the pavement and eats it before you can react. This behaviour actually has a scientific name: coprophagia.
While it’s undeniably gross, it’s surprisingly common in dogs of all ages and breeds. Understanding why it happens is the first step toward stopping it for good.
It’s Often Completely Normal Behaviour
Dogs experience the world through their noses and mouths, and other dogs’ faeces carry a wealth of scent information. To your dog, that pile of poop is essentially a detailed message left by another animal.
Puppies especially explore everything orally, and some simply never grow out of the habit if it isn’t addressed early. It doesn’t always mean something is medically wrong.
Nutritional Deficiencies Can Play a Role
If your dog’s diet is lacking in key nutrients, enzymes, or calories, they may seek out alternative food sources — including faeces. Dogs fed low-quality food are sometimes more prone to this behaviour.
Other dogs’ poop, particularly from dogs on different diets, may contain partially digested nutrients that attract your dog’s attention. It’s worth reviewing your dog’s current diet if this happens frequently.
Boredom, Anxiety, and Behavioural Causes
Dogs that are under-stimulated or anxious sometimes turn to coprophagia as a coping mechanism or out of sheer boredom. It can also be an attention-seeking behaviour if the owner reacts dramatically every time.
Stress-related coprophagia is more common in dogs with separation anxiety or those kept in confined spaces for long periods. Addressing the root emotional cause often resolves the problem naturally.
Is It Dangerous for My Dog to Eat Other Dogs’ Poop?
Yes, eating another dog’s faeces carries real health risks that owners should take seriously. It’s not just unpleasant — it can directly harm your dog’s wellbeing.
Parasites Are the Biggest Concern
Other dogs’ poop can contain intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and giardia. These can be transmitted directly to your dog through ingestion and cause significant digestive upset.
Regular worming treatments and vet check-ups are essential if your dog frequently eats faeces on walks. Don’t skip these, especially if your dog has a persistent habit.
Bacterial Infections and Viruses
Faeces from infected dogs can contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or Campylobacter, both of which can cause serious illness. Parvo and other viruses can also survive in faeces for extended periods.
If a dog in your area is unvaccinated or unwell, your dog eating their poop poses a genuine infection risk. Always ensure your dog’s vaccinations are fully up to date.
When to See a Vet
If your dog vomits, has diarrhoea, loses appetite, or seems lethargic after eating faeces, contact your vet promptly. These symptoms may indicate a parasitic infection or bacterial illness requiring treatment.
It’s also worth booking a routine vet visit to rule out underlying nutritional deficiencies or digestive enzyme issues that could be driving the behaviour. A vet can run a simple blood panel or stool test to check.
How to Stop Your Dog Eating Poop on Walks
The good news is that coprophagia is a manageable behaviour with the right approach. Consistency and patience are key — this won’t be fixed overnight.
Train a Reliable «Leave It» Command
Teaching your dog a solid «leave it» command is one of the most effective tools in your arsenal. When your dog understands this cue, you can redirect them away from poop before they reach it.
Practice «leave it» at home first with low-value items, then gradually increase the difficulty with more tempting objects. Reward generously with high-value treats every time your dog complies successfully.
If your dog is still working on basic obedience and social skills around other dogs, it may also help to read about how to socialise a dog with other dogs and people to build overall walk manners.
Use High-Value Treats as Redirection
When you spot poop ahead on the walk, use a tasty treat to redirect your dog’s attention before they get close enough to eat it. Make yourself more interesting than the faeces — which takes serious treat firepower.
Carry high-value dog training treats specifically for walk use so your dog associates good things with ignoring poop. Freeze-dried meat treats often work brilliantly for this purpose.
Keep Your Dog on a Shorter Lead
On walks where poop is common — like parks or busy paths — keeping your dog on a shorter lead gives you more control. You’ll have time to steer them away before they can snatch and eat anything.
Extendable leads actually make this behaviour harder to manage because your dog gets too far ahead. A standard fixed-length lead of around 1.5 to 2 metres gives you much better control.
Muzzle Training as a Short-Term Tool
If your dog’s coprophagia is persistent and poses a health risk, a basket muzzle can be used temporarily during walks. It physically prevents eating while you work on training.
Always introduce a muzzle gradually and positively so your dog doesn’t associate it with fear or punishment. A properly fitted basket muzzle for dogs still allows them to pant, drink, and take treats.
Watch Your Reaction
Shouting or making a big fuss when your dog eats poop can accidentally reinforce the behaviour by giving them attention. Stay calm, redirect with a command, and reward the correct response instead.
Dogs are very sensitive to owner reactions, and if poop-eating reliably gets your attention, some dogs will do it more. A neutral, consistent response combined with redirection is far more effective.
Dietary Changes That May Help
Reviewing your dog’s diet is worthwhile if coprophagia is a regular occurrence. Poor nutrition is a genuine trigger for this behaviour in many dogs.
Upgrade to a Nutritionally Complete Food
Ensure your dog is eating a complete, balanced diet appropriate for their age, size, and activity level. Cheap, filler-heavy foods may leave dogs nutritionally unsatisfied.
Speak to your vet about whether your dog’s current food meets their needs. Sometimes switching to a higher-quality formula resolves the behaviour entirely within a few weeks.
Consider Digestive Enzyme Supplements
Some vets recommend adding digestive enzyme supplements to meals for dogs with coprophagia. The theory is that digestive deficiencies cause dogs to seek out enzymes in other animals’ faeces.
Probiotic supplements can also support gut health and reduce the behaviour in some dogs. Always check with your vet before adding any supplement to your dog’s routine.
Try Stool Deterrent Products
There are commercial supplements designed to make a dog’s own faeces unpalatable, but these won’t stop your dog eating other dogs’ poop on walks. They only work when added to the diet of the dog producing the faeces.
For targeting other dogs’ poop on walks, training and management strategies are your most reliable tools. Products like coprophagia deterrent supplements are better suited to multi-dog households where you control all the dogs’ diets.
Other Unusual Eating Behaviours in Dogs
Coprophagia isn’t the only odd eating habit dogs develop on walks. Many dogs also eat grass, soil, or random debris they find on the ground.
If your dog regularly eats grass on walks, you might find it helpful to read about what you should do if your dog eats grass — the causes and solutions overlap in some interesting ways.
These behaviours share common roots in curiosity, nutritional need, and boredom. Addressing them with consistent training, enrichment, and a good diet tends to reduce most unusual eating habits over time.
Preventing the Habit From Forming in Puppies
The easiest time to stop coprophagia is before it becomes a habit. If you have a puppy, start training «leave it» from day one and don’t allow them to approach faeces on walks.
Supervise puppies closely during outdoor time and redirect them enthusiastically whenever they show interest in poop. Rewarding alternative behaviours — like checking in with you — builds the right habits from the start.
Providing your puppy with plenty of mental stimulation and enrichment also reduces the exploratory behaviour that leads to poop-eating. Consider offering healthy homemade dog treats to keep your pup engaged and satisfied during training sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for dogs to eat other dogs’ poop?
Yes, it’s a common behaviour called coprophagia. While normal, it carries health risks and should be discouraged through consistent training and management.
Can my dog get sick from eating another dog’s poop?
Yes, it can transmit parasites like worms and giardia, plus harmful bacteria and viruses. Keep vaccinations and worming treatments current if this happens regularly.
Why does my dog eat poop only on walks?
On walks, your dog encounters unfamiliar smells from other dogs’ faeces. Curiosity, scent attraction, and the excitement of the walk environment all contribute to the behaviour.
Will my dog grow out of eating poop?
Some puppies do outgrow it naturally, but many won’t without intervention. Consistent training from an early age gives you the best chance of stopping it permanently.
Should I punish my dog for eating poop?
No — punishment tends to make things worse or simply teaches dogs to eat poop more quickly. Positive redirection with treats and commands is far more effective.
