Why dogs eat their Poo?

This might just be the most baffling of all dog habits. And certainly the most stomach-churning.

But when you discover the real reason why dogs eat poo, it almost—almost—starts to make sense.

So let’s dig in (figuratively, of course!).

Whether your pup is just an occasional nibbler or a full-blown connoisseur of canine “delicacies,” there’s no denying that poo-eating isn’t exactly the most charming part of dog life. And as much as we love our furry friends, this particular habit tends to put them on the “no kisses” list for at least 24 hours—maybe longer, depending on how strong your stomach is.

But if you look a little deeper, the reasons behind this revolting ritual might actually come across as surprisingly logical. Honestly!

There are two main reasons dogs get into a bit of what we’ll call PE (that’s “poo-eating” for those not in the know). The official term is coprophagy… but let’s not get too fancy. 

REASON #1: The Copycat Instinct

Most common in: Puppies under one year old

If you’ve ever watched a litter of newborn pups, you’ll notice that the mother is constantly cleaning up after them—often by eating their poo. As gross as that sounds to us, she’s doing it for two smart reasons: to keep the area clean and to prevent the scent from attracting predators or parasites. It’s a natural maternal instinct.

Now imagine those puppies watching their mum do this several times a day. To them, it’s totally normal. So when they’re older and head off to their new homes, they might follow her example and engage in some PE of their own. It’s not about being naughty—it’s learned behavior.

For these little copycats, a neat trick that works is adding a small amount of paw paw (papaya) to their food. This fruit contains an enzyme that makes their poo taste particularly yuck (or yuck-er?), helping to break the cycle. No, I haven’t tried it myself—but the dog reviews have been quite convincing!

REASON #2: The Nutrient Seeker

Most common in: Dogs over one year old

Dogs are more intuitive than we sometimes give them credit for. Their senses are finely tuned, and when something is missing in their diet—say a certain vitamin, mineral, digestive enzyme, or gut bacteria—they’ll often go sniffing around for it. And unfortunately, sometimes that leads them straight to… well, poop.

It sounds insane, but it’s not that different from what many animals do. Guinea pigs, rabbits, and even koalas regularly eat their own droppings to extract extra nutrients. And believe it or not, humans have also borrowed from this concept—faecal transplants (yes, really) are used in medicine to restore gut health.

So when dogs go searching for balance, they're often doing what their bodies are urging them to do. If they’re lacking in gut-supporting goodies, they might be using PE as a desperate shortcut.

give your dog a healthy dose of prebiotics, vitamins, and minerals. It helps support their digestion and curb the need for… alternative methods.