Copraphagia is the technical term for when an animal eats its own feces. And it can be quite shocking if you've never encountered it before. Here are a few reasons why your dog might be exhibiting this odd behavior ...

1. Habit. When puppies are with their litter, one or more of the puppies will clean up the waste from everyone. Unfortunately, sometimes this habit continues, even when they get older.
​
2. Lack of nutrients. When puppies or dogs eat a diet with insufficient nutrient content, it is not uncommon for them to seek out the non-digested food found in their own feces.
​ 
3. Behavior. When puppies or dogs eat their own poop, most pet parents get annoyed and admonish them verbally (or worse, physically punish them). Any behavior, positive or negative, can be incentive to continue a given behavior. Rather than reacting negatively, we recommend ignoring your dog when this behavior occurs.
​ 
Our recommendation is that you provide your dog with one of our premium foods as well as our Wellness Supplement. This combination will ensure they're getting the nutrients they need to grow and be happy, and not seek additional nutrients from less desirable sources.
​ 
Additionally, be aware there are numerous products available that can be added to food that will render the feces completely unappealing. If the problem persists, consider discussing the problem with a veterinarian or a canine behaviorist.

For additional information on this topic, please read our blog post on coprophagia.
​