My 9-month-old puppy eating its own poo

Hi,

Coprophagia (eating their own poop) is a relatively common behaviour in young dogs. It can have several causes: normal exploration, boredom, attention-seeking, stress, or sometimes a rarer medical issue. I’d first suggest speaking with your vet to rule out any medical cause. If everything is clear, try to pick up the stools as soon as they are passed, increase your puppy's physical and mental stimulation, and avoid scolding them after the fact, as this can sometimes reinforce the behaviour. At 9 months old, this behaviour can still improve over time with the right approach.

Best wishes,

Romane

Hi there,

This behaviour is more common than you might think in puppies. It's called coprophagia.

At 9 months old, it's not necessarily a cause for concern, but you should try to understand the underlying cause. Some dogs do it out of boredom, others out of habit, because they're a bit greedy, or simply because they find it interesting...

The first step should be to pick up his poo as soon as he's done it to stop him from going back to it. The more he repeats the behaviour, the more likely it is to become a habit.

Also, make sure his diet is appropriate for his age and that he's getting enough food.

Is he only eating his own poo, or is he eating other animals' droppings during walks as well?

CompagnonNova
Dog and cat enthusiast