Poop Eating (coprophagia)

Let's talk about coprophagia. First, see your vet, because malabsorption, pancreatic insufficiency, and parasites can drive it. If the dog is starving on a full bowl, the stool still smells like food to him.

Once the vet clears the dog, the fix is management first, training second. Step one: you are too late if you are yelling. Get out there with the dog and pick up the stool within five seconds of it hitting the ground.

Step two: teach a strong leave-it on a leash before you ever trust the dog in the yard alone. Step three: add a spoonful of canned pumpkin or a sprinkle of meat tenderizer to the food. It changes the taste.

Step four: do not punish after the fact. The dog cannot connect the yelling to the act. Be the leader, be the alpha, but leadership means cleaning up, not screaming.

Now here's Steve's notes.