Foundation Camp
A 21-day board-and-train that builds solid obedience and manners, the right fit for milder issues.
Dog Behavior Solutions
Break the Stool-Eating Habit
It is unpleasant and worrying, but coprophagia is common and usually manageable. Partners Dogs helps you rule out medical causes and build the management and training that ends the habit.
Behavior severity
MildWhat you may be seeing
- Eating their own stool or that of other animals
- Seeking out stool on walks or in the yard
- Doing it more when bored or unsupervised
- Puppies mouthing and sampling stool while exploring
Seek help sooner if stool eating starts suddenly, or comes with weight loss, appetite change, vomiting, or other digestive signs, which point to a veterinary visit first.
Understanding the behavior
What is stool eating (coprophagia)?
Stool eating, or coprophagia, is common, especially in puppies and young dogs. Causes range from normal exploration and boredom to diet, learned habit, and sometimes an underlying medical issue. It is unpleasant, and it can carry a risk of parasites, so it is worth addressing rather than waiting for a dog to grow out of it.
Start with a veterinary check to rule out nutritional or digestive causes. Then management does most of the early work: pick up stool right away, keep the yard clean, and walk on leash so you can guide your dog away before the habit repeats. On top of that we teach a reliable leave it and a recall away from temptation.
Most dogs improve with consistent management and training. If the behavior appeared suddenly or comes with weight loss, appetite changes, or other digestive signs, treat that as a reason to see your veterinarian first.
Partners Dogs has trained Arizona dogs through every kind of stool eating (coprophagia) case since 1997, at our Scottsdale and Cave Creek facilities. Lifetime trainer support is included with every board-and-train program.
The transformation
Before and after training
Drag the slider to see the change our programs make for a dog with stool eating (coprophagia). Same dog, same home, real outcome.
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Recommended path · Mild severity
The right program for stool eating (coprophagia)
Based on how stool eating (coprophagia) typically presents, here is where we would start. Not sure which fits? Take the PD360 assessment for a personalized recommendation.
Group Classes
Weekly Pet Parenting classes with our trainers, practice in a structured social environment.
The process
How it works
Assessment and check-in
- We verify vaccination records and complete pre-check-in forms.
- Your dog receives a full behavioral assessment.
- We set goals and build a personalized training plan.
- You meet the primary trainer and tour the facility.
Training and progress reports
- Multiple active training sessions every day.
- Controlled exposure and desensitization to triggers.
- Immersive socialization in a managed environment.
- Regular progress reports with photos and video.
Transition and follow-up
- Private lessons that transfer the training to you.
- Pet Parenting group classes for ongoing support.
- Access to our full Pet Parent Guide.
- Weeks of follow-up so the change lasts at home.
Not sure which program
Get a recommendation in minutes
Take our quick PD360 assessment for a personalized recommendation, or talk to a trainer who has seen stool eating (coprophagia) many times before.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do certain foods or supplements stop stool eating?
Sometimes, but results vary a lot by dog, and supplements work best as one piece of a broader plan, not a standalone fix.
- Digestive enzymes and probiotics can help if the underlying driver is incomplete digestion, some dogs eat stool because their own waste still smells like undigested food to them.
- A diet review with your vet is worth doing before adding supplements, since a food that's a poor match for your dog's system can be the root cause.
- “Taste deterrent” additives (added to the dog's food to make their own stool less appealing) have genuinely mixed results in practice. Some dogs respond, many don't.
- The training piece still matters. Even with supplements on board, teaching a reliable “leave it” and managing yard access remains the most consistent fix.
Talk to your vet before starting anything, since the right approach depends on what's actually driving it for your dog.
What program helps with stool eating, and what does it cost?
Stool eating is usually handled through Foundation Camp, our 14-day board-and-train ($3,509, discounted with membership), or coached directly at home with Private Lessons alongside a vet visit to rule out medical causes first. A $199 PD360 Assessment, credited toward enrollment, confirms the right level of support for your dog.
Is stool eating dangerous for my dog's health?
It's not risk-free, and it deserves a vet visit rather than being dismissed as just a gross habit.
- Parasites. Eating stool, especially from other dogs on trails, dog parks, or shared yards, is a real transmission route for intestinal parasites.
- Bacterial and viral pathogens can also be present in stool from unknown or sick dogs.
- Underlying causes worth ruling out include nutrient deficiencies, pancreatic insufficiency, parasites already present, or a diet the dog isn't fully digesting, which can all make stool eating more likely in the first place.
A vet visit is the right first step, both to catch anything the behavior might have caused and to rule out a medical driver behind it. From there, the behavioral piece is very manageable.
Why does my dog eat poop (coprophagia)?
Coprophagia is one of the most common questions we get, and one of the most misunderstood. Several things can drive it:
- Instinct. Mother dogs clean up after puppies as a den-hygiene behavior, and some puppies carry a version of that instinct forward even after weaning.
- Medical causes. Nutrient deficiencies, malabsorption issues, parasites, or a diet that isn't being fully digested can all make stool more appealing to a dog. Always worth a vet check, especially if the habit is new.
- Boredom or under-stimulation. A dog with too little to do can find the yard's contents entertaining, unfortunately.
- Attention-seeking or anxiety. Some dogs learn that eating stool gets a big, fast reaction from their owner, which can accidentally reinforce the habit.
It is common, especially in puppies, and it is very rarely a sign of a badly behaved or untrainable dog.
How do I train my dog to stop eating stool?
The most effective approach combines management with training, neither alone works as well as both together.
- Clean up promptly. The single most effective step. If there is nothing in the yard to find, there is nothing to eat. Pick up immediately after every potty break.
- Teach a rock-solid “leave it.” Practice with low-value items first, build up to real-world distractions, until the cue works reliably outdoors under real conditions.
- Supervise outdoor time. Especially during the training phase, watch closely so you can intervene before the behavior happens rather than after.
- Reward the walk-away, not just the absence of the behavior. Actively praise and reward your dog for choosing to move on from stool when they encounter it.
Most dogs improve significantly within a few weeks of consistent management plus training. This is core Foundation Camp material.
Related behaviors
Dogs with stool eating (coprophagia) often show these patterns too. Explore the behaviors below. We treat them all.
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Talk to a trainer now
Every dog and household is different. Get a real conversation with a Partners Dogs trainer who has treated stool eating (coprophagia) for more than 28 years. No pressure, just guidance on your dog's best path forward.