It’s no secret that many dogs eat their own poop. While this may not be the most appetizing behavior to us humans, for dogs, eating feces is actually very common. In fact, in the wild, canines will consume the feces of their prey in order to gain all of the nutrients that were not digested the first time around.
The behaviour is so widespread that one in six dogs is classified as a “serious” poop eater, meaning they’ve been caught doing it at least five (!) times. Coprophagia is so repulsive to us that it’s often cited as a reason for rehoming dogs, or even euthanasia.
To avoid this kind of drastic action, it’s best if you are able to house train your puppy so that they know how to go potty in the right place as soon as possible. Thankfully, Cavoodles are easy to train.
So why do some domesticated dogs continue to eat their own feces even though they are not in the wild and have access to a nutritious diet? There are a few reasons why this behaviour may occur:
- Some dogs are simply curious and want to explore everything with their mouths, including their own feces.
- Other dogs may be lacking certain nutrients in their diet and see eating feces as a way to supplement their nutrition.
- Some experts believe that eating feces is a way for dogs to self-cleanse their digestive system.
- Finally, some dogs may have been punished for eliminating in the house and have come to associate elimination with something negative. As a result, they eat their feces in order to hide the evidence and avoid being scolded.
Whatever the reason behind your Cavoodle’s desire to eat their own poop, there are a few things you can do to try to stop this behaviour:
- The first step is to make sure that your dog is getting all of the nutrients they need from their diet. If you think they may be lacking something, talk to your vet about switching them to a food that is higher in quality or adding supplements to their diet.
- Try feeding your dog smaller meals more often throughout the day instead of one large meal. This will help them feel fuller and may reduce the urge to eat their own feces.
- If you catch your dog in the act of eating feces, interrupt them by making a loud noise or saying “no.” Once they have stopped, immediately give them a treat or toy so that they associate stopping the behavior with something positive.
- Pick up their poop as soon as possible, so there’s little opportunity for them to get at it after the fact.
