Why does my puppy eat poo?

Why puppies do this

Mother dogs clean up after very young puppies as a completely normal part of den hygiene, which means puppies grow up around this behaviour from birth and some carry a version of it forward themselves. Curiosity plays a large part too — puppies explore the world mouth-first, and faeces is simply another thing to investigate in an environment full of new smells and textures.

Boredom, attention-seeking, and even stress can also drive the behaviour, particularly if a puppy has previously learned that eating something quickly gets a big reaction from an owner rushing over to stop them. In multi-dog households, competition for resources or simply mimicking an older dog's behaviour can play a role as well.

When it might be more than a habit

A poor-quality or insufficient diet can occasionally drive this behaviour, since a puppy not getting enough nutrition from their meals may seek it elsewhere, though this is a less common cause than pure behaviour in a puppy eating a normal, complete diet. Certain digestive problems that affect how well nutrients are absorbed can have a similar effect, and are worth ruling out with your vet if the behaviour is persistent and intense rather than occasional.

Parasites are the other genuine concern, since eating faeces — particularly from other animals — is one way intestinal worms can be picked up. Keeping worming treatment up to date matters for this reason on its own, entirely separate from whether the habit itself needs addressing.

What actually helps

Prompt cleanup is the single most effective thing most owners can do — picking up after your puppy immediately removes the opportunity before curiosity or habit kicks in, both in the garden and on walks. Teaching a solid "leave it" command gives you a way to redirect your puppy the moment they show interest, and is genuinely one of the more useful commands to teach early for reasons well beyond this specific problem.

Making sure your puppy is getting enough mental and physical stimulation through the day reduces the boredom-driven version of the behaviour considerably, since a puppy with plenty to do has less reason to go looking for something unusual to occupy themselves with. Feeding a complete, appropriate puppy food and sticking to regular mealtimes rather than free-feeding also removes one possible underlying driver.

When to talk to your vet

Mention it at your puppy's next routine check if the behaviour is frequent, intense, or has not improved despite consistent management, since your vet can rule out an underlying digestive or nutritional cause and confirm worming is properly up to date. See a vet sooner if it comes alongside diarrhoea, weight loss, a poor coat, or a noticeably increased appetite that does not translate into normal growth. Bring a description of how often it happens and in what situations, since that pattern often helps a vet decide quickly whether further tests are worth running.

Most puppies do grow out of this behaviour with age and consistent management, particularly once the exploratory, mouth-everything phase of puppyhood passes, so persistence with the basics above is generally more effective than expecting an instant fix. It is also worth ruling out the simple option first: a puppy left in the garden alone for long stretches without supervision has far more opportunity to develop the habit than one who is with you consistently during toilet breaks.

What can help

Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.

Inflatable Herding Ball with Handles for Dogs

A large, tough inflatable herding ball that taps into your dog's natural chase-and-nudge instinct. Reinforced bite-resistant fabric and grab handles make it great for active outdoor play with medium and large breeds.

£29.99

Plush Strawberry Snuffle Mat

An interactive foraging mat with removable plush strawberries that hide treats and kibble. Encourages natural snuffling and slows feeding, providing mental enrichment for dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs alike.

From£13.99

Plush Snuffle Foraging Mat

A roll-up plush snuffle mat with cute animal designs. Hide treats in the folds and let your pet sniff and forage to find them - a rewarding enrichment game that beats boredom and slows feeding.

£13.99

Common questions

Is it dangerous for a puppy to eat poo?

It is rarely dangerous on its own, though it can occasionally pass on intestinal parasites, particularly from another animal's faeces. Keeping worming treatment current is a sensible precaution regardless of how often the behaviour happens, and mention it to your vet if you are ever unsure.

Will my puppy grow out of eating poo?

Most puppies do reduce or stop this behaviour as they mature past the intense exploratory phase of early puppyhood, especially with consistent management like prompt cleanup and a solid "leave it" command. Some adult dogs continue occasionally, which is worth mentioning to a vet if it persists.

Does my puppy's food need changing to stop this?

Not usually, if your puppy is already on a complete, appropriate diet fed at regular mealtimes. A poor-quality or insufficient diet can occasionally contribute, but for most puppies on a proper food this is a behavioural habit rather than a nutritional one, and your vet can help rule the diet in or out.

Can I train my puppy out of this habit?

Yes, in most cases — prompt cleanup so there is nothing to eat, a reliable "leave it" command, and plenty of physical and mental stimulation through the day all genuinely help reduce the behaviour. Consistency matters more than any single trick.

Should I punish my puppy for eating poo?

No, punishment tends to make this worse rather than better, since a puppy that gets a big reaction may start eating faeces more quickly to avoid being caught, rather than stopping. Calm redirection and prevention work far more reliably than telling off after the fact.