Table of Contents
Introduction: The Case of Charlie and the Question I Got Wrong
For more than a decade, I’ve dedicated my life to understanding the canine mind.
As a behaviorist, I’ve worked with hundreds of dogs, from timid rescues to boisterous puppies, helping their humans navigate the complex, often baffling, world of their behavior.
I thought I had a solid playbook, a system built on science and experience.
Then, I met Charlie.
Charlie was a handsome shepherd mix with amber eyes that held a universe of anxiety.
He had been rescued from a hoarding situation and brought to a local shelter, where a loving family quickly adopted him.
Their dream of a perfect companion, however, soon turned into a nightmare.
Charlie was a severe and relentless poop-eater.
Not just his own, but any he could find in the yard or on walks.
It was an obsession.
The family, at their wits’ end, called me.
I arrived with my clipboard and my confidence, ready to deploy the standard protocol for coprophagia, the clinical term for this habit.
We ticked every box.
First, a comprehensive vet visit to rule out medical issues.1
He was given a clean bill of health.
We switched him to a premium, highly digestible diet.
We tried the commercial food additives and powders guaranteed to make his stool taste bitter.3
We sprinkled pineapple on his food, a popular home remedy.4
We drilled the “leave it” command with high-value treats.2
We managed the environment with obsessive vigilance, scooping poop the second it hit the ground.
Nothing worked.
In fact, it got worse.
Charlie became frantic, gulping down feces with a desperate speed before we could intervene.
The family’s distress grew into despair.
My professional toolkit, once a source of pride, felt like a collection of useless trinkets.
After three agonizing months, the family made the heartbreaking decision to return Charlie to the shelter.
I felt like I had failed not just them, but Charlie most of all.
His story became my professional white whale, a constant reminder of my inadequacy.7
That failure forced me to confront a disquieting truth.
I had been asking the wrong question.
My entire focus, and indeed the focus of most conventional advice, was on the narrow query: “Why is this dog eating poop?” Charlie’s case revealed the profound flaw in that approach.
The real, more important question was, “Why are all our trusted, science-backed solutions failing so spectacularly?”
It turns out my experience wasn’t an anomaly.
A landmark 2018 study from the University of California, Davis, surveyed thousands of dog owners and found that the commercial products and behavioral modification techniques we all rely on have a success rate of between 0% and 4%.8
My personal failure was a reflection of a massive, systemic problem.
The checklist approach was broken.
It was time to find a new way of seeing.
Part 1: The Epiphany – From Broken Parts to a Living Ecosystem
The months after Charlie’s return were a period of deep professional crisis.
I questioned the very foundation of my methods.
The “checklist” model treated dogs like cars in a mechanic’s shop.
Is the tire flat? Patch it.
Is the engine sputtering? Replace the spark plug.
This fragmented approach viewed behavior problems like coprophagia as isolated, broken parts that could be fixed with a specific tool or technique.
But a dog is not a machine.
It’s a living, breathing, feeling being.
My breakthrough came from a place I never expected.
Seeking a mental escape, I picked up a book on ecological systems thinking—the study of how forests, wetlands, and oceans function.
I read about how the health of a lake isn’t determined by the clarity of its water alone, but by the intricate interplay of sunlight, nutrient runoff from surrounding land, the health of its algae and fish populations, and the temperature of its depths.
An algal bloom, the book explained, isn’t a “water problem”; it’s a symptom of an imbalanced ecosystem.10
It was like a lightning bolt in my mind.
I suddenly saw Charlie not as a dog with a “poop-eating problem,” but as a complex, personal ecosystem that was profoundly out of balance.
His coprophagia wasn’t a broken part; it was his version of an algal bloom—a glaring, unpleasant symptom of deeper, interconnected issues.
This reframing was the epiphany.
I threw out my old checklists and began developing a new model, one that viewed the dog as a whole system.
I call it the Canine Ecosystem Framework.12
This new paradigm didn’t just give me an answer; it gave me a whole new way to see the problem, and every dog I’ve worked with since.
Part 2: The Canine Ecosystem Framework – The Four Interconnected Layers
The Canine Ecosystem Framework organizes our understanding of a dog into four interconnected layers.
Think of it like a geological cross-section of your dog’s world.
A problem like coprophagia rarely originates in just one layer; it’s almost always the result of imbalances across multiple layers that cascade into one another.
To truly solve the problem, you must become an “ecosystem manager,” assessing and nurturing the health of each layer.
Layer 1: The Biological Foundation (The Soil and Climate)
This is the bedrock of your dog’s existence—their physical body, their internal health, and the nutrition that fuels them.
If the soil is depleted or the climate is harsh, nothing healthy can grow.
Coprophagia can be a desperate attempt by the dog’s body to find resources in an environment of scarcity, either real or perceived.
Medical Malfunctions
Before you can address any behavior, you must rule out an underlying medical issue that is hijacking your dog’s system.
Several conditions can create a state of profound hunger (polyphagia) or prevent the body from absorbing nutrients (malabsorption), making feces—especially those containing undigested food—a logical, if unappealing, source of calories.2
- Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI): In this serious condition, the pancreas fails to produce enough digestive enzymes. Food passes through the body largely undigested. The dog can be eating voraciously yet starving to death, losing weight rapidly and producing large, greasy stools. For a dog with EPI, eating nutrient-rich feces is a matter of survival.1
- Conditions Causing Polyphagia: Diseases like diabetes, Cushing’s disease, and thyroid disorders, as well as treatment with steroids like prednisone, can dramatically increase a dog’s appetite. This ravenous hunger can override their normal food preferences, leading them to consume things they otherwise wouldn’t, including stool.15
- Malabsorption and Parasites: A variety of gastrointestinal diseases and intestinal parasites can prevent the proper absorption of nutrients in the gut. Parasites literally “steal” nutrition from your dog, creating a state of internal deficiency that can drive them to seek it elsewhere.18
Nutritional Deficiencies
Even in a medically healthy dog, the diet itself can be the primary source of imbalance.
This is one of the most common, yet overlooked, drivers of coprophagia.
- The Vitamin B Connection: One of the most compelling theories suggests a link between coprophagia and a deficiency in B vitamins, particularly thiamine (Vitamin B1). Research has found that gut bacteria can synthesize these vitamins, which are then present in the feces. A dog with a dietary deficiency may instinctively consume feces to reclaim these vital nutrients.15
- Poorly Digestible Diets: This is a critical factor. Many commercial dog foods, especially lower-quality, cereal-based kibbles, are not easily broken down by a dog’s digestive system. When this food passes through, the resulting feces can still contain a significant amount of undigested nutrients and smell remarkably similar to the food that went in. To the dog’s powerful nose, it’s not waste; it’s a slightly-used meal.2
This is where we see the first clear example of a failure cascade within the ecosystem.
A poor diet (a Layer 1 problem) leads directly to undigested nutrients in the stool.
This nutrient-rich stool then activates the dog’s innate scavenging programming (a Layer 2 function).
If the dog is also bored or anxious (a Layer 3 imbalance), it’s even more likely to engage in this behavior.
And if the environment allows access to the stool (a Layer 4 failure), the habit becomes deeply ingrained.
Trying to fix this by just training “leave it” is like trying to stop a river with a teacup; it ignores the powerful current of biological motivation upstream.
Layer 2: The Primal Operating System (The Ancient Bedrock)
Beneath the individual dog lies millions of years of evolutionary programming.
This is the dog’s “primal operating system”—the instinctual software that dictates core behaviors.
From the dog’s perspective, many of the actions we find bizarre or disgusting are perfectly logical expressions of this ancient code.
- The Ancestral Wolf Hypothesis: This is perhaps the most elegant explanation for why so many dogs eat the feces of other dogs. Research suggests this behavior may be an adaptive trait inherited from wolves.9 The goal was sanitation. Intestinal parasites deposited in feces near the den need a couple of days for their eggs to become infectious. By consuming fresh feces (less than two days old), wolves could keep their den clean and remove the parasite threat before it became viable. This theory brilliantly explains a key finding from the UC Davis study: 85% of poop-eating dogs overwhelmingly prefer fresh stools.8 They aren’t being gross; they are running an ancient, highly specific parasite-control program.
- Maternal Instinct: It is completely normal and necessary for a mother dog to ingest the feces of her puppies for the first few weeks of their lives. This behavior keeps the “den” clean and protects the vulnerable litter from predators that might be attracted by the scent. Puppies can observe and learn this behavior from their mother, sometimes carrying it into adulthood.1
- Innate Scavenging: At their core, dogs are scavengers. Domestication began when wolves braver than the rest ventured near human settlements to scavenge from our waste.10 This drive remains powerful. Eating the poop of other animals is a direct extension of this. Cat feces, which comes from an animal on a high-protein diet, is particularly attractive.25 To a dog, it smells like a protein-rich snack. Likewise, the feces of herbivores like rabbits or deer can be appealing as a source of partially digested plant matter and B vitamins.2
Layer 3: The Emotional Atmosphere (The Weather Patterns)
This layer represents the dog’s internal emotional state—the invisible “weather” they live in day to day.
A dog living under a constant storm of anxiety, stress, or profound boredom will develop dysfunctional coping mechanisms, and coprophagia is a common one.
- Anxiety, Stress, and Boredom: These are perhaps the most significant behavioral drivers. A dog left alone for long hours, confined to a small space, or living in a stressful environment may turn to eating poop for a variety of reasons. It can be a displacement behavior (a way to channel anxious energy), a self-soothing mechanism (like nervous nail-biting in humans), or simply something to do to break the crushing monotony.1 Studies have shown that dogs kept in isolated conditions, like kennels or basements, are more likely to develop the habit.15
- Attention-Seeking: Dogs are smart. They quickly learn what gets a reaction. For a dog that feels ignored, even negative attention is better than no attention at all. Running to the dog yelling and frantically trying to get the poop out of its mouth is a huge burst of exciting attention. The dog learns: eating this stuff makes my human interact with me intensely. The behavior is thus powerfully reinforced.22
It is within this layer that we witness the tragic and deeply ironic Punishment Paradox.
Multiple sources confirm that punishing a dog for having an accident in the house—especially with the archaic and cruel method of “rubbing their nose in it”—is a direct cause of coprophagia.2
The logic from the dog’s perspective is flawless and heartbreaking.
The dog doesn’t learn, “I shouldn’t poop inside.” It learns, “When my poop is present and my human is present, something scary and painful happens to me.” To prevent the scary thing from happening, the dog must remove the evidence.
The only way to do that is to eat it.
When the owner then discovers the dog eating the poop and punishes it again, it only reinforces the dog’s desperate need to hide the evidence more quickly and efficiently next time.
The attempted solution becomes the primary driver of the problem, creating a vicious cycle of fear and behavior that is almost impossible to break without changing the entire dynamic.
Layer 4: The Environmental Inputs (The Nutrients and Pollutants)
This final layer encompasses the external world that we, as owners, create for our dogs.
We are the managers of this environment, and our choices determine whether we are providing nourishing “nutrients” or harmful “pollutants” to our dog’s ecosystem.
- Management is King: The single most effective and non-negotiable strategy for stopping coprophagia is prevention. A dog cannot practice a habit it doesn’t have access to. This means meticulous cleanup of the yard, supervising all potty breaks on a leash, and securing access to temptations like the cat’s litter box.1 This isn’t just about stopping the behavior; it’s about breaking the cycle of reinforcement so that new, better habits can be formed.
- Training as Enrichment: The goal of training is not to suppress a behavior through force, but to build a better, more rewarding alternative. Teaching a rock-solid “Leave It” command and a joyful, lightning-fast recall are not punishments; they are skills that give your dog a better choice. When your dog learns that turning away from poop and running back to you results in a fantastic reward, poop loses its appeal.2 This is adding a positive, nourishing input into the system.
- The Necessity of Enrichment: A bored mind is a devil’s workshop. For dogs, this is a literal truth. Mental and physical stimulation are not optional luxuries; they are essential nutrients for a healthy canine ecosystem. Daily walks, training games, puzzle toys, and interactive play reduce boredom and anxiety, draining the emotional fuel that often powers compulsive behaviors like coprophagia.5
Part 3: The Holistic Solution – How to Become Your Dog’s Ecosystem Manager
Understanding the four layers is the first step.
Now, you must translate that knowledge into action.
This isn’t about finding a single magic bullet; it’s about becoming a thoughtful and systematic manager of your dog’s entire world.
Step 1: Conduct a Full System Audit (Your Diagnostic Toolkit)
Your first task is to assess the health of each layer of your dog’s personal ecosystem.
This audit will help you identify the specific imbalances that are contributing to the problem.
Use the following questions as your guide, and be brutally honest with yourself.
- Layer 1 Audit (Biological): Have I had a comprehensive vet check to rule out the specific medical conditions known to cause coprophagia? Am I feeding the highest-quality, most digestible food I can afford? Could my dog have a food intolerance?
- Layer 2 Audit (Primal): Is my dog a puppy that might be mimicking its mother? Does my dog belong to a breed group (like terriers or hounds) known for higher rates of coprophagia? Does my dog get to engage in healthy, appropriate scavenging behaviors like using a snuffle mat?
- Layer 3 Audit (Emotional): Is my dog frequently bored? Are they getting enough physical exercise and mental stimulation? Do they show other signs of anxiety or stress? Could I be inadvertently reinforcing the behavior with my reactions? Have I ever used punishment for house-soiling accidents?
- Layer 4 Audit (Environmental): How quickly am I cleaning up feces? Is my dog ever unsupervised in an area where feces might be present? Is the cat litter box completely inaccessible?
To help you have a more productive conversation with your veterinarian, I’ve developed a diagnostic checklist.
Instead of just saying, “My dog eats poop,” you can walk in with a structured list of concerns.
This transforms you from a worried owner into an informed partner in your dog’s healthcare.
Table 1: The Biological Foundation Diagnostic Checklist
| Potential Cause (Layer 1 Imbalance) | Key Associated Signs (Symptoms to Observe) | Recommended Diagnostic Action (For Vet Discussion) |
| Nutritional Deficiency / Poor Diet | Poor coat condition, low energy, greedy eating, eating non-food items (pica). | Discuss a full diet history with vet; consider transitioning to a high-quality, highly digestible, fiber-rich food. 2 |
| Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) | Significant weight loss despite a ravenous appetite, voluminous/greasy/pale stools, chronic diarrhea. | Request a Trypsin-Like Immunoreactivity (TLI) blood test. 1 |
| Intestinal Parasites | Diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, visible worms in stool, poor appearance. | Provide a fresh fecal sample for microscopic analysis (fecal flotation/smear). 1 |
| Diabetes Mellitus | Increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss despite increased appetite, cloudy eyes. | Vet check for blood glucose levels and urinalysis. 2 |
| Cushing’s Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism) | Increased appetite, thirst, and urination; pot-bellied appearance, hair loss, skin issues. | Discuss ACTH stimulation test or low-dose dexamethasone suppression test with vet. 1 |
| Anxiety / Stress / Boredom (Layer 3) | Other compulsive behaviors (tail chasing, etc.), destructive behavior, excessive vocalization, signs of separation anxiety. | Discuss with vet or certified behaviorist; begin an environmental enrichment plan. 16 |
Step 2: Fortify the Biological Foundation
Based on your audit and vet consultation, your first actions should focus on Layer 1.
- Treat any diagnosed medical conditions. This is non-negotiable.
- Upgrade the diet. Transition slowly to a high-quality, high-protein, highly digestible food. Consider options with added fiber and probiotics.4 Many owners find success with foods rich in fiber like pumpkin or carrots, which can help a dog feel full and may alter the texture of the stool, making it less palatable.31
- Consider supplements. Discuss with your vet the potential benefits of adding digestive enzymes to help break down food more efficiently, or a B-complex vitamin supplement to address potential deficiencies.22
Step 3: Regulate the Emotional Atmosphere & Manage Environmental Inputs
This is a unified strategy to address Layers 3 and 4 simultaneously.
- The “Pollution” Detox: Make a commitment today to stop all forms of punishment. No more yelling, no more scolding. Your reactions are part of the problem. Your new mantra is calm, proactive management.
- The “Nutrient” Infusion: Create a robust daily enrichment plan. This must include:
- Physical Exercise: Leash walks, fetch, swimming—whatever your dog enjoys.
- Mental Stimulation: 5-10 minutes of positive reinforcement training sessions two or three times a day.
- Chewing and Licking: Provide appropriate chew toys and use food-dispensing toys like puzzle feeders or snuffle mats for meals. This satisfies natural canine behaviors and reduces boredom.
- The Management Protocol: Be relentless.
- Take your dog out on a leash for every potty break.
- The moment they finish, use a happy, upbeat cue (“Let’s go!”) and reward them with a super high-value treat as you lead them away.
- Only after they are safely away from the spot should you clean up the feces immediately.
- Make the cat litter box as inaccessible as Fort Knox. Use baby gates, door latches, or place it somewhere high the dog cannot reach.24
Step 4: Debunking the Myth of the “Quick Fix”
Now you can understand why the things most people try first are destined to fail.
The UC Davis study found that commercial deterrent powders and pills have a success rate of 2% at best.8
Why?
Because adding a deterrent powder is a superficial, point solution for a complex, systemic problem.
It’s like spraying a chemical on an algal bloom in a lake.
It might temporarily kill some of the surface algae, but it does absolutely nothing to address the fertilizer runoff from a nearby farm (the poor diet) or the rising water temperatures (the anxiety) that are causing the bloom in the first place.
The problem will always return because the underlying ecosystem is still sick.
True, lasting solutions require you to stop fighting the symptom and start healing the system.
Conclusion: The Story of Luna and the Path to Partnership
A year after the Charlie debacle, a new client called me.
Her name was Sarah, and her dog, Luna, a sweet but frantic border collie mix, had a case of coprophagia just as severe as Charlie’s.
The old me would have reached for my tired checklist.
The new me arrived with the Canine Ecosystem framework.
Together, Sarah and I conducted a full system audit.
The vet check was clear (Layer 1), but Luna was on a cheap, corn-based food.
She was also left alone for nine hours a day with nothing but a stuffed toy (Layer 3), and her only exercise was being let out into the yard, which was rarely cleaned (Layer 4).
Her ecosystem was a mess.
The coprophagia wasn’t a mystery; it was an inevitability.
We didn’t just try to stop her from eating poop.
We set out to heal her entire world.
We transitioned her to a high-quality, meat-based diet with added pumpkin.
Sarah hired a dog walker for a midday enrichment visit.
We created a “sensory garden” in her yard with different textures and scents.
We replaced her food bowl with puzzle toys.
We implemented a strict on-leash potty and cleanup protocol.
It took time and consistency.
But within two months, the coprophagia had vanished.
Not because we had “fixed” it, but because we had created a healthy, balanced, and nourishing ecosystem where that symptom was no longer necessary.
Luna was calmer, more engaged, and her bond with Sarah was stronger than ever.
Luna’s success was Charlie’s redemption.
It proved that the answer doesn’t lie in a product you can buy or a command you can shout.
It lies in changing your perspective.
The goal is not to “stop” a bad habit.
It is to become a better observer, a more compassionate partner, and a more effective manager of your dog’s entire world.
True solutions are found not in fighting the symptom, but in nurturing the system.
And in doing so, you don’t just solve a problem; you build a relationship of profound understanding and trust that will last a lifetime.
Works cited
- Eating Feces (Coprophagia) in Dogs – Causes, Treatment and Associated Symptoms, accessed July 29, 2025, https://vetster.com/en/symptoms/dog/eating-feces-coprophagia
- Dog Behavior Problems – Coprophagia | VCA Animal Hospitals, accessed July 29, 2025, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-behavior-problems-coprophagia
- Coprophagia | Dog Behavior – Tender Care Animal Hospital, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.tendercareanimalhospital.net/dog-coprophagia.html
- How To Stop A Dog From Eating Poop With Home Remedies – Miami Pet Concierge, accessed July 29, 2025, https://miamipetconcierge.com/how-to-stop-a-dog-from-eating-poop-with-home-remedies/
- 8 Natural Ways to Prevent Your Dog from Eating Poop – Equipaws Pet Services, accessed July 29, 2025, https://equipawspetservices.com/8-natural-ways-to-prevent-your-dog-from-eating-poop/
- Dog Eating Poop: How to Prevent This Behavior | LePar Animal …, accessed July 29, 2025, https://leparvet.net/blog/dog-eating-poop/
- I found my dog eating his feces – Reddit, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/comments/1hsrqnz/i_found_my_dog_eating_his_feces/
- (PDF) The paradox of canine conspecific coprophagy – ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322423779_The_paradox_of_canine_conspecific_coprophagy
- Journal Scan: Whats the scoop on dogs eating poop? – DVM360, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.dvm360.com/view/journal-scan-what-s-scoop-dogs-eating-poop
- Dog Training & Systemic Design – Medium, accessed July 29, 2025, https://medium.com/enlivenment/dog-training-systemic-design-90c334b0e2f5
- What My Dogs Taught Me About Systems Thinking, accessed July 29, 2025, https://simpleminded.bot/posts/canine-systems-thinking
- SYSTEMS THINKING IN DOG BEHAVIOUR MEDICATION – A, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.dogparentology.com/post/systems-thinking-in-dog-behaviour-medication-a-framework-to-improve-prescribing-precision-in-compl
- Coprophagia-in-Dogs.pdf – Edmonton – Blue Cross Animal Hospital, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.bluecrossvet.ca/userfiles/Coprophagia-in-Dogs.pdf
- Feasting on Feces: Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? – Animal Biome, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.animalbiome.com/blogs/dog/feasting-on-feces-why-do-dogs-eat-poop
- Why Dogs Eat Poop – Diamond Pet Foods, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.diamondpet.com/blog/health/safety/dogs-eat-poop/
- Feces Eating in Dogs and Cats – Veterinary Partner – VIN, accessed July 29, 2025, https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8587687
- Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop? | Litter-Robot, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.litter-robot.com/blog/why-do-dogs-eat-cat-poop/
- Why Your Dog Eats Poop and How to Stop It | Preventive Vet, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/why-does-my-dog-eat-poop
- Why do dogs eat feces? – Community Animal Hospitals, accessed July 29, 2025, https://communityanimalhospitals.com/why-do-dogs-eat-feces/
- Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? – Purina, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.purina.com/articles/dog/behavior/understanding-dogs/why-do-dogs-eat-poop
- Why Does My Senior Dog Eat Poop? – BluePearl Pet Hospital, accessed July 29, 2025, https://bluepearlvet.com/in-home-pet-hospice/why-does-my-senior-dog-eat-poop/
- Why Do Dogs Eat Poop (Coprophagia) – Dog Behaviourist Glasgow, accessed July 29, 2025, https://cbtdogbehaviour.com/why-do-dogs-eat-poop/
- Breaking the Cycle: How to Deter Your Dog from Eating Its Own Poop | PetCareRx, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.petcarerx.com/article/breaking-the-cycle-how-to-deter-your-dog-from-eating-its-own-poop/7029
- Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? | PetMD, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/why-do-dogs-eat-poop
- caringheartsanimalhospital.com, accessed July 29, 2025, https://caringheartsanimalhospital.com/blog/why-do-dogs-eat-cat-poop/#:~:text=Dogs%20are%20naturally%20curious%20animals,to%20its%20high%20protein%20content.
- Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop & How to Stop It | MetLife Pet Insurance, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.metlifepetinsurance.com/blog/pet-behavior/why-do-dogs-eat-cat-poop/
- Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop? – American Kennel Club, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/why-does-my-dog-eat-cat-poop/
- Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? Understanding This Common Behavior, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.expressvetshollysprings.com/blog/why-does-my-dog-eat-poop-understanding-this-common-behavior
- Why do dogs eat poo? – PDSA, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/coprophagia-in-dogs-dogs-eating-poo
- Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? – Belton Veterinary Clinic, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.beltonvetclinic.com/services/dogs/blog/why-do-dogs-eat-poop
- Managing Canine Coprophagia: Dealing with a Dog that Eats Poop, accessed July 29, 2025, https://www.countryvetmom.com/post/managing-canine-coprophagia-dealing-with-a-dog-that-eats-poop-dr-gaffud
- Why Your Dog Eats Cat Poop Out of the Litterbox – Veterinary Healthcare Associates, accessed July 29, 2025, https://vhavets.com/blog/dog-eats-cat-poop-out-of-the-litterbox/
- Pilot study to identify risk factors for coprophagic behaviour in dogs – WUR eDepot, accessed July 29, 2025, https://edepot.wur.nl/43992
