Poo Happens: Why Some Puppies Eat Their Poop (and How to Survive It!

Congrats! You’ve just welcomed a new Beechwood Goldendoodles puppy into your home, and life is full of tail wags, zoomies, and snuggles… until one day you see something that makes you do a double take: your puppy munching on their own poop. When one of the pups in our program last year did this as a baby, we thought, “Well, that’s bizarre… must be a one-off.” And, whew! She outgrew it along with the puppy phase. But...alas, fast forward, just yesterday, another puppy from a completely different litter decided to try the same thing. Yep. Double yep. Triple gross. And yet… totally normal. Here she is below. I couldn't resist. Look at that face. How could something so cute and cuddly just...UGH!

Weird puppy potty habits do "pass"

Take a deep breath, puppy parent. This phase, while shocking, is surprisingly common and usually temporary. Veterinarians even have a fancy word for it: coprophagia. But don’t worry—your puppy isn’t broken, they’re just exploring the world in the most dramatic, sometimes disgusting, puppy way possible.

Why Puppies Sometimes Snack on Their Own Poop

1. Curiosity is king – Puppies investigate the world with their mouths. Everything is new, fascinating… and yes, occasionally poop is part of that newness.

2. Ancient instincts – In the wild, mother dogs instinctively eat their puppies’ waste to keep the den clean and hide scents from predators. Well, that instinct carries over to domestic mama dogs, too, and--some pups pick up this behavior, either by instinct or by mimicking their mom.

3. Nutritional curiosity – Sometimes a puppy’s diet or developing digestive system leads them to “recheck” what went in. Your vet can help if you’re concerned.

4. Attention-seeking antics – Puppies quickly learn that poop gets a strong human reaction. And if there’s one thing puppies love… it’s a captive audience.

How to Handle It (Without Losing Your Mind)

• Stay calm – Yelling or punishing usually backfires. Puppies aren’t plotting; they’re just… curious (and gross).

• Clean up quickly – Out of sight, out of mind. Fewer temptations = fewer snack attacks.

• Redirect with love – Catch them in the act? Use a gentle “leave it” command, offer a toy, or distract with a treat.

• Consistent feeding schedule – Regular meals help regulate digestion and reduce temptation.

• Check the diet – Make sure your puppy’s food is high-quality and age-appropriate. Your vet can help if needed.

• Patience, always – Most puppies grow out of this phase naturally as they mature and explore less with their mouths.

The Bottom Line

Yes, it’s gross. Yes, it’s shocking. But it’s also normal and almost always temporary. With a little patience, consistency, and a sense of humor, your puppy will move past this stage. And soon enough, it’ll be back to snuggles, wagging tails, and all the puppy kisses you can handle—without any poop surprises.

Remember: your puppy is learning about the world every day. Eating poop is just one of those funny, slightly gross lessons of puppyhood. And trust us, if one doodle does it, odds are another will follow—so you might as well laugh and grab some hand sanitizer.