Disclaimer: The information provided on PoodleReport.com is for educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice; always consult your vet before changing your dog’s diet. Additionally, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, and other affiliate advertising programs, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
There aren’t many things more horrifying than finding your poodle snacking on his stool. Even more terrifying is when he comes trotting over to give you a big kiss on your face right after his heinous deed. No, thanks! While this may be downright disgusting, you will be glad to know it’s likely normal, and there are simple ways to stop this from happening. So, why is your poodle eating his feces, and how can you stop it?
Poodles eat poop (coprophagia) primarily due to nutritional deficiencies, boredom, anxiety, or underlying medical conditions such as Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) and parasites. As the second most intelligent dog breed, Poodles may “recycle” waste if their high-IQ brain lacks a mental “job” or if their diet is packed with indigestible fillers. Successful interventions involve ruling out metabolic triggers with a veterinarian, improving dietary density, and using positive redirection training.
If you want to stop your poodle from munching on poop, then you need to find the root of the problem. This article will discuss all the possible reasons that can cause your dog to eat feces and what you can do to stop it. Luckily, most of the problems and solutions are simple fixes that aren’t related to severe medical conditions.
Poodles don’t just “act out”; they respond to their environment with high-performance instincts that can sometimes go haywire. Exploring the full spectrum of Poodle Behavior Guides is the first step in understanding how their sensitive nature and problem-solving drive contribute to these “creative,” albeit repulsive, habits.
Poodle Coprophagia: Root Causes and 2026 Solutions
While my late Standard, Angus, was far too dignified to engage in what I call “unauthorized yard recycling,” many Poodles view this repulsive habit as a tactical solution to a mental or biological gap. To help you bridge the cognitive distance between their high-IQ instincts and your garden’s hygiene, I’ve synthesized the latest 2026 data into the following problem-and-solution roadmap. This table serves as a diagnostic tool to identify the “why” behind the habit and provides research-backed pivots to stop it for good.
| Why Poodles Eat Feces (Root Cause) | Strategic 2026 Solutions to Try |
| Nutritional Deficiency: Diet lacks essential vitamins or bio-available minerals. | Dietary Reset: Switch to a high-density, nutrient-rich formula without fillers. According to the AKC, calorie-dense diets reduce scavenging. |
| Boredom & Under-stimulation: Lack of a mental “job” leads to self-invented habits. | Environment Management: Keep the yard clean and provide high-IQ puzzle toys to occupy their “Poodle Brain.” |
| Stress & Separation Anxiety: Coping mechanism for being left alone or general distress. | Social Reassurance: Increase quality bonding time. Clinical data from PetMD suggests anxiety fuels compulsive habits. |
| Positive Reinforcement Error: The dog thinks it’s a “Grab Game” due to owner reactions. | Behavioral Neutrality: Stay calm; do not chase or yell during cleanup to avoid rewarding the behavior with attention. |
| Evidence Disposal: Attempting to “hide” accidents during potty training. | The “Leave It” Command: Use consistent positive reinforcement, a method supported by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). |
| Maternal Instinct: Protecting puppies from predators by cleaning the “den.” | Natural Deterrents: Add apple cider vinegar, pineapple, or pumpkin to their diet to make the “end product” unappealing. |
| Social Learning: Mimicking the behavior of a mother or other household dogs. | Routine Redirection: Pivot their attention to a high-value treat immediately after they finish their business. |
| Clinical Medical Issues: Anemia, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, or internal parasites. | Veterinary Diagnostic: Consult a pro to rule out metabolic triggers. Sudden onset of pica often has a medical root. |
| Microbiome Imbalance: Lacking necessary probiotics for proper digestion. | Probiotic Supplementation: Add canine-specific probiotics. VCA Animal Hospitals highlights the link between gut health and behavior. |
| Malabsorption (EPI): The body cannot break down nutrients, leaving food in the stool. | Enzyme Therapy: Research from Cornell Canine Health Center suggests enzymes can stop this cycle. |
Why Poodles Eat Feces
A poodle of any type and age may start eating his poop, which is known as ‘coprophagia.’ While coprophagia is mostly normal, owners still need to find the root of the problem associated with his poop eating. By doing so, the owner can then find the right way to deal with the problem and reduce or completely stop the act of eating stool.
So, what are some of the main driving factors behind a poodle eating poop?
1. Your Poodle’s Diet Lacks Nutrition
If your poodle is eating his poop, it may be because he is not getting enough nutrients in his diet. Without proper nutrition, your poodle will still be hungry even after mealtimes, which will lead him to scavenge for the right nutrients to fill the void in his belly.
Now, this may be confusing to the pet owner who regularly feeds his poodle two times a day and watches his furry friend eat all of it. How could he possibly be hungry? Well, look at the food you are feeding your poodle. Is it rich in nutrients, or is it jam-packed with fillers?
Unfortunately, many top brands in the dog food market load their products up with fillers. These fillers are cheap for the company, which makes them less expensive for the consumer. But cheaper does not always mean better, and that statement is true when it comes to your dog’s food.
Fillers are empty ingredients that are used to give dog food a bulked-up appearance. However, they have little to no nutritional value. Can you believe that most dog foods consist of ¼ to ½ fillers? That means that even after your dog has eaten an entire bowl of the dog food, he is still going to be craving actual nutrients.
Low-Quality Dog Food Is Less Likely to be Fully Digested, Too
It’s not only a lack of nutrients from low-quality dog food that is affecting your pup and making him eyeball his feces for nutrition purposes. Low-quality dog food may be indigestible. This means that there is likely going to be some leftover chunks of undigested food found in his stool. Your dog sees this and sees another tasty meal.
Watch this video to find the 6 best dog foods for your poodle according to review tube:
2. Your poodle may be Bored
Any time a dog is left alone for long periods, they will start acting out. Why wouldn’t they? They have already played with all their toys, and they have thoroughly sniffed out the area and taken a few naps in between all their small adventures. What now? Boredom leads to a plethora of behavioral problems, including coprophagia.
If your furry friend has nothing better to do, then he might start looking at his poop as something to be enjoyed. While this may seem atrocious to a human, it is typical behavior in the dog world. After all, they can’t play video games or call up a friend – their options are limited!
3. Your poodle may be Stressed
Humans aren’t the only animal that can feel stress. Anxiety in dogs is more common than you think. Stress can lead to several different health issues with your canine, one of which is coprophagia (along with other digestive problems).
Poodles are likely to feel the most stress when they are left alone for long periods. This brings about separation anxiety, which will eventually lead to behavioral problems. While some dogs may opt for barking, whining, or ripping items to shreds, others may choose to eat their poop to calm themselves down.
4. He Thinks It’s a Good Thing
Some poodles might get confused and think that eating their stool is a good thing to do. If you rush to grab his poop off the floor and run and yell during the process, your poodle might start to think it is a game. This game is known as the ‘grab’ game.
Your poodle watches you go crazy trying to get the poop off the floor. In turn, he thinks it is something to become excited about and chase after. He then might start to believe that he should get to his poop before you do and consume it in the process.
Causes of Poodles Eating Their Feces
While the above issues are the most likely behavioral causes of your poodle eating his stool; however, there are some less common behavioral causes of coprophagia, as well.
5. He is Trying to Dispose of the Evidence
For the most part, any puppy who lives in a healthy, happy, and loving home will not need to try and hide the evidence of his poop. However, puppies who are potty training and have accidents might feel a great deal of guilt and try to hide it for that reason. Sometimes dogs will eat their poop, especially if it ended up somewhere it wasn’t supposed to be.
6. She is Protecting Her Puppies
A new doggy mother will have a maternal instinct to eat her newborn’s poop. This all goes back to the days when she needed to stave off the scent of her newborn from potential prey. She will likely continue to do this, even when she is in the comfort of your home.
If your poodle has just given birth to her tiny puppies, don’t be alarmed if she eats the newborn’s stool. She is merely acting on instinct to protect her puppies and keep them out of harm’s way. This will stop once the puppies get a little bit older and don’t rely on her as much.
7. He is Mimicking His Mother
This is not the most probable of possibilities, but it’s not wholly impossible. Some pet owners believe that their puppies are only eating their poop because they have watched their mother do it. They are learning the ways of life and rely on their mother for everything. Why wouldn’t they want to do precisely what mom is doing?
Medical Conditions That Can cause Your Poodle to Eat His Poop
As you can see, many of the reasons why a poodle may eat feces are entirely reasonable. Most of the time, it’s because of a lack of proper diet and boredom or stress. However, there are times when a medical condition is to blame for stool consumption. These health conditions and illnesses will need to be diagnosed and handled by a veterinarian:
Anemia
Anemia can be caused by a lack of proper nutrition, although sometimes that is not the culprit. Anemia is simply a deficiency of iron in the body and causes your poodle to eat his poop. He may also be more sluggish than usual, and his gums may appear paler.
Diabetes
A major culprit of health-related poop eating is diabetes. Diabetes is common in many dog breeds, including poodles, and may cause your dog to eat his poop. He may also be thirsty, urinate more often, and experience a sudden weight loss.
Parasites
Parasites will suck much the nutrients out of your dog, leaving him hungry and searching for something to fill his empty tummy. He may turn to his stools to get the vitamins and minerals he is lacking.
Thyroid Problems
Finally, your poodle’s thyroid may be to blame for feces consumption. Your poodle will also likely have several different issues with his coat, including dullness, drying, peeling, and excessive shedding.
He is Lacking Probiotics
Not having enough probiotics can be harmful to your poodle’s health, especially when it comes to his digestive system. If he is not digesting his food correctly or he is experiencing some tummy distress, then eating his feces may seem like the best option for combating the pain of finding the right nutrients to keep his stomach happy.
If you suspect that this is the reason your dog is eating his feces, you should consider adding a probiotic to your dog’s diet. This will ensure that he won’t have any digestive issues in the future, and it may lead to less poop-eating as well. I highly recommend Zesty Paws Probiotic for Dogs for several different reasons, including:
- The bites contain over 3 billion CFU
of prebiotics and probiotics. With so many prebiotics and probiotics, you can rest assured
that your poodle will never suffer from tummy troubles such as gas, bloating,
and diarrhea. - Includes GanedenBC30. This specific probiotic
can withstand the acidity of the stomach and aids with overall digestion, which
means your dog will have an easier time digesting his food and consuming the
much-needed nutrients. - Contains papaya and pumpkin. Both ingredients
are excellent for gut help and digestion, but the best part is they work
together to make the poodle’s stool taste terrible.
This can certainly help with the poop eating problem. - Supports poodles suffering from allergies. This
is the ideal supplement for any dog struggling with allergies or an overall
weak immune system.
How to Stop Your Poodle from Eating Poop
Now that you know the reasons your poodle is eating his stool, you can begin to correct it. Make sure you know the root of the problem first, though, since some of these techniques will only work in certain situations. If your poodle is eating poop due to a medical reason, take him to the veterinarian right away.
DIY Suggestions to Help Stop Your Poodle from Eating Poop
There are many simple things you can do to deter your pet poodle from devouring his stool. We are going to look at the top 4 do-it-yourself suggestions to help stop your poodle from eating poop, all of which can be done right now!
1. Change His Diet
The first thing you should do is check your poodle’s diet. Are there lots of fillers in his dog food? The most common dog food fillers include:
- Corn Bran
- Rice Bran
- Oat Hulls
- Cereal By-Products
- Feathers
- Soybean Hulls
- Peanut Hulls
- Rice Hulls
- Wheat Mill
- Citrus Pulp
- Modified Corn Starch
- Straw
If you see any of these ingredients in your dog food, especially if they are listed in the first three ingredients, you want to throw it out right away. This type of low-quality dog food is not giving your poodle the proper amount of nutrients, which may be causing his desire to consume his poop.
If you need to switch, we highly recommend Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food. What we love about this high-quality dog food is meat is always the first ingredient, so you know your poodle is getting the right amount of protein to help him grow big and strong.
Other ingredients, including brown rice, cranberries, blueberries, flaxseed, and sweet potato, all work together to provide your dog with the right number of vitamins and minerals to thrive. Dogs love this food because it tastes great and keeps their tummies happy, which will undoubtedly make his poop look less attractive.
2. Make Sure His Area is Clean
If your dog is eating his poop often, the best thing to do is get rid of the temptation. Think about it – if he can’t see his poop, then he won’t be able to eat it. Make sure that his area is clean. When he goes to the bathroom, clean it right away. This will be more challenging if he is left alone for extended periods, such as when you are at work, but do the best you can.
3. Spend Enough Time with Him
One of the biggest reasons a poodle might end up eating his poop is because he is bored or suffering from anxiety and stress. Especially when there is a lack of bonding with his owner. The solution to this problem is simple, but it’s one that the owner must act on.
First and foremost, make sure your poodle is getting enough exercise and playtime. Every dog loves playing a round of fetch or tug-of-war with their owner or going around the block for a walk and enjoying the scenery. These small experiences are important for your poodle and will help him to stay out of trouble and away from his poo.
You should also make sure that you are showing your dog enough love. This is especially true if you work or are away from your poodle for more extended periods. Being left alone can bring about anxiety in your dog, and the best way to combat that is to show your poodle plenty of love when you are there.
Lastly, always make sure your poodle has enough toys to keep him occupied. Don’t settle for just a few balls and bones. Although these are enjoyable for your poodle, you should consider getting toys that make him use his brain.
4. Don’t Make it a Game
Think about how you are handling the situation when it comes to your dog pooping. Do you get hyped up and run to grab it up? Do you find yourself yelling and exaggerating the situation? Your dog might mistake your intensity as a good thing, rather than an owner just trying to get rid of the poop before it smells up the house.
Your poodle might start to think it is a game. He sees you running to pick it up, so he might begin to believe that is what he is supposed to do. He will start to run for his poop the second he is finished with his business and pick it up by eating it.
If this is the case, then you need to stop overreacting to his poop immediately. The first step is to calm down. The second step is to help your dog understand that it is not a game, which can be done with a little bit of training and reassurance.
Training Your Poodle Not to Eat Poop
If you are struggling with a poop-eating poodle and the above reasons are not to blame, then he may tend to find it delicious and not want to stop. Luckily, though, you can train your poodle to stop eating his poop. It may be a bit of a challenge and take up to 3 weeks to be successful, but it’s certainly worth the time and effort. Just make sure you stay consistent.
The most common way to train a poodle, as described in “How to Train Your Dog to Not Eat Poop” by WagWalking.com, to stop eating his poop is by using the ‘Leave It’ command.
To successfully train your poodle with the “Leave It” command, you will need to do the following:
- 1. Place a treat in your hand and
hold it tightly. - 2. Let your dog sniff and lick your
hand to get the treat. - 3. Continue to say ‘Leave It’ in a
calm but confident tone. - 4. Once your dog has stopped
investigating the treat and sits down, you can then say ‘Yes’ and give him the
treat. - 5. Once this step is mastered, start
to place a piece of dog food on the floor and tell him to leave it. When he
does, you may reward him with a better treat for listening. - 6. Start placing pieces of dog food
throughout the inside and outside of the home, practicing the leave it command.
If he is successful, switch to praise rather than treats. - 7. Begin to use the leave it command
when your dog approaches his feces or the feces of other animals. - 8. Make sure you continue to praise him
when he successfully obeys the leave it command.
As you can see, this is a relatively simple command that can be taught in the comfort of your home. The key is to stay consistent. It could take as long as three weeks before your poodle is ready to obey the “Leave It” command, but with consistency and confidence, he should succeed.
How to Stop Your Poodle from Eating Poop Naturally
Still in need of some help when it comes to your poodle eating his feces? There are many natural solutions you can use at home to help with this problem. Here is a list of the top 4 natural ways to help your dog stop eating his poop, according to “7 Natural Ways to Prevent Your Dog From Eating Poop.”
- Apple Cider Vinegar. A deficiency in
hydrochloric acid may be to blame for your dog’s affinity for eating his poop.
Adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar can help. You can also opt for a bit
of zucchini in their food or meat tenderizer, which is also believed to make
poop taste awful. - Pineapples. When your dog eats pineapple, it
will change the flavor of his poop and make it more acidic. It will taste bad,
and your dog won’t want to eat it anymore. - Pumpkin. Pumpkin is a great way to keep his
tummy full for a more extended period while also enhancing his digestive
system. It will also make his stool taste awful. - Supplements. There are many supplements on the
market that are designed to treat coprophagia. Supplements like Forbid, Deter,
Potty Mouth, and NaturVet Coprophagia Deterrent Soft Chews all
have essential vitamins and minerals to help your dog lay off the poop eating.
Note: Some blogs and pet owners suggest adding hot sauce to your dog’s food to get them to stop eating their feces, but the hot sauce should never be given to your dog. Several different things can occur, from your dog’s mouth being burned to making them afraid of their food dish. How awful is that?
If you are going to use hot sauce, it is suggested that you place it on top of the poop so that when your dog goes to eat it, it will act as a deterrent, and he will not want to try it again. This, of course, is an unethical and mean way of training your dog. It is best to use other methods.
Is it Harmful for a Dog to Eat Poop?
For the most part, a dog eating his poop is normal and isn’t incredibly harmful. However, some circumstances can make this dangerous to your poodle.
- 1. Your dog can get sick from eating his feces. While
it’s relatively unlikely, the biggest concern is when the dog has been recently
dewormed, and he goes to eat his poop that still has worms and eggs inside. Of
course, this will lead to reinfection that requires more medication to handle.The other issue is that when your
poodle consumes his stool too often,
it can lead to upset stomach and digestive problems. This is especially true if
your dog eats his poop, regurgitates it, then ingests the throw-up. - 2. Your dog can get sick from eating the feces of other animals. It becomes a much more harmful experience when your poodle starts to
consume the stool of other dogs and animals. Some of the biggest dangers
include contracting whipworm, hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm, salmonellosis,
cryptosporidiosis, and campylobacteriosis.
As you can see, the biggest issue is when your poodle begins to consume the feces of other animals around him. If you are struggling with this with your poodle, the best option is to teach the ‘Leave It’ command and always make sure his area is clean of all poop, whether it’s his or not.
Common Mistakes in Managing Poodle Coprophagia
One of the most frequent tactical errors is attempting to “discipline” a Poodle out of this habit through harsh verbal corrections. Because they are highly sensitive “velcro dogs,” punishment often spikes their cortisol levels, leading to anxiety-based behaviors that can actually worsen the obsession. I recall my late Standard Poodle, Angus—who was far too dignified for this particular habit but would certainly have responded to a stern lecture by over-analyzing my tone rather than the behavior itself.
Another mistake is relying solely on “taste deterrent” home remedies, like adding pineapple or hot sauce to food. While these might make the “end product” less appealing, they fail to address the 2026 diagnostic reality: if a dog is eating waste because of a nutrient deficiency or malabsorption, a bad taste won’t stop the physiological drive to scavenge. Finally, many owners overlook the “Grab Game” phenomenon; by making a frantic scene during cleanup, you accidentally reward your Poodle with a high-energy interaction, satisfying their constant need for social engagement in the most counterproductive way possible.
When to Worry: Clinical Red Flags for Stool Eating
While most cases of coprophagia are behavioral or nutritional, there are specific scenarios where the habit serves as a symptom of a deeper medical crisis. If the behavior begins suddenly in a mature Poodle who has never shown interest in “recycling” before, it is rarely a late-onset hobby and more likely a metabolic shift. According to the [suspicious link removed], sudden pica or coprophagia can be the first outward sign of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) or a parasitic load that is siphoning off vital calories.
You should seek a professional veterinary evaluation if the stool-eating is accompanied by any of the following:
- Unexplained Weight Loss: Despite an increased or voracious appetite.
- Excessive Thirst and Urination: Common indicators of diabetes or Cushing’s Disease, as noted by VCA Animal Hospitals.
- Lethargy and Pale Gums: Which may suggest anemia or a severe internal parasitic infection.
- Changes in Stool Consistency: Oily or voluminous waste often points toward malabsorption issues that require a dietary reset.
Poodle Coprophagia FAQ: Quick Expert Answers
1. Why does my intelligent Poodle eat feces?
It is often a “high-IQ solution” to boredom or a primitive instinct to keep their den clean. As the second smartest breed, Poodles may invent their own “jobs”—like unauthorized yard cleanup—if they aren’t mentally stimulated. My late Standard, Angus, preferred “solving” my socks, but many Poodles turn to coprophagia when their cognitive needs aren’t met, a behavior noted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as a potential predatory relic.
2. Is their diet causing this “recycling” habit?
Quite likely. Fillers like corn bran leave dogs feeling perpetually hungry, leading them to scavenge for “second-round” nutrients. Low-quality kibble is often less digestible, meaning the waste still smells remarkably like the original meal. Transitioning to a nutrient-dense diet, as suggested by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), can bridge this 2026 nutritional gap and curb the scavenging drive.
3. Is it dangerous for my Poodle to eat poop?
While mostly a “yuck” factor, the [suspicious link removed] warns it can lead to parasites like hookworms or salmonella, especially if they consume the waste of other animals. If your Poodle was recently dewormed, they also risk reinfecting themselves. While fresh waste from a healthy dog is low-risk, it remains an unsanitary habit that can lead to unnecessary bacterial exposure.
4. How do I stop the “Grab Game” during cleanup?
If you shout and run toward your Poodle, you’ve unintentionally started a high-stakes game that rewards their behavior with your attention. The key is to remain calm and master the “Leave It” command. By replacing the chaotic chase with a structured training success and a high-value treat, you satisfy their 2026 mental engagement needs without turning poop-scooping into a sport.
5. When should I see a vet about stool eating?
If the behavior starts suddenly in an adult dog or is paired with weight loss, extreme thirst, or lethargy, it may signal a medical issue like diabetes or thyroid dysfunction. These conditions can send a Poodle’s appetite into overdrive. A professional diagnostic panel can rule out these metabolic stressors and ensure your dog’s “snacking” isn’t actually a cry for medical help.
Conclusion
While humans may find poop repulsive, many dogs will eat their feces at some point or another. There are, however, many reasons connected to poop eating. The best thing is to find the root cause of the coprophagia and handle it properly. For some, it will mean switching to a new, higher quality dog food, while others may need to be specially trained to ‘Leave It.’
For owners ready to move beyond the “yuck factor” and into a structured, negotiation-based solution, my 2026 Poodle Behavior Guide provides the evidence-based protocols needed to transform these destructive impulses into genius-level partnership and focus.
Medical & Veterinary Disclaimer: PoodleReport.com is an informational resource for Poodle owners and enthusiasts. We are not veterinarians. The content on this website is not a substitute for professional veterinary care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding your pet’s medical condition, diet, or overall health.