Eating poop is socially unacceptable and exposes your dog to parasites and diseases.

If your dog is eating poop (coprophagy), rule out a medical cause with your veterinarian. Sometimes an underlying illness or disease may be the cause, such as disorders of the intestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, a deficiency in some vital nutrient such as iron, or other causes.

If no disease is found, poop eating is considered a behavioral problem. Eating poop is a problem that is easier to prevent than cure, so don't allow the opportunity to arise. Keep the dog's yard clean by disposing of feces promptly. Upgrade your dog's diet by replacing his grain-based kibble with a high-protein, low-carbohydrate food.

Eating poop can be an attention getting behavior. If this is the case, try to startle your dog with a loud noise or clap your hands when you catch him. If possible, avoid letting him know that the startling noise came from you. If your dog knows a command such as "Leave it," say that. Praise your dog when he drops it, and give him an acceptable item to chew or play with.

If it is play behavior, keep plenty of toys in the yard for your dog to play with. Make sure your dog has good, tough chew toys to relieve doggy tensions. Praise your dog when he is playing with his toys outside.

Set aside time during the day for plenty of attention and exercise. A tired dog is a good dog!

Do-it-yourself treatments to stop poop eating can be added to your dog's food include sprinkling Accent (flavor enhancer), a drop of anise essential oil, or adding garlic, pumpkin, pineapple, or meat tenderizer. These methods work for some dogs but not for all.

Put Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper (chili powder) on the poop - not the food.

Verbal scolding, yelling, or punishment may be interpreted by your dog as attention. This approach won't resolve the problem and is likely to produce either fearful or aggressive responses from your dog.

Have your veterinarian do a fecal flotation examination every 6 - 12 months. This will screen your dog for exposure to intestinal parasites or worms such as hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.

If you suspect that anxiety, stress, or frustration is the reason for poop eating, the cause should be identified and the behavior changed by using obedience modification techniques - positive reinforcement clicker training.