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Why does my puppy eat poop & chew floors? How can I stop him?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pomeranian | Male | unneutered | 6 months and 5 days old | 7 lbs

Hi, I have a 7 month old Pomeranian who eats his poop and likes to chew on our wooden floor. Could you please give me tips that'll discourage to this habit,and why he does this. We've tried to adding pumpkin to his diet but he is still eats his poop. We've potty trained him to go on his puppy pad, and we remove the poop before he tries to eat it but he is starting to poop when we are not around. For the chewing problem we bought him new toys thinking that he didn't have enough toys to chew on.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on July 10th, 2018

You may have have 2 separate problems or they may be related. If Shamu is generally bored and trying to find things to do, that may contribute to his eating his stool and his destructive tendencies. I am attaching a handout about eating stool below that may have some additional suggestions for you.
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8587687
I like the food additives to help stop dogs from eating their own stool. As far as the chewing goes, I would consider adding Bitter Apple ( ) short term on areas of the floor that he is chewing, when work on tiring him out on a regular basis. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me with my puppy.
One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer.
Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work.
And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even if you have done a basic obedience class, I would consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. When he goes on walks, make him sit at each corner before he crosses the street. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way.
Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference.
There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those.
https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games
So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity and see if that resolves his stool eating and destructive tendencies.
Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Eryn Taormina, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Hi there. Shamu sounds like a very feisty, young man! When dogs eat their poop it can be pretty gross, and chewing can get frustrating after a while.
    I would call Shamu's veterinarian and see if there are any supplements they carry to deter him from eating the poop. There are quite a few products available over the counter, like For-bid, Coprophagia - Stop Eating Poop, or Solid Gold - Stop Eating Poop. The supplements may or may not work, but are usually pretty safe. Just follow the directions on the labels. What you are doing though is the best thing to do - get rid of the poop ASAP. Crate training may help. He may not want to sit in his poop and avoid soiling his kennel. (In some cases they will just poop and eat it, but you could always try that). Some puppies do grow out of that, so hopefully Shamu will.
    Make sure too that Shamu is on a small breed puppy food. Sometimes puppies that aren't getting enough nutrition will eat their stools.
    For the chewing, just keep deterring him from chewing your floors and furniture. Some good toys to try are the puzzle toys like a kong toy. You can put frozen low fat greek yogurt in there with some of his kibble and throw it in the freezer. This should entertain him for quite a while. Other feeder toys like the pickle pocket, kong wobbler, or everlasting treat ball maybe helpful and distract him for long periods of time. If he is 7 months old, he should be done teething, and shouldn't be chewing on your stuff. This is another reason why you may want to crate train him. This way, he has his own spot and only his special toys to chew on. Be careful of course with leaving any easily destructible toys in the kennel with him as he can bite off pieces and swallow them.
    If you are still having trouble with all of these things despite making the above changes, I would contact a trainer in your area. They can help you and Shamu work out his undesirable behaviors.
    I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Food & Nutrition
My 10-month-old puppy eats his poop. Why and how can I stop it?
There are certainly a large number of reasons that a dog will eat their own stool. I am attaching a handout below that discusses these reasons in detail. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8587687 Since Chev is still a puppy, I would start with having your veterinarian examine a stool sample to make sure there aren't any intestinal parasites that are playing a role. You can then discuss trying the food additive deterrents that can be very helpful in stopping this behavior. And as you mentioned, this behavior could certainly be out of boredom, so I would recommend working on additional training to keep Chev busy and tired. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas to get this taken care of. Thanks for using PetCoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
New Pet
Why do my dogs chew wood and eat poop? Is it normal? How to stop?
There are some dogs that love to chew on wood. It isn't ideal, but it can be a very hard habit to break. I recommend providing alternative toys to chew on, but if that doesn't work you might consider collecting branches for them to chew, which is better than furniture. Make sure they are getting plenty of exercise, as bored dogs tend to be destructive. As far as eating their own feces, yes you need to pick it up right away. Here is a great article with more information about this subject. https://www.petcoach.co/article/stool-eating-coprophagy/
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
My 7-month-old puppy eats poop. I've tried everything, what works?
It really sounds like you have pretty much done everything we recommend in these situations. Often times dogs will "outgrow' this behavior but there is no guarantee. There is an old wives tale that says dogs do this due to a nutritonal deficiency. That has never been proven so I don't necessarily believe it but you can try giving Chaplin a multivitamin (like Pet Tabs) to see if that helps. This article has some other ideas you can try. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1613 My other recommendation would be to add a probiotic to his diet like Fortiflora (the best one in my opinion). https://www.walmart.com/ip/Purina-Pro-Plan-Veterinary-Diets-FortiFlora-Probiotic-Supplement-30-CT/43284986 Finally, if he is eating inappropriate things (other than the feces) you can try putting basket muzzle on him when he is unattended. He may be able to still eat feces through it but depending on which type you get you can minimize that. Don't get a regular tight fitting muzzle on the snout. It needs to be the kind where he can still pant and drink water through it. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=basket+muzzle Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
How do I stop my puppy from eating its own and other dogs' poop?
For helping to eliminate purely behavioral causes of coprophagy, a three step method can be used: 1. Decreaseattractivequalityoffeces • Change in diet can oftentimes be beneficial, switching to a brand with a lower protein content to lower the amount of protein excreted into the feces (which the dog finds palatable). • Commercially available products added to food can decrease the palatability of the feces. Examples include: For-bid®; Deter®; and meat tenderizers. Consult with your veterinarian as to the proper dose to use. 2. Preventexpressionofbehavior • Being present and scooping up the feces immediately is a good way to prevent this behavior. • Keeping the dog on leash when taking him/her out to eliminate can help the owner physically prevent the dog from engaging in coprophagy. • Controlled feeding time allows the owner to predict time of defecation and be more vigilant when watching the dog. • Preventing access to other pet’s litterboxes or cleaning them frequently. • Spray collars, such as citronella can be used to deter the dog as well. • “Booby-trapping” feces, by adding hot sauce or “bitter apple” flavor INTO the feces, so the dog associates bad tastes with its feces. • Not rewarding the behavior by ignoring the dog when it consumes its feces, despite how difficult it may be for the owner. 3. Rewardpost-eliminationbehavior • Positive reinforcement immediately after good behavior (so owner must be present). Keep the dog on leash, and if the dog does not go for its feces, reward it with food and praise. Also, if the dog does try to reach for its feces, divert its attention to another simple task (such as asking to “sit” or “shake paw”) and reward it for performing the task. Health Concerns: As with all pets, regardless of whether or not the dog is coprophagic, owners should be careful about washing their hands at appropriate times, such as before eating, after handling feces, etc. Cleanliness is the first line of defense against potential disease transmission, which can include intestinal parasites. Coprophagy can be very distasteful to owners and can be a public health concern. If this occurs, consider seeing your local veterinarian to rule out any possible diseases as the cause and to develop a plan to help eliminate the behavior.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
My dog eats poop. Why does he do it and how can I make him stop?
Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center! Stool eating, also known as coprophagy, is actually quite common in puppies and in many adult dogs too. In fact, if not addressed in a timely manner, there's a risk that this unwanted behavior may end up becoming a recurring habit. There are many theories and potential reasons why dogs decide to eat their feces. These include poor digestion, boredom, stress, attention seeking, and a lack of vitamins/minerals in the diet. The latter is highly unlikely if you're feeding your dog a high quality commercial food, since these generally provide all the nutrients your dog needs. The effective way to deal with this behavior depends on the exact cause. So, it's always recommended to consult with your veterinarian.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
New Pet
My adopted dog chews everything and eats poop. What can I do?
If you are interested in a discussion you are welcome to request a consultation by clicking the "consultation" button at the top of the home page. As far as eating her poop, here is a great article that may help with that behavior. https://www.petcoach.co/article/stool-eating-coprophagy/ Chewing is pretty normal behavior, and I recommend providing lots of chew toys to give Peach something appropriate to chew on. Also it is critical that Peach get as much exercise as possible. This means at least 1 hour of play time. Take her somewhere she can be off leash, like a dog park, or somewhere you can throw a ball for her. For many young dogs, just going for a walk isn't enough, and bored dogs will find destructive ways to entertain themselves. Good luck!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My GSD puppy eats poop and bites. How can I stop these bad habits?
Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Every puppy is different so it is difficult to give you an exact timeline of when this behavior will end. For eating poop, I recommend spraying the poop with bitter apple to deter ingestion of the poop. You can also use Forbid, but I am unsure if this is available in your country. You might find another product similar at a pet store or if you call and ask a vet office. To break the biting Behavior, I recommend sticking your thumb underneath the tongue inside the mouth and gripping the underside of the lower jaw with the remaining four fingers. Once you have done this apply light pressure between your thumb and your other four fingers and hold that grip for about 5 to 10 seconds until your puppy finds this annoying. I usually repeat this several times before the puppy decides it is not a fun game anymore. Most of the time, puppies will come back for more thinking it is a game and shortly after experiencing several episodes they stop and lick instead. I find this has been one of the most successful tricks that I use to stop biting. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available by phone or text based consultation if needed.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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