Why is my new puppy eating his own poop?

This is what I looked up for you: Coprophagia is a common problem in some puppies, which usually clears up by adulthood. There have been many explanations suggested for this behavior. When left unsupervised, puppies may simply begin to investigate, play with, and even eat stools as a playful or investigative activity. Since coprophagia may attract a great deal of owner attention, the behavior may be further reinforced. There may also be an observational component (copy behavior) since the cleans and ingests the puppy's excrement in the nest, and puppies may learn to mimic the behavior of their mother or playmates who perform this behavior. The owner that uses the outmoded, inhumane and useless training technique of “sticking the dog's nose” in its stool when it has soiled the home, may be further encouraging coprophagia. In adult dogs the innate behavior of grooming and cleaning newborn puppies and eating their excrement, along with the well documented fact that dogs tend to be attracted to sniff and lick infection or discharge of their pack-mates, may explain some of the motivation for coprophagia. Early intervention can help reduce the possibility that the behavior will become a long-term habit.

Why is poorly understood. The best information I have seen suggests it is nutritional. I have no idea how reliable the other information is. It would help if people gave the source. When it comes to dogs, it is far easier to find information on the web, than evaluate it.

Stool eating is easier to control otherwise and less harmful that the overly rich diet it might take to control it. No sense ruining a dogs joints fixing something they likely will out grow. It seldom hurts much more than the owners stomach. Many of my puppies have done it, especially starting about 4 months when I switch them to the less rich adult chow. I have just tried cleaning it up before they have a chance.

There are things you can add to their food to control it. Try pineapple juice, canned pumpkin, or the commercial products Deter and Forbid.

If you haven't read the sticky, go to https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/information-articles-our-dogs-expert-labman-53153.html#post251802 It should be helpful to a new puppy owner. Welcome and post back with any other questions.