Our 5 month old Boston Terrier won't stop eating his own stool, we don't know how to break this habit. We also have a 3 month old Boston that we haven't had any problems with, could it have been how his breeder treated him or is it just a phase that will pass? Any input is appreciated!

I have a friend that puts pineapple in the dog's food. Apparently it tastes good but makes stool unappealing. If you feed it for awhile it might break the habit.

A reason that pups eat their own feces is because it's lacking something in its nutrition. Are you feeding it a balanced diet, as well as are you feeding it enough?

Also, the dog could just be going through a phase. I agree with keligrn that if you put pineapple juice in the dog's food (just a little bit... maybe a teaspoon - tablespoon amount), it will deter the dog from eating the feces.

But first check if the dog's getting proper nutrition and if it's getting enough food.

Who knows, every dog is different, but my pup ate her own poopy for almost 3 months after we got her, she grew out of it... of course, when we saw her do it we distracted her by playing fetch. We constantly picked up her poop so she had nothing to eat, but she still found some, somewhere, she even got ghiradrea (sp-sorry). But our vet said it is totally normal and happens all the time. She is 1.5 years old now and has no interest. It only lasted a month or so. You are doing a great job and your dog is healthy and just being a puppy, probably more craziness will come!

Well sneezefunny, I was thinking that the dog may think that it tastes better the second time. Ha Ha, just kidding. But I do believe this is suppose to be linked to the lack of certain nutrients.

Well sneezefunny, I was thinking that the dog may think that it tastes better the second time. Ha Ha, just kidding. But I do believe this is suppose to be linked to the lack of certain nutrients.


My rescue dog ate her stool and cowered the whole time and the Vet said she had been punished too harshly while being housebroken and ate the stool to hide the "crime." I have no way of knowing if he's correct.

My Vet suggested, instead of cleaning up immediately, that I sprinkle garlic powder on her poop because that would stop the habit. Well, it didn't even faze her (in fact, I think she rather enjoyed it) and the neighbors started looking at me funny when I ran around the yard, shaker in hand.

She was fine for 3 years and then when my husband died, she started all over again. I don't know if it's insecurity or a sign she's upset, perhaps a cry for attention. (She was very much his dog.)

I clean up after her immediately and also put her back on the over-the-counter medication and she's stopped again.