Six Primary Reasons Why Dogs Eat Poop

There are a number of reasons why dogs eat poop. Although this may sound absurd, this thing does happen and watching them do this is very disgusting. This particular behavior should never be welcomed since poops contain harmful bacteria, the Escherichia coli, which may threaten the animal's life and can be passed to people through their saliva.

Before we look at the reasons why dogs eat poop, let us first find out how these canines acquire this behavior.

The ingestion of feces that is neither accidental nor incidental is called Coprophagia. This is a very dangerous one since this may develop as a habit not jus among German shepherd dogs but to other dog breeds as well. There are many other eating problems that German shepherd dogs may acquire such as pica and anorexia.

However, let us focus on why dogs eat poop. Below are the six primary reasons behind the disturbing behavior along with the solutions to stop it.

First reason: Hunger and poor nutrition. This is the most common reason why dogs eat poop. If your German shepherd puppy is hungry and he finds nothing to eat, he might have no choice but to eat poop to fill out his tummy.

Therefore, it is necessary to feed your German shepherd dog regularly with all-natural, healthy foods. You may ask the veterinarian regarding the best food choice for him.

Second reason: To entertain themselves. German shepherd dogs easily get bored. They tend to search for something to do from time to time and this is why dogs eat poop. Sometimes, when they are left alone in the house, they do this for entertainment.

For this reason, you have to be sure that the breeder whom you purchased the German shepherd puppy took the utmost care of him so that he will not develop bad habits later on in his life.

Third reason: To tidy the area. Another cause why dogs eat poop is to clean up their own space. In the event that they would find any dirt or feces for that matter, they would tend to eat them to clean up the mess.

This is most common with German shepherd dogs that are confined in a crate or being chained. Therefore, owners must consider proper German shepherd crate training and teaching them how to behave well while with chains. Also, clean up his mess first before leaving him behind.

Fourth reason: German shepherd anxiety. Among the main reasons why dogs eat poop is because they feel nervous, anxious or upset. When they face any threat or when they notice you walking out from the house, these things may cause German shepherd anxiety.

As a result, German shepherds may suffer from stress and will do odd things such as ingesting poop. That is why you have to make sure that your German shepherd is away from any factor that could threaten him and train him to get acclimated with being left alone in your house.

In addition, spend quality time with your German shepherd puppy to prevent him from feeling neglected.

Fifth reason: To keep away from predators. Protection is one factor why dogs eat poop. The mother German shepherd dog eats the poop of her German shepherd puppies until they are old enough to come out of the den.

Poops are evidence for predators to locate the German shepherd puppies, so the mother German shepherd dog eats them to keep her young ones safe.

Sixth reason: To mimmick the owner's behavior. Yes, this is true. German shepherds can follow the actions of humans and this is one reason why dogs eat poop. If they see someone picking up their dirt, they might learn to do the same and this is called the allelomimetic behavior.

Your German shepherd observes what you are doing and will eventually adapt it in his own way. When he finds you picking up his poop and put it in a bag, he will tend to copy it by putting a poop in his mouth.

At the sight of your German shepherd dog doing this, immediately say "No" in a firm voice, and give him a chew toy or a tasty food, like pineapple, to divert his attention.

So, now you know why dogs eat poop. If this has been a nightmare of yours for a long time, then, follow the above solutions and make frequent visits to the veterinarian.

Marcus Stephens "The Dog Guy" has owned and trained dogs for over 20 years. He is the founder of the popular website "Fix Why Dogs Eat Poop Problems". Get your FREE report that reveals how to stop your why dogs eat poop problems for good

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