Why does my Bull Terrier eat poo?
Few things put you off a face lick quite like it. The good news is that eating poo is common, rarely a sign of illness, and well understood. The less good news is that it is hard to cure, so the plan that works is mostly about management.
- It is common and usually behavioural. In a survey of more than 1,500 dogs, 16% were frequent poo eaters, and terriers were among the groups most likely to do it.
- Fresh poo is the target. 85% of the poo-eating dogs ate stools no more than two days old.
- Powders and pills almost never work. Owners reported success rates of 0 to 2% for the commercial products.
- What works is denying access: pick up straight away, supervise garden trips and teach a solid "leave it". Never punish him for it.
- See a vet if it starts suddenly, or comes with weight loss, diarrhoea or vomiting.
How common it is, and which dogs do it
The best data comes from a 2018 study at the University of California, Davis, which surveyed owners of more than 1,500 dogs. 16% of dogs were frequent poo eaters, meaning they had been seen doing it at least six times. The Royal Kennel Club puts the figure for dogs seen doing it at least once at 23%.
What the study found about which dogs do it:
- Terriers and hounds were the breed groups most likely to be poo eaters, which matters if you own a Bull Terrier.
- Greedy eaters were far more likely to do it: 51% of poo-eating dogs were described as greedy, against 28% of the others.
- Homes with two or more dogs had more poo eaters.
- Diet, age, sex and neutering made no difference, and poo eaters were just as easy to house train as other dogs. It is not a sign of a badly trained dog.
One caution about the numbers: the survey was mostly of dogs in the United States, so treat them as a good guide rather than an exact figure for the UK.
Why dogs do it
The same study noticed something striking: 85% of the poo-eating dogs went for stools no more than two days old. Its authors suggest the habit is inherited from wolves, who keep the den clean by eating fresh droppings before any parasite eggs in them have time to become infective, which takes about two days. On that view, your dog is following an old instinct rather than misbehaving.
Other reasons are more familiar:
- Mothers and puppies. It is completely normal for a mother dog to eat her puppies' poo to keep the nest clean, and puppies may copy her.
- Attention. The PDSA points out that some dogs learn that eating poo gets a big reaction, and being told off can be better than no attention at all.
Medical causes to rule out
The PDSA is clear that it is rare for a dog to eat poo because of an illness or a dietary deficiency. Rare is not never, though, and VCA lists the medical causes a vet will want to exclude: a poorly digestible diet, not enough food, a lack of digestive enzymes, intestinal parasites, problems absorbing food, diabetes, Cushing's disease, thyroid disease, and drugs that increase appetite, such as steroids. At the very least, a stool test for parasites is a sensible first step.
For a dog who also has loose stools or a temperamental gut, see Bull Terrier sensitive stomach.
The worm-test catch
This is the practical point most owners never hear. Worm eggs from another dog's poo can pass straight through your dog's gut without infecting him, and turn up in his own stool sample. A Dutch study tested dogs again after three days in which they were prevented from eating poo, and 49% of those who had tested positive for worm eggs then tested negative.
So if your vet asks for a stool sample, mention the poo eating, and keep him away from other dogs' droppings for a few days before you collect it. Otherwise you risk treating a parasite he does not actually have.
Other animals' poo
- Cat poo is the usual target in homes with cats. Cats are the only animals that shed Toxoplasma, and their droppings can become infective one to five days after they are passed. Emptying the litter tray daily, and putting it where your dog cannot reach, solves both problems at once.
- Old poo on walks is less appealing to most poo eaters, who prefer it fresh, but it is the bigger parasite risk. Roundworm eggs can survive in the environment for years.
Keep his worming up to date and ask your vet what schedule suits a dog with this habit.
What actually works
The honest picture first. In the 2018 survey, owners who tried commercial food additives reported success rates of 0 to 2%. Behavioural approaches did little better: 1 to 2%, rising to about 4% for rewarding a "leave it" command. Few owners managed to stop the habit outright.
That is why the plan that works is mostly about making it impossible, and making the alternative more rewarding:
- Pick up straight away, in the garden and on walks. Fresh poo is what he wants, so removing it fast removes most of the problem.
- Go into the garden with him, on a lead if you need to, and reward him for coming away after he has been.
- Teach "leave it" with a high-value reward. It will not cure the habit on its own, but it gives you a way to interrupt.
- Use a basket muzzle on walks if he is fast and determined. The Royal Kennel Club suggests one for persistent cases, and a well-fitted basket muzzle still lets him pant and drink.
- Move the litter tray out of his reach.
A greedy Bull Terrier is the typical poo eater, so it is worth making mealtimes last longer with a slow feeder or a scatter feed. It will not fix the habit, but it gives that appetite somewhere better to go. For food that suits the breed, see the best food for Bull Terriers.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Bull Terrier eat poo?
Usually for behavioural reasons rather than medical ones. Researchers think eating fresh droppings is an instinct inherited from wolves, who keep the den clean that way. Terriers, greedy eaters and dogs in multi-dog homes are the most likely to do it.
Is eating poo a sign of a nutritional deficiency?
Rarely. The PDSA says it is rare for a dog to eat poo because of illness or a dietary deficiency, and a large survey found no link with diet. A vet should still check him if it starts suddenly or comes with weight loss, diarrhoea or vomiting.
Do coprophagia supplements work?
Not often. In a survey of owners who had tried them, reported success rates for the commercial food additives ranged from 0 to 2%. Picking up straight away and supervising him outside works far better.
Can eating poo make my dog ill?
The main risk is parasites, especially from older droppings, because roundworm eggs can survive in the environment for years. Keep his worming up to date. Worm eggs from other dogs' poo can also pass through him and cause a false positive on a stool test, so tell your vet about the habit before testing.
Will my puppy grow out of eating poo?
Some do, but there is no guarantee. A large survey found no link between the habit and age, so it is better to manage it from the start: pick up promptly, supervise garden trips and teach a reliable "leave it".
Sources
- Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Tran A, Bain MJ. "The paradox of canine conspecific coprophagy." Veterinary Medicine and Science. 2018;4(2):106-114. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- The Royal Kennel Club. Why does my dog eat poop? www.royalkennelclub.com
- PDSA. Why do dogs eat poo? www.pdsa.org.uk
- Horwitz D, Landsberg G. "Dog Behavior Problems - Coprophagia." VCA Animal Hospitals. vcahospitals.com
- Nijsse R, Mughini-Gras L, Wagenaar JA, Ploeger HW. "Coprophagy in dogs interferes in the diagnosis of parasitic infections by faecal examination." Veterinary Parasitology. 2014;204(3-4):304-309. doi.org
- ESCCAP. Dog roundworm (Toxocara canis) life cycle. www.esccap.org
- Companion Animal Parasite Council. Toxoplasma gondii guidelines. capcvet.org
This is general information, not veterinary advice. It cannot account for your individual dog, and nothing here replaces an examination by a vet who can see him. Anything that looks urgent needs a vet now rather than a web page.
Related guides
- Bull Terrier sensitive stomach
- Best food for Bull Terriers
- Training an English Bull Terrier
- Bull Terrier puppy routine
- Preparing for a vet appointment
The Bull Terrier Buddy app
Log it next to his meals
The daily check-in in Bull Terrier Buddy is free and records appetite and stools. If the poo eating started with a food change, or arrives with loose stools or a bigger appetite, the record shows it, and that is the first thing your vet will ask.
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