How to Stop Your Puppy from Eating Poop: A Guide for Lab Owners
If you’ve caught your 5-month-old chocolate Labrador eating his own poop, you’re not alone. This behavior, called coprophagia, is surprisingly common in puppies—especially in food-motivated breeds like Labradors. While it’s disgusting to watch, the good news is that most puppies outgrow it with the right approach.
Why Puppies Eat Poop
Understanding why this happens can help you fix it. Puppies eat poop for several reasons: they’re exploring their world with their mouths, they might have nutritional deficiencies, they’re bored, or they’ve learned it gets your attention (even negative attention is still attention). Some puppies also do it simply because they find it interesting or because they’re copying other dogs.
Immediate Solutions That Work
The most effective solution is supervising your puppy during potty breaks and picking up poop immediately. If there’s no poop available, your Lab can’t eat it. Yes, this means going outside with your puppy every single time for a while, but it works.
When your puppy poops, use a high-value treat to distract him and call him away from it. The second he moves toward you instead of the poop, reward him enthusiastically. You’re teaching him that leaving poop alone is more rewarding than eating it.
Dietary and Health Checks
Sometimes coprophagia signals a nutritional issue. Make sure your chocolate Lab is on high-quality puppy food appropriate for large breeds. Ask your vet to rule out parasites or digestive problems that might cause increased hunger or poor nutrient absorption. Some dogs eat poop when they’re not getting enough food or if their food isn’t digestible enough.
You can also try adding meat tenderizer, pineapple chunks, or pumpkin to your puppy’s food. These can make the resulting poop less appealing, though results vary between dogs.
Training and Management Tips
Teach a solid “leave it” command using treats and practice it throughout the day with various objects. When your Lab is reliable with “leave it,” you can use this command when he approaches poop.
Increase mental and physical exercise. A tired, stimulated puppy is less likely to engage in unwanted behaviors. Labradors are high-energy dogs who need plenty of activity, especially at 5 months old when they’re full of puppy energy.
Never punish your puppy for eating poop. Punishment often makes the behavior worse because the puppy learns to eat it quickly before you notice, or becomes stressed which can trigger more of the behavior.
What Usually Happens
Most puppies naturally stop eating poop as they mature, typically between 9 months and a year old. With consistent management—picking up poop immediately, rewarding alternative behaviors, ensuring proper nutrition, and providing enough exercise—you should see improvement within a few weeks to months.
If the behavior persists despite your efforts or if you notice other concerning symptoms, consult your veterinarian to rule out underlying health issues.
Stay patient and consistent. Your chocolate Lab is still very young, and this phase will pass.
