Why does my puppy eat poop & chew floors? How can I stop him?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Hi, I have a 7 month old Pomeranian who eats his poop and likes to chew on our wooden floor. Could you please give me tips that'll discourage to this habit,and why he does this. We've tried to adding pumpkin to his diet but he is still eats his poop. We've potty trained him to go on his puppy pad, and we remove the poop before he tries to eat it but he is starting to poop when we are not around. For the chewing problem we bought him new toys thinking that he didn't have enough toys to chew on.

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Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH 193

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on July 10th, 2018

You may have have 2 separate problems or they may be related. If Shamu is generally bored and trying to find things to do, that may contribute to his eating his stool and his destructive tendencies. I am attaching a handout about eating stool below that may have some additional suggestions for you. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8587687 I like the food additives to help stop dogs from eating their own stool. As far as the chewing goes, I would consider adding Bitter Apple ( ) short term on areas of the floor that he is chewing, when work on tiring him out on a regular basis. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me with my puppy. One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even if you have done a basic obedience class, I would consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. When he goes on walks, make him sit at each corner before he crosses the street. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity and see if that resolves his stool eating and destructive tendencies. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

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Why does my puppy eat poop & chew floors? How can I stop him?

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