September 23, 2026, 4:03 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Our four-legged friends have some questionable hobbies: With visible enthusiasm, many dogs eat feces, vomit, or discarded food and roll in carrion. What is disgusting to us is simply pleasant for dogs–a behavior that, according to behavioral biologist Stefanie Riemer, likely dates back to the time of domestication when dogs made themselves useful by eating human waste, thus improving hygiene around the home. Veterinarian and animal behavior therapist Ronald Lindner from Leipzig is also familiar with the phenomenon: “The animals are not concerned with checking expiration dates or whether packaging is damaged. They simply consume and see if it tastes good or not.” The good news: This fecal indulgence can be trained away.
When Does It Become Dangerous?
It becomes dangerous only when dogs can’t stop and it leads to stomach overload. This is similar to human feces or vomit with alcohol or even drug residues. In serious cases, severe health issues are possible. “The consumption of cat feces and human feces is generally normal,” confirms Riemer. It is more concerning if dogs constantly eat the feces of their peers or plastic parts. “Healthy dogs shouldn’t do that.” This often indicates an undiscovered medical problem.
Behaviors like “pica” (eating non-edible items) are often contributed to by a gastrointestinal disease. This is often not recognized without detailed diagnostics. However, it is also conceivable that eating dog feces serves merely as “occupation.” Dogs raised in kennels sometimes exhibit this behavior. The desire for attention can also be behind this bad habit. According to Ronald Lindner, “almost 100 percent” of the time, malnutrition can be ruled out as the cause. Dog food today is exceptionally good, strictly controlled, and generally provides all necessary nutrients.
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How to Train Away the Behavior
To prevent dogs from eating disgusting or even dangerous things, the veterinarian recommends anti-poison bait training. Even “eating machines” like Labradors can learn not to immediately swallow things lying on the ground but to indicate them. The secret is not to punish the wrong behavior but to positively reinforce the correct alternative behavior. “It takes less than ten minutes to teach them the basics,” says Ronald Lindner. “But then you have to practice it thousands of times until the behavior is generalized.”
The idea behind this method is that the dog no longer considers the unwanted “delicacies” to be the ultimate treat and immediately devours them but instead decides to indicate them–for example, by sitting in front of them. In return, he gets the absolute best treat ever, which is even tastier: liverwurst or cheese, for instance. Which favorite it is for each dog must be individually tested beforehand.
In the initial training steps, even just looking at the owner when he discovers the unwanted object of his desire–but does not eat it–is rewarded with the super treat.
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Why Dogs Roll in Carrion and Feces
Many dogs are not only happy when they can devour disgusting things. Somehow, owners agree, they always come running particularly joyfully when they have discovered an old carcass or fresh feces of a wild animal on which they could roll with delight. “The more gruesome it smells, the better it is,” says dog behavior trainer Alexandra Wischall-Wagner. Fox feces rank at the top.
Dog researchers suspect that this rolling preference goes back to the hunting behavior of wolves. They want to mask their own scent, feel a sense of belonging to the group, and not stand out in the pack. However, Ronald Lindner sees it more as “a clear comfort behavior.” His dog once managed to roll in a stinking, dead swan. “He felt very happy and comfortable!” The behavior therapist suspects that this rolling is a way to cope with stress–both negative and positive. “A great vacation can overwhelm even the strongest dog,” says Lindner. “Then he doesn’t know what to do with all his feelings–and if he then perhaps finds a swan, it’s a great way to relieve stress.”
With material from dpa