If you’re a husky owner, you’ve probably wondered why your husky eats poop. It’s not a pretty sight, but it’s something that many dogs do. While there is no definitive answer to this question, there are several possible explanations for why huskies eat poop.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common reasons why huskies eat poop and offer tips on how to prevent your pup from engaging in this gross behavior.
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12 Reasons Why Your Husky Eats Poop
1. Your Husky is trying to clean up after themselves
Dogs have a natural instinct to clean up after themselves, and they may engage in poop-eating as a way to keep their environment tidy. This is especially true if your Husky eats poop right after doing a poop.
In a study called ‘The Paradox of Canine Conspecific Coprophagy‘ published in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Science, they found that most dogs preferred eating fresh poop! More specifically, “85% of dogs were reported to eat stools no more than 2 days old”.
They also found that the chance of a dog eating poop at least once was 23%.
Most interestingly, their main hypothesis was that coprophagic dogs (poop-eating dogs) “may be exhibiting a variant of an innate behavioral predisposition, possibly stemming from wolf ancestors. The hypothesis suggests that these wolves would have a tendency to keep the den resting area free of accumulating feces left in the rest area by an injured or sick wolf.”
Aren’t those findings interesting?
2. Your Husky has a poor diet
If your husky is not getting enough nutrients from its food, it may try to supplement its diet with other sources of nutrition – like poop. If your dog isn’t receiving a balanced and nutritious diet, their body might be lacking in certain vitamins or minerals that it would otherwise get from the food they eat. This is a similar reason to why they sometimes eat grass.
Further reading:
3. Your Husky is scavenging
Huskies are natural scavengers, so it’s not uncommon for them to eat poop as a way of scavenging. This behavior is usually seen in wild canines, where they may consume the feces of their prey or other animals as a way to supplement their diet.
4. Your Husky has a stomach bug
Eating poop can also be a sign that your husky has some sort of gastrointestinal issue. If your pup is suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, or other digestive problems, they may try to consume their own feces as a way to make themselves feel better.
5. Your Husky is just weird!
Some huskies are just weird and like to eat poop. It’s gross, but it’s true! If your husky has been engaging in this behavior for a while, they may have simply developed a taste for it over time.
6. Your Husky is just hungry!
Another possible explanation for why your husky is eating poop is that it might simply be hungry. If your pup isn’t getting enough food, they may resort to eating feces out of pure hunger.
7. Your Husky is stressed or anxious
Stress and anxiety can cause dogs to turn to coping mechanisms such as eating poop. If your husky is feeling anxious or stressed out, it may be trying to self-soothe by eating poo.
8. Your Husky isn’t getting enough exercise
Huskies need regular exercise in order to stay healthy and happy. If your pup isn’t getting enough physical activity, they may start eating poop as a way to expend their extra energy.
9. Your Husky is trying to get your attention
Eating poop can also be a way for dogs to get attention from their owners. If your husky is feeling neglected, they may start engaging in this behavior as a way to draw attention to themselves.
10. Your Husky has learned this behavior from mom
If your husky was born in a litter with a mother that ate poop, then it’s likely that they’ve learned this behavior from her. If this is the case, you should work on breaking the cycle by teaching them proper eating habits and rewarding them for good behaviors.
11. Your Husky might like the taste of poop
It may seem strange, but some dogs actually prefer the taste of poop to regular food. This is understandable if your Husky normally eats low-quality dry food. If your pup is engaging in this behavior more than usual, try feeding them higher-quality dog food.
12. Your Husky is bored
If your husky is not getting enough mental or physical stimulation, they may resort to eating poop as a way to alleviate their boredom.
How to Stop Your Husky From Eating Poop
If you’re worried that your husky is eating poop, there are a few things you can do to discourage this behavior.
- Make sure your pup is getting enough exercise and mental stimulation. Keeping them busy with walks, playtime, and training sessions will help keep their mind occupied and prevent them from resorting to bad habits such as eating feces.
- Try feeding your Husky fresh dog food. If they’re not getting all the nutrients they need from their food, it’s likely that they’ll turn to other sources of nutrition – like poop.
- Keep an eye on your husky at all times when outdoors. If you catch them in the act of eating feces, make a loud noise or clap your hands to startle them and distract them from the behavior.
- Reward your pup for good behaviors with treats or toys. This will help reinforce proper behavior and let your husky know that they’ll be rewarded for doing what’s expected of them.
- Consider using pheromone sprays to help reduce stress and anxiety. These sprays can be sprayed in areas where your pup tends to engage in the behavior, which can help calm them down and discourage them from eating poop.
- If all else fails, talk to your vet about finding other methods of discouraging this behavior. Your vet may be able to recommend medications or supplements that can help reduce the urge to eat poop.
Final Thoughts About Huskies Eating Poop
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that eating poop is a somewhat normal behavior for huskies – although it’s not something you want them to do.
By providing your pup with plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and a balanced diet, you’ll go a long way in helping to discourage this behavior. If you’re still having trouble, consult with your vet for advice.
Good luck!
Why Does My Husky Eat Poop?
The most likely reason why your husky eats poop is because they are trying to clean up after themselves. However, there are many other possible reasons including poor diet, scavenging behavior, stomach bug, just being weird, they are hungry, anxious, not getting enough exercise, attention-seeking, it’s a learned behavior, they might like the taste or they are bored. It could also be a mixture of these!
