Prevention and Management
Strict management for prevention is the key. The more opportunity a dog has to practice eating poo, the more they are reinforced (poo eating is a naturally reinforcing behaviour!).
Toileting Routine
Have set feeding times for your dog and toilet them straight after feeding. Pick up poo straight away!
Training
Taking Outside on Lead
Particularly at night (where it is easier for dogs to slip away from you)
Leave it Cue
Teach a strong leave it cue.
Sit/Stay Cue
While you are moving to pick up your dog’s poo, put them in a sit stay. Reward highly!
Eating Other Species Poo
Some dogs find it highly rewarding (possibly nutritionally, but also maybe it’s tasty?) to eat other species poo. Since the faeces of other animals are a good source of digestive enzymes, dogs with a deficiency will sometimes ingest enzyme-rich poop. Rabbit poo for example, has very high levels of B Vitamins and is a very rich source of enzymes.
Go Easy
Yes it is frustrating (and disgusting) when your dog eats poo, but remember that Coprophagia can seriously threaten a dog owner bond as a result of owner frustration/displeasure, so treat it with sensitivity.