HELP!! My Dog Eats Poop!!

Oh, GROSS!  Why do dogs eat poop?!  
This is a common question and complaint we hear from clients.  Technically, feces-eating is called copraphagia, and about 1 in 6 dogs are regular stool eaters.  There are several theories of why dogs eat poop--one that seems probable is "instinctual scavenging".  Fecal matter contains nutrients and sometimes bits of undigested food.  Dogs have a "scavenging" instinct that has allowed their ancestors to survive in scarce times.  So, when your dog wants to "snack" on some stool, it's only following its instinct to survive!  But, it's still gross to us humans, and the behavior can spread intestinal parasites among pets.
So, what can one do?  Unfortunately, not much.  Anti-copraphagia food additives are pretty ineffective, and scolding your dog for eating poop can drive him to become more sneaky.  The best deterrent is keeping the yard cleaned up of feces, watching/leashing your dog when it goes potty and then distracting him away.