Eating behavior
Why does my dog eat other dogs' poop at the park
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A busy park offers far more waste, and far more varied and interesting smells from unfamiliar dogs, than a home garden does, which naturally increases both opportunity and appeal. This makes prompt leash management and a reliable leave it cue especially important in that setting specifically.
More opportunity and more novelty
A park sees many dogs passing through in a single day, meaning more waste on the ground at any given time than most home environments, and each pile carries the unfamiliar scent of a different dog, which adds a layer of curiosity beyond what routine home waste offers.
Managing it on walks
Keeping a shorter leash in areas known for this, scanning ahead to spot and steer around waste before the dog notices it, and reinforcing a solid leave it cue practiced regularly at home all help reduce incidents specifically in this higher risk environment.
A longer term training approach
Rewarding a dog generously for checking in with you or responding to leave it near tempting smells, practiced consistently over weeks, builds a more reliable response than relying on leash control alone for every single encounter.
Timing walks to reduce exposure
Visiting a park earlier in the day, before it has had many hours of heavy dog traffic and before waste from other visitors accumulates, can meaningfully reduce how much opportunity presents itself during any single walk. Choosing quieter, less popular routes within a larger park, or varying the walking route regularly rather than always following the exact same busy path, similarly reduces the density of waste encountered, giving both leash management and the leave it cue an easier job to do overall, and adding a bit of welcome mental variety and novelty to the walk itself for both dog and owner alike, which is a nice bonus on top of the safety benefit.
Key takeaways
- Parks offer more waste and more novel scents than home environments, increasing both opportunity and appeal.
- Shorter leash management and scanning ahead help avoid incidents in higher risk areas.
- A well practiced leave it cue, reinforced generously, builds a more reliable long term response.