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I was in a pet store a few weeks ago and heard a harried woman ask the owner of the store about a topic that she was experiencing with her 3-month-old puppy: copraphagia.

An all-too-common practice of dogs everywhere, consuming the waste of other canines — or even their own — is to us disgusting and troubling. Because it's so foreign to us humans, the first thing that we want is to find a remedy and for it to stop.

"Well," the pet store owner said, "your puppy isn't getting the right nutrients. You should be feeding him this food over here. Let me get a bag for you..."

I was taken aback by the response to the pet owner, but shouldn't have been.

As with many other things that we experience with dogs today and that we don't understand, a quick solution is desired. Because, let's face it — dogs can be, by human standards, just plain weird sometimes, and eating poop pretty much tops the list.

I see it a lot in my work with dogs of all ages, and yes, some dogs are more inclined to do it than others.

It is an obvious health concern, with parasites and disease so easily transmitted, so curbing it is important.

To help begin to understand the topic a bit better, it might be helpful to know that it is believed that it's a part of the evolutionary history of canines. Also, nursing mothers regularly ingest their puppies’ feces because defecation is a reflex in young puppies that depends on the mother to activate.

Voluntary defecation does not occur until the pups are about 3 weeks old. Keeping the nesting area clean is key: feces left behind results in poor hygiene and may also attract predators.

The problem with the pet store owner's response though, is that the practice of eating waste by dogs doesn't happen for only one reason in every dog. As I'll illustrate, it can be a dietary issue, but since it can happen for a number of reasons, it's important to look at all of them and find a solution from there.

Why it happens

It's a perfectly normal, natural behavior in puppies. As with everything else, if it's on the ground or the floor, it goes in the mouth. Think about it: most often if a pup picks up waste — theirs or another dog's — it's solid, firm, portable. They'll play with it, use it as a toy and yes, even eat it. It smells okay to them.

There is a lot of undigested material in some pet's waste because of the quality of the pet food that they are eating. Dogs of all ages recognize that there are nutrients in it, so in the mouth it goes.

What is your pooch eating? Some experts suggest that dogs who do this regularly may be deficient in nutrients and are seeking it where they can find it. Switching slowly to higher-quality (although not necessarily a terribly expensive) canine diet that offers your dog what they need will help address that.

A good rule of thumb where diet is concerned is to consult a real professional — to start, your vet to rule out malnutrition or malabsorption disorders. You might even consider the advice of a veterinary nutritionist.

Some dogs try to "get rid of the evidence" if they fear being punished for defecating in the house, and then in some cases, it becomes a regular thing. Determining first why your pooch is relieving himself in the house is important. Is he getting potty breaks as regularly as he should? Is it a behavior problem?

Stress can be a factor in contributing to the behavior, as can boredom. Is there something that has upset your pet's day-to-day? Perhaps a move, a new baby is in the picture, or you went on vacation and left him in the care of someone else.

As for boredom, figuring out what your dog gets a charge out of will help you ascertain what toys and activities, like Treibball, will keep him optimally happy. Dogs need constructive activities to do.

It's theorized that copraphagia is a behavior that is found in some dogs that have come from pet stores or puppy mills due to their environment being devoid of the typical enrichments that is so important to every canine's overall well-being.

For some dogs, there is no reason — they just do it, plain and simple.

Ways to resolve the situation

If your pet is habitually playing with or chowing down on the waste that is in your yard, there is one simple solution: keep it clean. That's right. Get out and pick up all of the pet waste in your yard regularly. Out of sight, out of mind.

If your playful pooch is in the habit of seeking out the presents in the yard, keep one thing in mind: if they see you pick it up, the message that it's a plaything just might translate. To keep them from getting the idea that it's something desirable, don't let them see you pick it up. Taking your dog out on a leash to have a bowel movement, immediately taking them away from the area and then going out alone to clean up will eliminate the possible miscommunication and maintain an 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality.

Litter box raiding is common in households that include cats. (We call them 'scoopy snacks' at our house.) An enclosed litter box can help, as well as ensuring that your dog does not have access to the area that your cat needs to get her business done.

On outings where you can't ensure that you won't encounter an errant pile of poop, keeping your pooch on a leash and a watchful eye are key.

There are ways to help deter your pooch from eating the feces of other dogs if you are a multi-dog household, aside from making sure that waste is cleaned up regularly, like adding an enzyme powder like For-Bid (unless your dog is on a prescription steroid medication), or Deter from the 8 in 1 company. Also, adding a little fresh pineapple or canned pumpkin to your dog's food can be helpful. This makes stools taste repugnant, making them less desirable to your furry friend.

Punishment is never considered to be a good idea in addressing copraphagia.

As always, when facing a behavioral or possible health issue like this, it's generally a good idea to consult your pet's clinician. For more information on selecting a qualified canine trainer or behaviorist, click here.

Lorrie Shaw is lead pets blogger for AnnArbor.com. Catch her daily dog walking and pet sitting adventures or email her directly.