It’s not uncommon for a dog to sniff around a yard, come across a pile of poop, and gobble it up. Or even to eat its own poop. It might sound quite disgusting, but lots of dogs will eat poop at some point in their lifetimes. It’s common enough that it’s even acquired a technical name: coprophagia.

Mothers often eat their puppies’ poop. Scientists believe this behavior is beneficial to avoid parasites that are commonly found in stool. Most carnivores, like dogs, will defecate away from where they live so they don’t come in contact with parasites that could be dangerous. But because puppies can’t leave the den, mothers will chomp up the fresh feces before the parasite eggs become infectious. Puppies learn from their mothers, so they’ll often do the same until adulthood.

That being said, some adult dogs (an estimated 16 percent) still engage in coprophagia. It might have to do with nutritional deficits: the dog might be missing some crucial nutrients, and seek out poop in its stead.

Anxiety and or environmental stress can also contribute to coprophagia. According to the American Kennel Club, if a dog is punished for pooping in the wrong place, it might misunderstand and think it was punished for the sheer act of pooping. The dog might then eat their poop as a way to cover up the evidence. They could also just be eating the poop to get more attention from their owners. Another theory is that if dogs are fed close to where they poop, they might associate the smell of feces with that of food and eat it up.

There’s not a ton that can be done to keep your dog from eating poop––the best you can do is clean up the mess before your pooch takes a bite. And don’t make a big deal if they snack on the stool. After all, it’s only natural.