It's the moment every dog owner instantly regrets ever letting their dog kiss them on the mouth: Watching that very same beloved, seemingly well-trained and civilized pup eagerly devour a stinky, steaming pile of poop off the sidewalk.

有一個時刻會讓養狗的朋友后悔時常嘴對嘴親狗——狗看似受過良好訓練又有禮貌，但是也會吃下路邊臭氣熏天的熱便便。

Ugh, gross! But why? Why?!

好惡心！但是狗為什么會吃便便呢？

It;s a topic that has long perplexed animal researchers and veterinarians. And if you Google the topic, you're likely to get more than a dozen different explanations ranging from canine anxiety to illness to simply boredom.

這個問題困擾動物研究學者和獸醫們不止一時半刻。在網上搜搜看，能發現各種不同的解釋，有的說因為犬類焦慮癥，有的說因為生病，有的說狗只是太無聊了。

However, a new study led by veterinarian Benjamin Hart, director of the Center for Animal Behavior at the University of California at Davis, has managed to link the off-putting behavior to “greedy eating” (dogs that quickly ravish their food bowls, according to owners) as well as an instinct connected to canines’ ancestral wolf pack days.

但是加利福尼亞大學戴維斯分校區動物行為研究中心主任本杰明·哈特做了項調查，將狗這種倒胃口的行為歸結為“貪吃”（養狗的人都說狗會迅速搶走飯碗），也與犬類祖先狼的遺留本能有關。

As the Washington Post reports, Hart and his team surveyed over 3,000 dog owners. Of these subjects, 16 percent ate other dogs’ feces “frequently” (their owners had witnessed a crappy chow down session at least six times), and of those pups, 80 percent preferred fresh feces less than two days old. Well, who doesn’t?

《華盛頓郵報》報道，哈特和其團隊對3000多位養狗人士進行了調查，16%的狗“常?！睍云渌返谋惚悖ü分魅酥辽僖娺^六次這樣的場景），80%的狗更喜歡兩天內的新鮮便便。誰不喜歡新鮮的食物呢？

Interestingly, the research suggested that the tendency towards coprophagia (the scientific term for poop-eating) was evident no matter a dog’s age, breed, diet, house-training status or compulsive behavior tendency. This finding has unleashed a new theory: Modern day dogs have inherited both their aversion to pooping where they live as well as their likelihood to eat fresh poop from their ancient wolf ancestors.

有趣的是，這項調查顯示，年齡、品種、飲食習慣、訓練水平、強制行為都不會干擾狗吃便便。這就帶來了一個新的理論：如今的狗狗一邊在遺傳對便便的厭惡，一邊又會像狼祖先一樣吃新鮮的便便。

You see, wayyyy back in those wild days, wolves may’ve eaten the fresh feces of sick, lame or old members who accidentally let a load loose as a way to clean up inside and around their den. Since it takes about two days for parasites and other pathogens to develop, eating fresh poop is not usually dangerous, and in fact, eating poop that was festering in their living quarters was actually a helpful way to avoid intestinal parasites such as larvae and worms.

看到了吧，在很久很久很久以前，狼也會吃同類的糞便，不管對方是不是老弱病殘，不管這坨便便的出現是不是為了清理狼窩。寄生蟲和病原體要兩天之后才會出現在糞便中，所以新鮮的糞便對食用者來說沒什么危險。而且新鮮糞便會在狼的體內潰爛，能夠有效避免幼蟲和蠕蟲寄生在腸道內。

That said, some great minds in the canine scientific community think there may be a bit more to it. For instance, Professor James Serpell of the University of Pennsylvania and editor of the recent book The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People, told theWashington Post he finds the wolf theory “plausible,” but he's also intrigued by the “greedy eaters” survey findings.

犬類研究圈認為好處不止于此。賓夕法尼亞大學教授詹姆斯·斯貝爾（James Serpell），剛剛完成了新書《家犬：進化、行為和與人互動）》，他告訴《華盛頓郵報》，狼理論“有道理”，但是“貪吃”調查的結果也讓他很感興趣。

He referenced a study of free-roaming wild dogs in developing countries that scavenge for food and, as a result, fill up on a sizable amount of human feces. This seems to indicate that poop could be viewed, errr digested, as a second-hand food source.

他舉例說，發展中國家的流浪狗在尋找食物時，也會吃掉相當多人類的便便?？雌饋砗孟癖惚闶枪穼ふ沂澄锏牡诙x擇。

Today, dogs (and cats) “are fed diets that are relatively rich in fats and protein, not all of which may be completely digested, making their feces potentially attractive as a second hand food source,” Serpell told the Washington Post.

斯貝爾說，現在的狗（和貓）“都用富含脂肪和蛋白的食物喂養，但是這些食物不一定能全部消化，所以他們的便便就會成為誘狗的食物來源”。

So, there you have it. Poop-eating is probably a normal, evolutionary dog trait.

現在明白了吧，吃便便可能是狗正常進化中的特性。

But, take heart: Hart and his team are working on a solution. They’re currently looking at clinical trials of new methods and products that dissuade your pup from chomping down on their own or others’ droppings.

但是切記：哈特和團隊一直在尋找解決方法，試圖通過新方法和新產品的臨床手段阻止寵物狗食用便便。

The best thing to do, for now, is keep your dog on a short leash and make sure to pick up your own lawn.

眼下最好的辦法是給狗拴上短鏈，確保自家草坪里沒有潛在第二食物源。

It's the moment every dog owner instantly regrets ever letting their dog kiss them on the mouth: Watching that very same beloved, seemingly well-trained and civilized pup eagerly devour a stinky, steaming pile of poop off the sidewalk.

有一個時刻會讓養狗的朋友后悔時常嘴對嘴親狗——狗看似受過良好訓練又有禮貌，但是也會吃下路邊臭氣熏天的熱便便。

Ugh, gross! But why? Why?!

好惡心！但是狗為什么會吃便便呢？

It;s a topic that has long perplexed animal researchers and veterinarians. And if you Google the topic, you're likely to get more than a dozen different explanations ranging from canine anxiety to illness to simply boredom.

這個問題困擾動物研究學者和獸醫們不止一時半刻。在網上搜搜看，能發現各種不同的解釋，有的說因為犬類焦慮癥，有的說因為生病，有的說狗只是太無聊了。

However, a new study led by veterinarian Benjamin Hart, director of the Center for Animal Behavior at the University of California at Davis, has managed to link the off-putting behavior to “greedy eating” (dogs that quickly ravish their food bowls, according to owners) as well as an instinct connected to canines’ ancestral wolf pack days.

但是加利福尼亞大學戴維斯分校區動物行為研究中心主任本杰明·哈特做了項調查，將狗這種倒胃口的行為歸結為“貪吃”（養狗的人都說狗會迅速搶走飯碗），也與犬類祖先狼的遺留本能有關。

As the Washington Post reports, Hart and his team surveyed over 3,000 dog owners. Of these subjects, 16 percent ate other dogs’ feces “frequently” (their owners had witnessed a crappy chow down session at least six times), and of those pups, 80 percent preferred fresh feces less than two days old. Well, who doesn’t?

《華盛頓郵報》報道，哈特和其團隊對3000多位養狗人士進行了調查，16%的狗“常?！睍云渌返谋惚悖ü分魅酥辽僖娺^六次這樣的場景），80%的狗更喜歡兩天內的新鮮便便。誰不喜歡新鮮的食物呢？

Interestingly, the research suggested that the tendency towards coprophagia (the scientific term for poop-eating) was evident no matter a dog’s age, breed, diet, house-training status or compulsive behavior tendency. This finding has unleashed a new theory: Modern day dogs have inherited both their aversion to pooping where they live as well as their likelihood to eat fresh poop from their ancient wolf ancestors.

有趣的是，這項調查顯示，年齡、品種、飲食習慣、訓練水平、強制行為都不會干擾狗吃便便。這就帶來了一個新的理論：如今的狗狗一邊在遺傳對便便的厭惡，一邊又會像狼祖先一樣吃新鮮的便便。

You see, wayyyy back in those wild days, wolves may’ve eaten the fresh feces of sick, lame or old members who accidentally let a load loose as a way to clean up inside and around their den. Since it takes about two days for parasites and other pathogens to develop, eating fresh poop is not usually dangerous, and in fact, eating poop that was festering in their living quarters was actually a helpful way to avoid intestinal parasites such as larvae and worms.

看到了吧，在很久很久很久以前，狼也會吃同類的糞便，不管對方是不是老弱病殘，不管這坨便便的出現是不是為了清理狼窩。寄生蟲和病原體要兩天之后才會出現在糞便中，所以新鮮的糞便對食用者來說沒什么危險。而且新鮮糞便會在狼的體內潰爛，能夠有效避免幼蟲和蠕蟲寄生在腸道內。

That said, some great minds in the canine scientific community think there may be a bit more to it. For instance, Professor James Serpell of the University of Pennsylvania and editor of the recent book The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People, told theWashington Post he finds the wolf theory “plausible,” but he's also intrigued by the “greedy eaters” survey findings.

犬類研究圈認為好處不止于此。賓夕法尼亞大學教授詹姆斯·斯貝爾（James Serpell），剛剛完成了新書《家犬：進化、行為和與人互動）》，他告訴《華盛頓郵報》，狼理論“有道理”，但是“貪吃”調查的結果也讓他很感興趣。

He referenced a study of free-roaming wild dogs in developing countries that scavenge for food and, as a result, fill up on a sizable amount of human feces. This seems to indicate that poop could be viewed, errr digested, as a second-hand food source.

他舉例說，發展中國家的流浪狗在尋找食物時，也會吃掉相當多人類的便便?？雌饋砗孟癖惚闶枪穼ふ沂澄锏牡诙x擇。

Today, dogs (and cats) “are fed diets that are relatively rich in fats and protein, not all of which may be completely digested, making their feces potentially attractive as a second hand food source,” Serpell told the Washington Post.

斯貝爾說，現在的狗（和貓）“都用富含脂肪和蛋白的食物喂養，但是這些食物不一定能全部消化，所以他們的便便就會成為誘狗的食物來源”。

So, there you have it. Poop-eating is probably a normal, evolutionary dog trait.

現在明白了吧，吃便便可能是狗正常進化中的特性。

But, take heart: Hart and his team are working on a solution. They’re currently looking at clinical trials of new methods and products that dissuade your pup from chomping down on their own or others’ droppings.

但是切記：哈特和團隊一直在尋找解決方法，試圖通過新方法和新產品的臨床手段阻止寵物狗食用便便。

The best thing to do, for now, is keep your dog on a short leash and make sure to pick up your own lawn.

眼下最好的辦法是給狗拴上短鏈，確保自家草坪里沒有潛在第二食物源。