Tasty Dirt
A less serious cause is simply that your dog is going after something tasty, like bacon or hamburger grease under a grill. Check the area to make sure there isn’t something your dog is trying to get to … especially if he keeps going back to it!
Humans exhibit strange habits out of stress and boredom – hair twirling, knuckle cracking, overeating, etc. Same goes for our pets who are designed to be active and outdoors, and who don’t always get all the stimulation they require.
Picture a large working dog being stuck home alone all day… He’s probably going to find a way to entertain himself, possibly by eating dirt.
“Some dogs, especially youngsters and puppies may simply eat dirt out of pure boredom,” says Osborne. “This could be from a multitude of reasons such as lack of exercise, being cooped up in a kennel during the day, not enough playtime, or a lack of proper social interaction. Remember, dogs, like people, need a job and a daily purpose, especially when dealing with herding and high-energy breeds. In general, dogs enjoy jobs, so if your canine’s behavior seems out of sorts, give him something to do. Doggie day care facilities offer unlimited opportunities for socialization and human and canine interaction. In addition, they relieve boredom and for most are just plain fun!”
Like humans, dogs can also have obsessive-compulsive disorder. A dog with OCD may start to eat dirt obsessively as part of the disorder. If you suspect OCD or a related behavior disorder, consult with your holistic vet or an animal behaviorist.
“Eating dirt” sounds so strange, but in fact some clay can be used to soothe digestive problems, help with parasites and for detoxification.
Could it be our dogs are instinctively trying to soothe or detox a digestive issue by eating dirt? It could very well be so.
“My instinct is that the dog is looking to get whatever is in the digestive tract moving out, either by throwing up or by pushing it through,” says Coger. “Dirt could act as mild abrasive to ‘scrub’ clean the inside of the intestines. It could also stimulate more contractions of the intestine, moving material through the digestive tract more quickly.”
Boredom and stress in dogs
A dog that spends too much time alone, lives a life that lacks environmental enrichment, is punishment or does not walk enough, can become bored, stressed and anxious. One way in which dogs try to channel and expel this pent up energy is through destructive or compulsive behavior, such as eating dirt. For more, we recommend reading our article where we discuss compulsive behavior in dogs.
Dogs that receive little attention from their tutors may manifest “inappropriate behaviors” for the sole purpose of receiving attention, even if this means being punished. In these cases it is important to review your dog’s daily routine and make sure your dog is receiving enough attention from everyone in your family.
Although rare, hunger may be one of the reasons that explains “why does my dog eat dirt.” To confirm that this is the reason for this behavior, make sure that you are offering your dog enough food according to its age and breed. If, however, you want to offer your pup a homemade diet, this should be done under the supervision of a veterinarian. For more, read our article where we discuss homemade food for dogs.
Consider when the dirt-eating began:
Were there any changes in the pooch’s eating routine, level of activity, or environment? Does the canine demonstrate other uncommon indications or practices that may clarify the issue? In case you have more than one canine, find out if all of them are engaging in dirt-eating.
In case they are, it means that there is an inadequacy in their eating routine. If you notice all animals eating dirt from the same area, it means that there is something tasty or delicious about that soil region that is attracting the dogs. Testing that soil can give you some clear indication!
Why Your Dog Eats Dirt
Dogs do a lot of odd and seemingly random things that make us pause to scratch our heads. Eating dirt is no exception. So why do dogs eat dirt? If you catch your dog eating dirt, you need to pay attention to how much they eat and how often they do it to determine if there is an underlying health issue.
If dirt eating is something they have done once or twice but have not made a habit of, you do not have much to be worried about. If you notice your dog eats dirt and digs around in it religiously, however, you’ve got a bit of a problem.
Read on to learn why dogs eat dirt, what it means for your dog’s health, and what dog parents should do in order to get their four-legged BFF to kick the habit.