Guest houndlover Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 (edited) This is driving me crazy...Everytime I let the dogs out the start eating dirt! I went out with them the other day to see what they were eating (wanted to make sure it wasn't poop!) and they were digging in the dirt and then eating it. My 3 dogs do this but the foster dogs have not started doing this. Someone told me that they are missing nutrients in their diet and that is why they are doing this. Is that true? ETA...I live in new england so it isn't even like the ground is easy to dig right now. Edited November 22, 2008 by houndlover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MnMDogs Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 I hope someone has the answer! Mork is our dirt eater, and the lawn is looking a little ridiculous right now. Neither Mara nor Matty partake, and they all eat the same thing. I looked this up recently online, and it said that if the diet is high quality, it's most likely behavioral. But I don't know 100% that's the case. I just wish I knew how to fix it...if you find out, please let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollis Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Me too! My 4 are making me crazy between the dirt eating and the poop eating! Quote My sweet angel Tanner-"Showoffs Magic" 79D-82695. DOB 7/22/99. Gotcha Day 6/20/05. Bridge Day 3/11/10. Big Beautiful Brave Angel Norm-"Showoffs Storm" 89B-83263. DOB 8/16/99. Gotcha Day 3/24/06. Bridge Day 4/20/13. Angel Girl Bree-"Breezy Betty" 201A-93631. DOB 2/05/01. Gotcha Day 5/11/10. Bridge Day 10/07/11. She reached the beach.... Maci-"CF's Owhatanite" 44H-29320. DOB 10/05/04. Gotcha Day 10/11/11. Greta-"Greta's Milam" 90B-54582. DOB 9/17/10. Gotcha Day 11/30/12. Bridge Day 03/30/17. Ben-"P Kay Key Train" 63A-61271. DOB 6/2/13. Gotcha Day 12/26/15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 1. It tastes good. 2. They feel like it. 3. They don't have anything better to do. 4. See 1-3 above. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Beth Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 5. They know it drives you to distraction! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62663 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Pharaoh used to eat dirt along time ago. My Grandpa told me he was trying to get salt. (We lived down at the beach at the time)... I don't really know if that was why he was eating dirt though. But what I really wonder is WHY did he eat a slug, only to puke it up whole later? Quote <span style='font-size:10pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:blue'> LE 62663 </span></span> <span style='font-size:10pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:blue'> RE 126E </span></span> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trudy Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Ryan eats poop Jet eats dirt Ryan decided he'd like to try eating dirt too. Let's just say the boy has interesting poop... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest houndlover Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 1. It tastes good. 2. They feel like it. 3. They don't have anything better to do. 4. See 1-3 above. But what I really wonder is WHY did he eat a slug, only to puke it up whole later? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ChasesMum Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 To mess with you? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest garysgreys Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I have one that eats poop, one that eats dirt, and all three eat cats !!! I have muzzle poop guards on the dirt and poop eaters (Ya might know they're girls !!!) and a regular muzzle on My male and I just cut Em' loose in the back yard and let them take care of business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschultz Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 i had a dog once that would only eat frozen poop. I guess he didn't like em mushy..only liked poopsicles....lol Quote Lexie is gone but not forgotten.💜 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddiesmom Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Maddie eats poop and dirt- I have tried the muzzle on her- but she comes in with it smelling like poop. so I try and catch her in the act and then throw balls over to her head to distract her and then grab her collar before she can go back to eating the poop and or dirt. I have so many holes in my backyard from my resident landscaper. Go figure. Quote Amy Human Mommy to fur baby Maddie (Doobiesaurus) TDI certified. May 5, 2002-September 12, 2014 and Mille (Mac's Bayou Baby)CGC, TDI certified. http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/Chillyhorse/siggies/maddie.jpg"]http://i270. photobucket.com/albums/jj93/Chillyhorse/siggies/maddie.jpg[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dwolfe711 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Ellie eats dirt/mud and digs little holes all over the yard - she likes it fresh!! Allie will sometimes also eat dirt. Allie and Apollo eat poop - frozen or not. Ripley eats bunny turds!! Putting muzzles on them with or without poop guards does not help - they just try to eat it through the muzzle and then come and rub on my coat or pants to try to get the muzzle off - now I am covered with dirt/mud, gh poop and/or bunny turd poop!! We try to keep the poop picked up so there is none to eat - but if there is one little turd in the yard we missed - they will find it!! Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissn333 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 This time of year, mine eat dirt and tree bark It must taste good in the fall. I've asked several vets about it and they've all said that it's behavioral. Once I even went so far as to have Ace tested for any vitamin deficiencies because she was the main culprit. Nothing wrong with her at all (except she's a dork!) Quote Kristin in Moline, IL USA with Ozzie (MRL Crusin Clem), Clarice (Clarice McBones), Latte and Sage the IGs, and the kitties: Violet and Rose Lovingly Remembered: Sutra (Fliowa Sutra) 12/02/97-10/12/10, Pinky (Pick Me) 04/20/03-11/19/12, Fritz (Fritz Fire) 02/05/01 - 05/20/13, Ace (Fantastic Ace) 02/05/01 - 07/05/13, and Carrie (Takin the Crumbs) 05/08/99 - 09/04/13. A cure for cancer can't come soon enough.-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerlinsMum Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 1. It tastes good. 2. They feel like it. 3. They don't have anything better to do. 4. See 1-3 above. :rofl :rofl Hey, better earth than poop! No names.. Quote Kerry with Lupin in beautiful coastal Maine. Missing Pippin, my best friend and sweet little heart-healer 2013-2023 Also missing the best wizard in the world, Merlin, and my sweet 80lb limpet, Sagan, every single day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreytHoundPoet Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 ...and to think...we let them kiss us and snuggle with them... Quote Masquerade Hounds & The Hounds of East Fairhaven & Ibizan Hound Club of the United States Member Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dmona Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I just asked my vet this question last week, and after we discussed that they were eating nutritious food, the bottom line was because they like to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 1. It tastes good. 2. They feel like it. 3. They don't have anything better to do. 4. See 1-3 above. And.... because they can!!!! Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trevdog Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) Puppy Dallas lived on dirt, vet set it was perfectly normal and to expect it, amongst other oddities to expect from a grey puppy. DH wanted to name her "Joe Dirt" she ate so much of it....thankfully she outgrew that phase. Now at 2 1/2, she grazes grass and other animal poo.....what a wierd pup she is...blech. So anyhow, I guess it's normal for them to eat all this wierd stuff. Edited November 25, 2008 by trevdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest laceyj Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 I have dirt eaters too! It's gross, second only to poop eating, and I have a couple of those too. They're getting coal and this for Christmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spiff Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 Spiff likes to eat the dirt off the top of the mole hills in our yard... I could understand the time he was eating dirt from the location of a turkey frying spill... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ladyluther Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 I love this topic!!! Been wanting to ask this same questions for the past 6 months..Luther is 15+ and recently discovered the joys of dirt (with a poo chaser!). He only eats the dirt in his yard - maybe because he's not walking then. He really likes to dig up the moss and eat that too along with the dirt under neath. I normally wouldn't get so crazy about it, but Luther is 2 + years post tie back surgery for Laryngeal Paralysis with no case of aspiration pneumonia..biskies and crumbs (aka dirt) are a huge no-no..so he needs a personal care attendant when out in his yard..I hate to muzzel him at this stage in his life. I love reading the posts on this topic...thanks everyone. Martha and Luther in MA - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest houndlover Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 i had a dog once that would only eat frozen poop. I guess he didn't like em mushy..only liked poopsicles....lol but still gross. They're getting coal and this for Christmas! I love it!!! Are you going to put it on their collars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grhndad Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 Because it's fun. I have two dirt eaters and thank goodness no poop eaters now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ProudGreyMom Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 Jake eats poop, dirt, mud, and grass. Andy eats dirt and grass. Molly eats poop, woodchips, dirt and grass. Makes me insane!!!! And the more dirt they get down, the more they have to poop! I think now that the grass is gone they have switched to the dirt eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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