Guest andrealynch Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Hi Guys: My two boys have been digging a hole in the backyard and eating the dirt. They have even got my sweet 13 year old female in on the bandwagon! Can you tell me why they do this and how to make them stop? Am I not feeding them enough minerals or vitamins? Is there a supplement I can give. They are all on very high end foods, so I would think their meals should be balanced. Thanks for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fatesrelease Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 So far no, but our dirt right now is mud, so that could change, haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 My first girl, Scarlett, ate dirt for the 13.5 years she lived with me. She was also very fond of wood chips and oak saplings. She lived to be 19 so I don't think there were any ill effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beautybabe Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 They eat dirt just because they are dogs. Yum yum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 As to why they do it, I've heard so many different reasons Misty just started to do it. I know a lot of people use a muzzle with a guard on it but I won't muzzle Misty so I just keep an eye on her when she's out in the yard and she knows I'm watching her which has made a difference Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddiesmom Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Maddie does it, and she digs in it too. And it is not dirt it is NC red clay - YEAH!! which is impossible to get out of anything when it is wet. Towel is by the back door at all times to wipe off paws. 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...
Remolacha Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Sugar ate dirt, also pine cones and pecan shells I don't even have pecan trees, I have no idea where they came from. Fletcher has never eaten dirt (about the only odd thing he doesn't eat) and so far Molly doesn't either. Why they do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest poopsie1 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Stanley's been doing it for two years. I do the same as cbudshome - watch him and stop him when he starts. He's not coming in and kissing me with a muddy mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TBSFlame Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Mine do this in the Spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dwolfe711 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Eating dirt/mud is better than eating poop!! At least when my dirt eaters come in - Ellie and Ripley - I don't have to worry about poop breath like I do with my two poop eaters - Allie and Apollo (Apollo will poop, turn around and try to eat it right there!!) !! I don't know why any of them do it but it drives me crazy . And now that the grass is growing again - they're eating grass too - smorgasboard backyard !! If I try muzzles they just get dirt or mud or poop all over the muzzle and then rub on me to remove the muzzle - so I've given up on the muzzles too!! My guys eat raw - so maybe they're digging up earthworms in that dirt!! We follow them around with poop bags whenever it is light and pick up almost before it hits the ground - but when they go out in the dark or when we just don't have time to pick up - that's when they take advantage of the poop piles!! Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Eating dirt/mud is better than eating poop!! At least when my dirt eaters come in - Ellie and Ripley - I don't have to worry about poop breath like I do with my two poop eaters - Allie and Apollo (Apollo will poop, turn around and try to eat it right there!!) !! I don't know why any of them do it but it drives me crazy . And now that the grass is growing again - they're eating grass too - smorgasboard backyard !! If I try muzzles they just get dirt or mud or poop all over the muzzle and then rub on me to remove the muzzle - so I've given up on the muzzles too!! My guys eat raw - so maybe they're digging up earthworms in that dirt!! We follow them around with poop bags whenever it is light and pick up almost before it hits the ground - but when they go out in the dark or when we just don't have time to pick up - that's when they take advantage of the poop piles!! Donna OMG!!! You're telling on Apollo, I can NOT believe it...my heart hurts Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyandHollyluv Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Both my Indy and Holly are "commonsewers" of dirt -- heavy clay soil in my backyard. They love to dig holes and dive in for a mouthful. Holly likes to eat dirt with her butt up in the air. Holly also loves poop - any will do. Both tirelessly scour the yard for bunny poo as well. They have a great life, a good diet, and get plenty of exercise. I don't know why they do what they do but it obviously works for them. I just keep plenty of towels near the door to wipe muddy paws. My hounds don't do bad things in the house, so if they want to dig holes and eat dirt -- it's okay with me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HappyHarleysMom Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Harley gets in dirt moods. It starts when he gets silly running in the yard, then he'll pull up a clump of grass and throw it in the air as if it's a toy - he's got 9 million toys, but clumps of grass are fun too LOL - then he'll eat the dirt where he pulled the grass up when he's done being silly. First we worried, but he's fine. He comes back in the house, the telltale signs of dirt around his mouth as a giveaway to his antics, and we just laugh! When he's running like a nut doing this, he'll pause at every turn and stop and look at the kitchen door where we stand and watch him, as if to say, "See me mommy?" It's hilarious Sherry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LoveSeniorGreys Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Angel loves to eat dirt and/or mud. Especially right after I brushed her teeth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest laceyj Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I too have dirt eaters. I've had poop eating fosters and Keiper has been known to eat poop, mostly his own. Bandit seems obsessed with the dirt eating, before that it was snow. I've had to resort to a muzzle with cup, he tends to be so intent on eating the snow or dirt that he doesn't pee while he's out there. Now the muzzle acts as a reminder that he's out there to go potty first and eat dirt second. Yes, they all ride the short bus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissn333 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Mine all eat dirt and wood (ate the bark off of one of my trees!) in the fall and in the spring. Our vet says there's no medical reason for it, mostly just bad habits. I did read somewhere that adding digestive enzymes (like ProZyme powder, etc.) can help poop eaters. Haven't tested that myself, but my little IG is a poop eater so we might give it a go 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...
greysmom Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I have one dirt-not-poop eater, one poop-not-dirt eater, one poop-dirt-wood-shells-sticks-plants-whatever eater. Seems to start in the Spring mostly though, and taper off in the Winter. greysmom Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greyaspet Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Two of my three eat dirt especially mud after a rain. I give them prozyme, always have and vitamins and they still eat the dirt. What grosses me out is that then they come in and drink water so now I have muddy water in their bowl. Wish I could find out why. I have put chili powder and black pepper on the spots they eat and they move to other places so I follow them around with the container and sprinkle away until they find another spot. If anyone finds out why I would love to know. Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hollys2hounds Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I have two dirt eaters (my greys), and one occasional poop eater (my poodle mix). YUK! I too asked about this recently.... I hate when they act like dogs... don't you? My Gunner will actually lay down, and lick the ground for an hour if I let him... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RICHandJUDE Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 My two greyts love to eat dirt. They always have their mouths going to town. At first I thought they were digging up and eating worms or squirrel nuts. When I call out their names, they usually stop. My beagle has to be different. She doesn't eat dirt ...but she does eat poop then wants kisses. Ugh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahicks51 Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Ours were fascinated by one part of the lawn. They'd just be crunching away at the dirt for no clear reason, right in one spot. I put up some fencing. After about a year, it came down and WHAMMO, right back to sniffing and eating it. Weirdest darned thing. I put a chair over the spot, and although they graze the grass there, they seem to have lost their dedication to geophagia at that site. Quote Coco (Maze Cocodrillo) Minerva (Kid's Snipper) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sirsmom Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 our girl eats it, then rolls in it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandimom Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 All three of my dogs eat poop and my one greyhound also likes dirt. When it is light outside I go out with them to monitor but they still find the poop or dirt. a lot of people told me to try S.E.P. by Solid Gold to stop the poop eating but it did not work for mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest andrealynch Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Thanks for all of the replies and stories. So...after reading all of this, I guess I should be HAPPY that they only eat dirt--and nothing else...at least for now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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