Why Do Dogs Eat Dirt?



Andie eating dirt and roots in the woods.

Do your dogs ever eat dirt or other "weird" stuff?  Mine do.  Why do dogs eat dirt?  I did a search on Google to see what kinds of information were available.

One article on Squidoo offered several possible explanations.  But when I considered my dogs' behavior, I'm not sure I agree with any of them:  Pica, Hunger, Mineral Deficiency, Health Concerns and other Abnormal Behavior were all described.

Pica is simply the ingestion or eating of non-food materials and substances.  Over the years, I've noticed that my dogs are "particular" about the dirt they eat.  They always choose areas where there is a lot of rich, decaying matter ... especially where there are roots.  So I've always believed that they were supplementing their diet with whatever minerals or other nutrients are found in this type of soil.

Another explanation offered was simple hunger.  This was applied to dogs who don't get enough to eat (strays and neglected dogs), or dogs who are only fed once a day.  I feed my dogs twice a day, plus they get daily treats.  While my dogs aren't fat and definitely aren't obese, my vet sometimes gives me "the look" after weighing them during an exam.  This "look" means I need to watch their caloric intake ... that they are on their way to being slightly overweight.   oops .....

"Health concerns" was another possibility, namely digestive issues.  In other words, the dog isn't able to properly absorb the nutrients from its food.  While I can't know for sure if my dogs are digesting their food properly, I've added digestive enzymes to their food at every feeding for years.

I had to chuckle at the next explanation:  "Eating dirt is also a way by which the dog can gain the owner's attention. These are sensitive creatures that would crave human companionship especially when there are no other pets in the home."  Not only do I share my life with 5 dogs, but I adore them all and no one could ever say they are not getting enough attention.

Sammi waits his turn as Ripley eats all the good stuff.

The last explanation offered seemed to be the most likely in my case ... that dogs eat dirt to make up for vitamin and mineral deficiencies in their food.  Although I buy "premium" dog food, it is likely that certain nutrients are missing.  

I would love to be able to afford to feed my dogs a completely natural, raw and organic diet.  I know that the vast majority of "over the counter" dog foods lack sufficient Omega 3 oils; for years, I have added Cod liver oil, a very affordable source of Omega 3s, to their daily feedings to help make up for this.

The most affordable raw diet I've come across is from
Only Natural Pet Store.  I started feeding it to my
dogs once a day in March 2013 and have been very happy with
the results... my dogs love it and my pickiest, Sammi,
has shown an overall increase in improved appetite
even when he gets regular, dry food.
Just click on the photo to learn more about
"Easy Raw" dog food from Only Natural Pet Store.

There are multiple benefits of fish oil:  adding it to your dog's food may prevent and cure skin allergies.  My dog, Brittany (R.I.P), suffered from severe "itchies" every summer.  But once I started to give her fish oil ... every day, 365 days a year ... she never displayed allergy symptoms again for the rest of her life.  I started giving her fish oil when she was about 8-years-old ... she lived to the ripe old age of 15.

Another benefit of fish oil (Omega 3's) is a shiny, healthy coat.  If a dog's skin is healthy, so will her coat.  All of my dogs have soft, silky coats that are a pleasure to touch.

And just like for humans, fish oil is good for your dog's heart and brain function.


Andie had to get a few extra bites.

So, was my question answered?  Why do dogs eat dirt?   ... well, maybe it's just because they LIKE dirt!

The Ties That Bind

Franki

As I sit down to write this, Sammi and Franki are close by my side ... the same side ... with Franki lying next to me on the couch and Sammi sitting at my left foot.

They are both calm and affectionate and look at me with sweet, submissive faces.  I stroke both of their heads and whisper against their faces, "you're such good dogs."  

I get a little slurp from each of them on my chin, then Franki turns to Sammi.
  

Sammi

Sammi presents his face to Franki and shuts his eyes as Franki cleans his face and sniffs his ears.  Sammi just loves kisses on his face... although he hasn't always appreciated Franki.  It took some effort on my part to encourage the bond that has since formed between them.

Even after all the other dogs had accepted Franki, Sammi continued to resist her and displayed a somewhat hostile attitude toward her, despite Franki's submissive posture and attempts to engage him in play.  Sammi just didn't like her.

With six dogs living in relatively close quarters, it's very important to me that they all get along.  I needed to find a way to form a bond between Franki and Sammi. 

Taking a cue from Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan, I thought I would try putting Sammi and Franki together for a Pack activity without the other dogs.  According to Cesar, dogs are more likely to form a positive bond if they have no other choice but to engage in some kind of activity together as a Pack.  He commonly uses a Pack walk, but I wanted Sammi and Franki to spend several hours together.  

Since almost all dogs enjoy riding in vehicles with their humans, and it's something we do as families, I thought a day-trip with Sammi and Franki would be a perfect bonding activity.  Both of them were already well-behaved when riding and were always eager to go.  

So, one day in May, my parents, Sammi, Franki and I all piled into my parents' "dog mobile" to take a trip to a lumber yard for a trailer-full of mulch for my landscaping.  Round trip, we were gone for a few hours, after stopping for lunch in the car along the way and driving into another county for the mulch.  The dogs were angels.  And, even better, it worked!  After we got home, I saw the difference in how Sammi reacted to Franki immediately.  He has stopped growling at her whenever she approaches him, and they have since become buddies.  

Their bond was further cemented the first time Franki ventured to lick Sammi's face.  After that, Sammi was hooked!  They often lay down and sleep next to each other, and although Sammi isn't usually interested in playing with Franki, he tolerates her youthful energy like a slightly bossy older brother.  

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Sammi presents his face to Ripley

While we're on the topic of face kisses ... Ripley is the first dog I've known who seems to think it's her duty to clean the other dogs' wounds and clean the debris from their faces and eyes.  

Not all dogs appreciate this service, of course, but Sammi, Andie and Cookie all enjoy a good daily facial.

None more than Sammi ...




As you can see, Ripley takes her duties very seriously.

  

"The dogs in our lives, the dogs we come to love and who (we fervently believe) love us in return, offer more than fidelity, consolation, and companionship. They offer comedy, irony, wit, and a wealth of anecdotes, the "shaggy dog stories" and "stupid pet tricks" that are commonplace pleasures of life. 

They offer, if we are wise enough or simple enough to take it, a model for what it means to give your heart with little thought of return. Both powerfully imaginary and comfortingly real, dogs act as mirrors for our own beliefs about what would constitute a truly humane society. Perhaps it is not too late for them to teach us some new tricks."

~~Marjorie Garber