 dogs eating dirt
#282193 - 06/30/2010 07:14 PM |
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My 16 month female has picked up a unusual habit.
She licks and eats dirt. She will pull the grass out untill it just dirt then
Just start a feast. Any one. Why dose she do this and how to stop her
Thanks.
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 Re: dogs eating dirt
[Re: ADAM BIEGLER ]
#282214 - 06/30/2010 07:59 PM |
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Vocal corrections should be enough to stop the habit if you can keep a fairly close watch and correct consistently. Redirect, treats, toys, activity, something more fun than, well -dirt eating. Don't let her outside when you can't keep at least half an eye on her. When outside and alone, dogs will do some amazing things to entertain themselves. I doubt diet/etc. is a factor. My guess would be that it's a fun way to pass the time, and won't be part of her adult behavior with a little work. Kind of like jumping on the bed if you've ever had a four year old! I'd probably still do it not for my darn mom! 
In all seriousness, I think at this young age, it should be an easier habit to change than many. She just can't start it and enjoy without you noticing.
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Re: dogs eating dirt
[Re: Chip Bridges ]
#282216 - 06/30/2010 08:04 PM |
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Redirect, treats, toys, activity, something more fun than, well -dirt eating. Don't let her outside when you can't keep at least half an eye on her.
Exactly like poop-eating .... if the dog is on one end of the leash and you are on the other, it's not going to happen.
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Re: dogs eating dirt
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#282237 - 06/30/2010 08:56 PM |
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Thanks. Will keep a closer eye.
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Re: dogs eating dirt
[Re: ADAM BIEGLER ]
#282342 - 07/01/2010 09:19 AM |
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Adam, if it's in one spot only, sometimes there might have been spillage of something there that attracts the dog too . My wife and her fish emulsion - oy vay, spilled some near our grass the other day, and the dogs go nuts for it, eating as they dig. For now, I put rocks (small boulders, actually) in the spot and will soak it with water a few times before uncovering it again. Of course, I had to shoo them away a few times before they would leave it alone.
A dog has alot of friends because he wags his tail instead of his mouth.
- Charlie Daniels |
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Re: dogs eating dirt
[Re: Rob Abel ]
#282351 - 07/01/2010 09:50 AM |
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I have found it to be earthworm casings in the lawn, or organic fertilizer as Rob says (fish emulsion - yum - it's near the roses! DPW - yum - it's on the grass). But when there is an earthworm poking out, my dogs always tore at it and then rubbed and rolled. I tell her to "leave it" if I'm out there with her and she will.
When the dog gets carried away and starts digging after it to the point of damage when I'm not around, I just sprinkle a bit of cayenne pepper on the spot and ignore her. She finds other stuff to do.
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Re: dogs eating dirt
[Re: Marcia Blum ]
#282375 - 07/01/2010 11:55 AM |
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I had a Keesh that would go for the dirt when he was about to have an IBS flare up. For the silly puppy or yummy things in the ground dogs I have had, all of the above alone and in combination was successful in stopping that. I have one now that I have to keep an eye one for dirt eating after a rain. Otherwise they all have given that habit up with constant redirection and avoidance techniques.
Off subject, when we first moved to this house the dog area grass had to dug out, tired of the dirt in the house. I went and got loads of sod, took all day and laid it out all nice. Put the dogs out, went out to check on them and they had a field day pulling the pieces around and tearing them to shreds.
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Re: dogs eating dirt
[Re: aimee pochron ]
#282407 - 07/01/2010 01:42 PM |
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O my gosh. That happened to me when I moved a small section of lawn to make a garden. Maggie must have had THE best day! She shook the dirt loose from every inch of sod she could reach. I'm sure she ate plenty of dirt, her water bowl was muddy.
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Re: dogs eating dirt
[Re: Marcia Blum ]
#282514 - 07/01/2010 07:39 PM |
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Well as for sod she has never pulled any up thank god. But as for pulling grass out to eat the dirt she dose it most were the grass is dead or at my sons baseballe game she eats the clay. Just so weird to me.
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Re: dogs eating dirt
[Re: ADAM BIEGLER ]
#282516 - 07/01/2010 07:43 PM |
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What is her diet? Not sure, but could it be related to a lack of or imabalance of a vitamin, mineral, protein?
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