Quote: Mike Arnold

Dogs are omnivores, and can take nourishment from all kinds of plant and animal stuff. It surprises us, and often results in a more human reaction to the behavior.

Now, eating poop is my chalk on a blackboard moment.

But grass, dirt if no stones, plants, etc. are often seasonal food stuff. Grass is a favorite snack. Grass with roots and dirt seems to be a treat for my female, after it rains. And it has been raining alot.

I cut watermelon rind into bite size bits, and use them for treats and training rewards. The mutts really respond positively to cold rinds. And, of course, raw carrot chunks.

And ice cubes.

Just for clarification, I agree with Mike's observations. I don't mind a dog who eats an occasional bit of grass and dirt. Most of my previous dogs did this and I was fine with it.

The two I have currently, though, if left to their own devices, will consume mass quantities! I don't think that much indigestible material introduced to the system at once is good for them. I wouldn't want to risk a blockage or some other complication. Please forgive my bluntness, but sometimes I have to help them expel the stuff, if you get the picture. Also, if they happen to be dining on very fresh green grass and/or wet, black dirt, they will most likely vomit it up in my house a little bit later.

So I do believe that eating grass and dirt is quite normal for dogs. A little bit -- okay! Large quantities -- not okay! BTW, my dogs also get a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, in moderate quantities. They enjoy it, and I believe the nutritional variety is good for them.

I totally agree about the grossness of eating poop! I haven't had to deal with that, but I used to have a dog that, when she was younger, would eat discarded cigarette butts if she found them on our walks. Yuck! Fortunately, with my encouragement, she outgrew that habit pretty quickly.