Starting To Eat Soil

[megan_]

Both of my dogs have suddenly started eating soil from two specific pots in the yard. They try to eat it by the mouthful . Fergus actually did a soil poop the other day. My first thought was a diet deficiency but they are fed holistic select (is good quality) and some raw (lamb and chivken necks. No offal but they get these from their dry). Both have actually put on weight and aren't losing any.

Any ideas? I'm surprised that it is oth of them and they run straight to the pots if I let them out onto the decking. They would eat it all day if they could I suspect .

[RuralPug]

It probably either tastes sweet or fatty (chicken poop or seaweed fertilizer?)

I would try adding something to the pots that puts the dogs off eating the soil without altering the soil ph too much, or just barricade the pots off.

[persephone]

is it soil or potting mix? what fertiliser is used? I would suggest you put pots up high , or apply liberal amounts of pepper /curry powder ;)

[brightstar123]

Yep agree with the previous comments, our dogs do this sometimes too if I've been gardening :) Dynamic Lifter is their favourite - so gross! It's probably just some manure in potting mix or fertiliser of some kind. Unless it's actually really just dirt?

[megan_]

Thanks all. Both pots have soil and compost , but they haven't been topped up for over two years. - so I imagine there isn't much compost left and it is mostly just dirt. I've denied access but was worried as to why they're obsessed with dirt.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

My 2 are dirt eaters. Have to say I'm not too fussed about it anymore, I sort of figure they like it for whatever reason and that maybe there is something lacking for them (vitamin/mineral) at that time and maybe the dirt is providing it. Potting mix on the other hand I'd worry about.