Why does my dog eat soil?

There are some behaviours that are a little tricky to understand - and eating soil when you have a personal chef aka hooman at home is one of those behaviours.

So let’s explore some of the reasons your pet is doing this!

Disclaimer: the below is true for pristine soil, please do not encourage your pet to eat soil in dirty areas, close to roads or if there are pesticide used in the green area.

Nutrients

Soil is alive and fertile - plants and other creatures need nutrients to live right?
That’s why potted plants need fertilizer, the soil isn't alive with all the creatures and organisms that we find in outside soil.
Soil contains not only a multitude of minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium - there are also some of the most powerful probiotics in soil.
SOIL based probiotics are good bacteria in the soil that can withstand heat and other environmental factors that your typical lacto-probiotics can not withstand. This makes the Soil based probiotics LINK much more effective for your pets’ digestion support as well! 

Digestive relief 

Our doggies knew Ayurveda even before us!
Consuming clay or soil is thought to help with intestinal issues - I remember from my childhood whenever I would drop some snack and start whining my grandma would pick it up and somberly tell me ‘Dirt cleanses the gut’ - and that actually is a truth proven by  recent studies!
Natural soil like clay can absorb toxins, neutralize harmful compounds, soothe upset digestion, and act as a mild antacid. Dogs may turn to soil to calm tummy discomfort. Furthermore soil based probiotic organisms can effectively help restore gut health. 

Stimulation

Energetic - or let’s be honest - hyper little puppies or under-stimulated dogs can tend to eating soil for the texture and fun of it.
For this you just give them a Canine India Chew and the issue should be solved :) 

But soil eating can also stem from stress or anxiety - exploring textures and smells via taste is natural - but if it becomes a habit, it may indicate a deeper behavioral need.

If you see your dog eating soil - ask yourself why it might be, look for a second indicator pointing you to a conclusion. For example if you do not include organ in the diet and your dog its soil - they might be supplementing for missing minerals in the diet - easy solution add some liver to food. If they are super stressed in a new home for example, give them a comfy space and time, maybe a nice CI chew to calm down. It is important to draw individual conclusions when you see any behaviour you consider noteworthy and look for more than one indicator. ALWAYS.

This goes for any behaviour - if your dog shows any concerning behaviour or issue, always try to draw a connection as to why this could be. This will help you know when to search a vet, when to switch the diet and when to just let their immune system figure it out!

All in all - eating soil doesn’t have to be a big issue, it can even be beneficial!