Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My lab has started to eat dirt the last couple of days, any ideas about preventing this behavior. He is about 18 months old and is feed what I consider good dry food(Eagle Pack holistic Chicken) I want to stop this before it becomes a habit, he does at times eat other things in the yard such as grass, sticks, and poop from other dogs if he gets it before I can pick it up. He is a healthy dog and does not have any problems.

I'm sorry, I don't really have any experience with this situation, but I would maybe try to keep him more occupied while outside with some of his own toys, play fetch or hide and seek with him, I even knew a dog once who knew how to play freeze tag! Does he know the command, Leave it? Or something along those lines? We've been working on Leave it slowly, we're trying to get Cookie to stop whatever it is she's doing, and look at us whenever we say Leave it. She's gotten pretty good at dropping objects on command.
Good luck! What color lab btw? Name?

well you can't run around & pick up all the dirt, smile. I have several dogs that eat dirt heavy clay content & also lick metal especially drawn to rusty spots.

the first thing most folks say is that its a vitamin/mineral deficiency. I can't argue but mine eat quality kibble & get plenty of raw meaty bones & a human quality plant-based mineral supplement (small amount) & it may have helped some, but they still do it.

I also have a huge oak that shed lots of acorns which they graze on all day.

I googled & to my suprise found that in many primitive societies *eating both clay & acorns* is done for medicinal purpose. there are 2 or 3 prime spots where clay is mined & sold ifor eating/drinking & topical applications.

maybe we should be eating some dirt too??