Why Does My Dog Eat Soil? Understanding the Behaviour and What It Means

Is It Normal for Dogs to Eat Soil?

Many dog owners are surprised — or concerned — when they notice their pet eating soil. While it’s not uncommon, this behaviour can be a sign of various underlying issues ranging from curiosity and boredom to nutritional deficiencies or digestive upset. Eating soil occasionally may not be serious, but regular or obsessive behaviour should never be ignored.

Soil is full of smells, textures, and organic material that can attract a dog’s attention, but consistently eating it suggests there’s more going on than simple curiosity.

Possible Causes of Soil-Eating Behaviour

Dogs may eat soil for several reasons, and identifying the cause is the first step toward resolving the issue. One of the most common explanations is nutritional deficiency, particularly in minerals like iron or trace elements. If a dog’s diet lacks balance, they may instinctively seek out missing nutrients in the earth — a behaviour known as pica, which is the craving and consumption of non-food items.

Another reason could be digestive discomfort. Dogs sometimes eat grass, soil, or other fibrous materials in an attempt to relieve bloating, nausea, or discomfort in the stomach. In these cases, soil-eating may be a short-term reaction to feeling unwell.

Boredom and anxiety are also frequent triggers, especially in dogs that are left alone for long periods or lack mental stimulation. Digging, chewing, or eating soil can become a compulsive behaviour if a dog has too much pent-up energy or no clear outlet for stress.

In some cases, the cause might be behavioural conditioning — a dog that’s encouraged (even unintentionally) when they start digging or exploring soil may repeat the action more frequently.

Risks of Dogs Eating Soil

While an occasional nibble might not be a concern, eating soil regularly poses real risks to a dog’s health. Soil can contain parasites, fungal spores, pesticide residues, or sharp debris that may lead to infections, toxicity, or internal injury. If a dog ingests large amounts of soil, it can cause a blockage in the digestive tract, which is a serious medical emergency requiring immediate attention.

Toxic substances, such as fertilisers, compost, or mulch treated with chemicals, are especially dangerous. Even garden soil that appears clean may harbour harmful bacteria or pathogens depending on what's been applied or dumped there.

When to Speak to a Vet

If your dog eats soil regularly, or if they show other signs of illness such as vomiting, lethargy, diarrhoea, or weight loss, it’s important to speak to your vet. A vet can run tests to rule out nutritional imbalances, gastrointestinal issues, anaemia, or behavioural disorders. In some cases, changing the diet or supplementing with missing minerals is enough to stop the habit.

Behavioural causes might require additional support such as enrichment activities, structured play, and stress-reducing routines. If necessary, your vet may recommend working with a behaviourist to address underlying anxiety or compulsive behaviour patterns.

How to Stop Your Dog Eating Soil

To discourage your dog from eating soil, start by identifying what might be drawing them to it. Improving the quality of their diet, ensuring regular meals, and offering a complete nutritional balance can often remove the urge. Keep your dog mentally engaged with toys, puzzles, and more frequent walks or playtime.

Physically block access to areas where soil-eating happens most often. Raised planters, garden barriers, or simply removing temptations from the ground can make a big difference. For persistent cases, positive reinforcement training — rewarding your dog for ignoring soil and redirecting them with toys or treats — is an effective, long-term solution.

Pica and Its Medical Links

Soil-eating falls under a condition known as pica, which is the compulsive ingestion of non-food items. In dogs, this behaviour can be a sign of several underlying medical problems, not just simple curiosity. Beyond mineral deficiency or anaemia, pica is sometimes linked to thyroid dysfunction, liver disease, or malabsorption syndromes, where the dog’s digestive system isn’t properly extracting nutrients from food.

In older dogs, soil-eating can also be part of cognitive dysfunction or even a symptom of chronic pain, especially if it emerges suddenly in a dog that’s never shown the behaviour before.

Gut Microbiome Imbalance

Emerging research suggests that some dogs may eat soil in an attempt to restore balance to their gut microbiome. Soil, especially in natural settings, contains live bacteria and trace elements that may appeal to dogs with digestive imbalances. While this is speculative, it mirrors behaviour seen in wild animals that occasionally consume earth or clay to bind toxins or reset gut flora.

This theory doesn’t mean it’s safe or beneficial — garden soil may still carry dangerous pathogens or toxins — but it may explain why the behaviour persists even in otherwise healthy dogs.

Boredom Often Mimics Medical Behaviour

A surprising number of behavioural issues in dogs stem from lack of stimulation. Dogs are natural foragers, explorers, and problem-solvers. If left alone in the garden with little else to do, some will start digging, chewing plants, or eating soil simply because it’s available. If your dog is displaying soil-eating alongside other displacement behaviours, such as pacing, over-grooming, barking at nothing, or licking walls, boredom or anxiety is likely playing a role.

This is especially common in intelligent or high-energy breeds like collies, spaniels, labradors, and terriers.

Seasonal and Environmental Triggers

Some dogs only eat soil at specific times of year. This might be tied to seasonal shifts in their diet, changes in garden treatments (like fertilisers), or instinctual behaviour changes. In spring, for example, freshly turned soil after rain may release odours and microbial activity that attract your dog more than usual.

If your dog suddenly starts eating soil in an area where new products have been used — such as compost, mulch, blood and bone meal, or fish-based fertilisers — they may simply be responding to the scent. In these cases, removing or fencing off that specific area often solves the problem.

Puppy Behaviour vs Adult Compulsion

Puppies explore the world with their mouths. If your dog is still under a year old, soil-eating might be part of a phase of natural exploration. As long as they’re supervised, healthy, and growing normally, most young dogs will grow out of this with age and training.

However, if the behaviour increases or continues into adulthood, it’s more likely to have a deeper nutritional, behavioural, or medical basis and should be assessed more carefully.

Final Word

Dogs may eat soil for reasons ranging from curiosity to serious nutritional or medical issues. While the behaviour isn’t unusual, it should be taken seriously if it becomes regular or intense. By observing your dog, addressing possible health causes, and creating a more enriching environment, you can stop soil-eating before it leads to complications. When in doubt, consulting your vet ensures your dog stays safe, healthy, and well-supported.