My puppy eats dirt & rocks. Is he missing something in his diet?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | 1lb
I have an 8 week old puppy and he licks concrete and rocks, but recently started eating dirt. Is this normal or is he missing something in his diet? He eats alpo dog food.
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on September 30th, 2018
This is not normal for a puppy. He may be doing it out of boredom, curiosity or in an attempt to correct a nutritional imbalance. Restrict access to areas where there is dirt if possible. Monitor him for inappropriate licking and correct the behavior immediately. Provide a toy or task as a distraction. If he complies, praise and reward him. If possible, transition him slowly to a better quality puppy food. If the behavior persists, he will need to be examined by your veterinarian.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 21st, 2018
This behavior does not necessarily suggest that your dogs are deficient in any mineral. Some dogs eat dirt (or even rocks!) for no particular reason. First make sure that there is nothing on the dirt such as barbecue grease or other foods. Second, you can try spraying a deterrent such as bitter apple onto the dirt. If neither of these techniques work, you may need to fence off the dirt area and only allow them on grass or concrete surfaces.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on March 16th, 2017
It could be that your dog is bored, or he may simply like the taste of dirt. It could also be caused a dietary deficiency, as dirt has a lot of minerals in it. I would make sure your dog is being fed a high quality dog food, such as Royal Canin, Hills Science diet, Purina ProPlan, or Iams. If he's only occasionally eating it, then there's not much to worry about, but if he is doing it excessively, it's time for a trip to the vet for a health check.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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