Pregnant women, kids, elderly people and all kinds of humans have historically eaten dirt. The current theory is that it helps kill pathogens in the digestive tract.

Compared to some of the things my dog eats, I'd be happy if she only ate dirt!

LOL,alabamanicole. Maybe I should switch my diet, too. At this point dirt's a lot cheaper than going to the grocery store!

Years ago a co-worker told me about eating dirt and she brought some as I was curious. It really wasn't bad, but I surely wouldn't want to make it a staple in my diet.

I have 3 dogs, another who passed on a few years ago, and this is the only one who eats dirt. His preference seems to be from potted plant containers. However, now that I have the raised bed gardens he has decided they are much more desirable. I have no idea what attracts him to it! I don't use fish emulsion or blood or bone meal. (Solely for that reason!) Of course this is a dog who will happily eat a bar of soap if we forget to close the bathroom door, so I don't read too much into it. He just eats whatever he can get into!

My grandmother said she craved and ate clay dirt while pregnant. It is somewhat common here in the south. I think I'll stick to what grows IN the dirt myself! :)

My dog licks up cottonseed meal if she gets the chance. Then again, she's smart enough to figure out that yummies come from the garden and she will carefully pick peas, strawberries and other favorite edibles without ruining the plant. It's the darnest thing.

Next dog I get will *never* get tossed ugly produce near the garden!

I remember seeing the most hilarious pictures that someone posted of their big dog ever so carefully picking the ripe (only the ripe ones) cherry tomatoes from a containerized plant on their patio. He'd gently nuzzle the plant until he saw a nice red one and would gently pluck it...but only when he thought no one was watching!