strange eating habit

Question
Hi. I have a 2 year old male Doberman in good health. He gets Royal Canine food for large breed dogs and is usually a good eater, although his eating slowed down when the hot weather began.  He is back to normal now. Lately he has been scratching the grass to reveal the dirt and then eating a mouthful of dirt or mud! He is nearly impossible to distract from the mud.  If I stand on the spot he will patiently wait until I move and then he is right back at it until  he gets that mouthful.  My gut says, yuck, this can't be good for him!  He has also eaten grass but throws it right back up.  He does not vomit the dirt.  We go to a dog park and I have seen one or two other dogs doing this too. He has done it at home but mostly at the park.  Why does he do this?   Is something missing from his diet?  Can this hurt him?  If it is bad for him, any suggestions on how to stop it?  I thought about taking a squirt gun to the park as he hates getting wet.  thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Kelly!

It is normal for puppies to do this.

I think the only way its harmfull is if it happens to have something mixed in with it- fertalizer, antifreeze, oil or some other type of liquid/ powder that is harmful to animals.

I suggest feeding a nutritional supplement called LIVAMOL and it fixed the problem right up. I am in Canada and I don't know where you are from so I don't know if you can get it your country but try looking in stores where they sell horse feed as it is also used for horse, sheep, cattle.... etc. I have also have heard that this habit can start out of boredome so you could try offering a bone or toy to your dog as a distraction and maybe that will work.
I would be scared if a rock was injested and got caught in the intestinal tract. I would try and discourage it too.

I hope this is helpful and good luck! Please keep me posted! Sending wagging tails your way!
Nicole