Eating Dirt?

Question
My 4-month-old husky goes after clods of topsoil in the garden, and any clumps of dirt she comes across on walks. We're working on the "Leave It" command, but so far no dice. I can kind of understand when she goes after plantlife (including water weed from a nearby creek), but what could she possibly find appetizing about dirt? I'm feeding her IAMS large-breed puppy kibble, but could she possibly be supplementing some nutrients missing from her diet?

Answer
Top soil is often enriched with manure and many dogs find this appetizing.  There are some reasons why it made sense in the wild and in the evolution of canines, but of course, now it carries little meaning.  I think the most important thing to do is just try to remove the dog from the situation when not on lead.  When on lead, continue to work the "Leave it!" command, but you may also want to invest in a training collar and work a quick leash "POP" to correct the dog.  You should see the behavior slowly change over a few weeks.  Ultimately however, I doubt she is missing much in her diet, nor do I think that this behavior is damaging in any way.