Strange eating habits of my Dog

Question
I have an 11 month old Rat Terrier, about 10 lbs in weight. I would like to know why he might be chewing up fabric items! Doesn't matter what kind, can be a stuffed animal, a fleece blanket, a quilt, the corners of my throw pillows! And lately, he seems to want to eat the red clay soil we have in our yard.
Is any of this natural? Or could he have a nutrient deficiency? or is he just being a puppy? It's frustrating, because he is ruining my things and I'm afraid it's not good for his digestion. Any information you could supply would be most appreciated.  

Answer
It is natural and he is just being a puppy. You do however, need to keep him from eating these things, especially fabrics. Fabrics such as clothes, etc..., can become lodged in the stomach/intestions/esophagus, and can cause serious problems such as constipation and choking. I know of many cases where a dog has eaten a part of a towel and has had to have surgery to get it removed because he could not pass it. You may check into putting your dog in an obedience course and see if it will help. The most likely reason he is doing this is lack of stimulation from you. Make sure that you are spending enough time with him and make sure you are playing lots of games and he is getting enough exercise. If he is not bored he likely will stop doing this. Also you may want to consider getting him a few chew toys that can not easily be destroyed by him (try nyla bone products, or a kong toy from a pet store). Hope this helps.