I've tried to join but for some reason I keep getting an error message (something to do with cookies,  I keep looking for chocolate chip ones!).
Anyway, one of my dogs has for the past two nights tried to eat the compost from our ex-potato plants. The plants have been dug up, put away ready to go to the tip, but there are some clumps of dried up compost/earth that have dropped in the garden and its these he's eating. There's no potato left in them. Our other dog ignores the earth. He doesn't seem to be suffering at all with it, just poos it the next day and it comes out black and crumbly, just the way it went in.
Both dogs get fed the same stuff, just different quantaties as they are different sizes.

I'm assuming it is possibly that he's missing something in his diet? But they both eat the same,  its a varied diet and I can't think what it might be that he's missing. Can anyone suggest what it might be? Then again, he might be doing it for attention or just because he feels like it. Our previous dog loved eating grass and had some most days, despite getting raw fresh veg in her diet - she loved the days when the grass got cut as there was always extra grass to eat!  We could find no reason why she did it, she just liked grass.

Both dogs get fed a mix of naturediet and Hills senior dog dry food, with raw veg as treats and a fresh meaty bone every other day (at my parents house, its 'their' treat to give).
thanks - and I'll join as soon as I work out how to!

One of my dogs will dig at particular areas of earth in the back garden - but only at certain times of the year, particularly summer and autumn. I believe it's a dietary issue too, but I have no problems with her seeking what her body tells her she needs in this way - just the same as I wouldn't stop her browsing on grass......

I have no problems with him doing it, if that's what he wants or needs. I just wanted reassurance that it wouldn't harm him.  If it is that he is lacking a nutriant, perhaps there is a supplement or other foodstuff that I could give him?

I've managed to log in by using the pc at work. Still no sign of any cookies though.  He was sick the first evening minutes after eating it though - it just looked like he was bring up the same dry compost.

Aren't dogs weird sometimes, but so adorable. 

I think you could spend out on supplement after supplement trying to find 'the one' that your particular dog seeks - when he's got the whole system sussed.  Do you know what sort of soil you are on?  I'm on clay, but it's only two particular spots my dog utilises, and she will scrape at the soil with her paws to loosen it, before scraping with her teeth.

Its not our garden soil - its special compost bought for growing the potatoes in tubs.  I don't think I even have the original packaging to find out what the compostition of the compost is. I know its not got peat in it.