Why do dogs bury bones, food, toys and other things

Why does a dog, having asked for a treat, run to bury it? This behavior is typical for many dogs, but why are these pets so thrifty?

Why does a dog bury food and other things

A A number of factors can influence the development of this habit in a dog. There are several common reasons for this behavior.

hereditary instinct

Often this is because dogs have inherited this instinct from their ancestors. When they manage to track down or get a lot of food, they hide the rest by burying it in the ground. This helps preserve and protect them from other predators. The Spruce Pets. And while pet dogs get their meals on schedule and don’t need to stash supplies for later, the instinctive behavior written into their DNA tells them otherwise.

Breed

Although all dogs have this instinct at some level, it is most strongly developed in breeds bred for hunting small game. Terriers and smaller hounds such as dachshunds, beagle и basset houndstend to have a high tendency to dig and burrow. These breeds were deliberately bred to preserve their hunting instincts, and it is likely that the instinct to preserve “prey” is also included here.

Anxiety or possessiveness

Digging often calms dogs. Thus, animals that feel anxious or insecure can use digging and burying things as a coping mechanism. In a multi-pet household, dogs that fear competition for food and other resources such as toys may hide their belongings to keep them safe from others. This is especially true for the smallest breeds, such as chihuahua. They fear that their larger brethren will take something away from them. If there is a small dog in the house, perhaps its size can explain the goodies, toys and pieces of food hidden between sofa cushions or under furniture.

Boredom

All this explains well why dogs hide their food and their toys, but why do they bury what doesn’t belong to them? Perhaps the pet is just bored and so he is trying to attract attention. In this case, burying things for the dog is a fun game, and you should play along with it.

How to wean a dog to hide bones, food and other things

if your American Kennel Club believes that if a dog has a habit of burying food or toys, perhaps they are being given too much of both. It’s important to make sure your pet isn’t overfed, given treats too often, or left alone at home with too much food that he immediately wants to put away for later.

If your dog hides toys instead of playing with them, you can limit the number of toys and also change them regularly. Physical activity and increased attention to the pet can also distract him from digging and reduce the temptation to steal and hide things.

It is important to allow the dog to be a dog, giving him the opportunity to exercise his natural instincts. Instead of weaning her from digging and burying things, you can allocate special places in the house and on the street where she can do this. It’s also worth setting up a sandbox in your backyard or making a pile of blankets and pillows in your room to turn the process into a fun hide-and-seek game you can play together.