Why does a dog, after begging for a treat, run to bury it? Many dogs exhibit this behavior, but why are these pets so thrifty?
Why dogs bury food and other items
A Several factors can influence a dog’s habit of burying. There are a few common reasons for this behavior.
Hereditary instinct
Often, this happens because dogs have inherited this instinct from their ancestors. When they manage to track or obtain a lot of food, they hide the leftovers by burying them in the ground. This helps preserve and protect them from other predators, according to The Spruce Pets. Even though domestic dogs get their food on a schedule and don’t need to stash away reserves, the instinctual behavior ingrained in their DNA tells them otherwise.
Breed
While this instinct is present in all dogs to some extent, it’s most pronounced in breeds bred for hunting small game. Terriers and smaller hounds, like dachshunds, beagles, and basset hounds, typically have a high inclination to dig and bury. Breeders purposefully developed these breeds to retain their hunting instincts, and it’s likely that includes the instinct to safeguard their “prey.”
Anxiety or possessive instinct
Digging often calms dogs. Thus, animals feeling anxiety or vulnerability might use digging and burying as a mechanism to overcome their restlessness. In homes with multiple pets, dogs fearing competition for food and other resources, like toys, might hide their belongings to protect them from others. This is especially true for smaller breeds like chihuahuas. They fear that their larger counterparts will take something from them. If there’s a small dog in the house, its size might explain the treats, toys, and bits of food hidden between couch cushions or under furniture.
Boredom
All of this explains well why dogs hide their food and toys, but why do they bury things that don’t belong to them? Perhaps the pet is simply bored and is trying to draw attention to itself. In this case, burying items becomes a fun game for the dog, and one should play along.
How to discourage dogs from hiding bones, food, and other items
If the American Kennel Club believes that a dog has gotten into the habit of burying food or toys, it might be getting too much of both. It’s important to ensure the pet isn’t overfed, isn’t treated too often, and isn’t left alone at home with an excessive amount of food that it immediately wants to set aside for later.
If a dog is hiding toys instead of playing with them, you can limit their number and rotate them regularly. Physical exercise and increased attention to the pet can also distract it from digging and reduce the temptation to steal and hide items.
It’s important to let dogs be dogs, allowing them to express their natural instincts. Instead of discouraging them from digging and burying, you can allocate specific areas in the home and outside where they can engage in this activity. Consider setting up a sandbox in the backyard or creating a mound of blankets and pillows in a room to turn the process into a fun game of hide and seek that can be played together.
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