Chewing is a dog’s natural behavior. Dogs love to chew bones and find much pleasure in doing that. Aside from satisfying a dog’s urge to chew, bone chewing also alleviates boredom.
Have you tried giving your dog his favorite bone or dental chew? However, instead of chewing it, you find your dog rushing out.
There goes your dog. It rushes to the garden or the yard, digging a hole.
Yes, your dog has made a mole hole out in the yard. He then buries the bone deep into the hole. You probably experienced and have seen this kind of scenario.
Why is my dog hiding his bone?
If you have seen your dog burying bones or hiding them not just in the yard but even under the blanket, mattress, and sofa cushion, you must have wondered why do dogs bury bones? Here are some of the reasons why this kind of behavior occurs:
1. Fulfilling their ancestral drive
The domestic dogs we have today descended from wolves and still carry their ancestor’s natural instincts. The gray wolf and wild dogs lived on either a “feast or famine”. That means that it is not every day that they are able to live in abundance or feast over a meal. There can be times when they starve whenever food is scarce.
Wild dogs and wolves are fully aware of the possibility that they may not have food in the coming days, especially in leaner times. In other words, they do not know when their next meal will be.
When they feast on fresh meat, they eat all they can, gorge themselves and feed their immediate family. But should there be any extra, even if there are fewer leftovers after they feast, dogs do not leave their food to waste.
Because of their heightened desire to save for the tough times, what many dogs do is keep food in the dirt while they go on with the hunt.
2. For food preservation
Dogs bury their food as a means of food preservation. They painstakingly save every extra bone and carcass for later consumption.
Exposure to direct sunlight can cause the meat to turn rancid quickly. Burying protects the meat from the sun. The soil beneath serves as a natural refrigerator. The deeper the hole, the lower its temperature and the longer the fresh meat or food is preserved.
When nourishment is scarce, dogs can return to their treasure spots where they hid their food and excavate to retrieve what they kept there as if going to their pantry or safety deposit box.
Burying also protects their precious food from other wild animals, which are also searching for a good meal. Soil reduces the scent, keeping all other hunters and predators away from their prized leftovers.
Aside from keeping their food away from other animals’ reach, burying bones also enhances their food’s flavor. The soil’s organic content has in effect marinated the meat, making it more satisfying for their next meals.
3. Breed
Most dogs that are considered hunting breeds are more predisposed not only to dig holes but also to burying compared to others like toy breeds. What dog breeds bury their bones? Those breeds include Basset Hounds, Beagles, Dachshunds, Miniature Schnauzers, and Terriers.
You may have a dog that was originally bred to chase and trained to be a successful hunter like the Cairn Terrier. Aside from their excellent skills in training and hunting, this breed is also more likely to dig and bury food in their desire to save resources.
Do dogs remember where they bury their bones?
Dogs are highly intelligent animals. Even their wild ancestors can locate exactly the very same spot where they kept meat and carcasses.
The very purpose of burying food is to save it for later for their future meals, and the moment dogs keep their prized bone, they will remember the area exactly. In other words, their instinct to bury also comes with the instinct to locate and retrieve.
Dogs use associative and spatial memory to track their buried food treasures. Associative memory enables them to recall the fine and minute details as to the very spot where they bury their bones, including that of the buried bones. In contrast, spatial memory allows them to recall where exactly they hid it.
Why do dogs bury things?
It is not only bones that dogs bury. As you have observed with your domestic dog, it may have buried its chew toy or treats in the garden or yard soon as you handed it to your beloved canine buddy.
Perhaps you have also noticed your dog bury even non-food items. You sure have also caught your canine pals as they bury toys, especially their favorite toys. Your dog may have been burying things not just outside but in couch cushions and even in the laundry basket.
Apart from a dog’s natural instinct to bury bones and the fact that your dog is one of those hunting breeds, there are other reasons why dogs bury bones and other things. Here are some of those:
1. Boredom
Constant digging is a way to beat boredom. Dogs, especially active breeds, need stimulation and daily exercises to unleash their energy.
When pet owners fail to provide their canine companions with the required mental and physical stimulation, dogs may find their own ways to keep themselves occupied by having a fun game. If your pooch exhibits an attention-seeking behavior like, for example, hiding or burying the tv remote, then that means your dog is bored.
Aside from digging, you may notice your dogs create a nice muddy hole in your beautiful garden. That hole will also serve as a treasure box for all their toys and treats.
2. Stress and anxiety
Anxiety and stress can affect your dog’s normal behavior. Anxious dogs may bury bones, treats, toys, and other items because digging can be a self-soothing behavior.
Dogs are also protective creatures, so whenever they feel that the time and place to eat is unsafe, they hide those real bones or treat and eat them later when they are more comfortable doing so. Canines who grew up in puppy mills have their natural tendency to hide whatever they have from other dogs.
Those in puppy mills will have to scramble for food because they have in their mind that resources are limited. There are dogs who consume their food faster and grab even those from other members. When there is much resource competition, dogs will become more anxious and can become quite alarming.
When you take home a new pup, he may feel uncomfortable and threatened because he is unsure if he will fit into the new environment. He can feel stressed and anxious and find it necessary to keep the things he wants for himself.
A pup’s obsessive-compulsive behavior can change as soon as he feels safe and you feed him on time. Should this persist, you need to take your pup to the vet or an animal behaviorist to seek advice on the matter.
Should I let my dog bury bones?
The answer to this question can be both affirmative and negative. While it is a natural tendency for canines, this behavior is usually not harmful. However, constant digging can cause your pooches some harm on their paws.
Chemicals found in the soil can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation. Obsessive digging can injure your dog’s nail beds and paws, making them a perfect breeding ground for parasites and bacteria that can lead to infection. Excessive digging will require veterinary and behavioral intervention.
While their canine ancestors love burying their leftover meat and carcasses, you should help curb this habit by not giving them a bone. Your domestic dog is no longer the same as their ancestors in terms of tolerance.
Your dog can suffer from intestinal or dental problems should it consume bones. Instead, give your pooch only enough amount of kibble twice a day to curb his tendency to keep treasures.
Once your dog starts to do his thing, get his attention by calling out his name in an upbeat tone. That way, he gets distracted and knows you do not tolerate him for such activity.
If the reason for burying dog toys and other stuff is boredom, anxiety, and stress, be sure to take your dogs for walks. Train your dog on how to behave well and provide better avenues to stimulate them mentally.
Whenever your pup is alone, keep him busy by giving him fun toys. Giving your pup a variety of puzzle toys at different times will keep him interested in the newly-introduced toy. Fill Kong toys with treats to keep your pup hooked.
Converting burying into a fun-filled indoor game
Because it is a dog’s instinct, why don’t you convert that instead into a fun-filled game? Yes, your read that right!
You can exercise control over the things you want your dog to hide instead of your tv remote, including the spots where you want your dog to hide it, plus you give them the opportunity to follow their instinct. Teach them what is allowable for them to hide and what is not.
If you have other animals at home, especially other canines, you can avoid competition among them (especially with toys) by separating them during playtime. Unless you only have one canine buddy at home, the threat of having others take their precious belongings from them is irrelevant.
Should your dog exhibit obsessive-compulsive behavior, never hesitate to seek veterinary or professional help. After all, your dog’s well-being is your utmost priority.
Conclusion
Dogs do various things that seem odd to pet owners without knowing that they are just following their ancestral instincts. However, there can be activities that might be associated with behavioral problems.
It is your sole responsibility as pet owners to ensure your canine buddies are healthy and happy. Food security coupled with ample activities and positive reinforcement training always work wonders.
Add to that periodic checks with the vet and lots of TLC. You can surely say that your dog will never turn your flower garden into a graveyard.
Related topic: Are dogs’ mouths cleaner than humans’ mouths?
*photo by galitsynaoe.photo.gmail.com – depositphotos
