Have you been searching for your dog’s favorite toy for a month? Do you have new holes in your yard every week? Oh, dog owner, I feel you. Sometimes pets do weird things. However, we, as loving owners, should find out why they do it and accept it or help them.
To begin with, let’s remember who the ancestors of dogs were. These were wolves that lived in the wild. At that time, they didn’t have a human who could feed, wash, and entertain them.
Therefore, a wolf’s life was completely different from a dog’s. It was a challenge for survival. Wolves had to protect their pack and hunt for food. Instincts helped them in this. Some of these are present in our dogs and may explain their behavior.
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Why Do Dogs Hide Bones
Just as we might hide sweets from our family to keep them, your dog wants to protect bones and save them for later. We can find a bone under the couch, but what about the holes in which the dog buries it?
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Why do dogs bury bones? Your dog is driven by a burying instinct. This digging behavior pushes dogs to collect all the valuable things and hide them from other predators. Burying things in the ground is one of the most reliable ways for dogs to hide things. In the ground, the bone will wait for the time when its owner needs it. It’s a kind of safe for treasures.
So just let your dog play hide and seek and follow his natural desire. You can even watch it with the Petcube Camera. This device gives you a unique opportunity to observe your pet anywhere and anytime. With a special camera, you will know exactly where the dog hid the bone this time.
What Prompts Dogs to Hide Their Food
Good pet parents always feed their pets deliciously. There is plenty of food, but your dog keeps hiding food "for later" in the apartment or the yard. It’s all about instincts again. The inherited instinct to bury food prevails.
When wolves hunted, they never knew when they would get food next time. It was necessary to stock up on food and hide it from other animals. A hole in the ground served as a "refrigerator" for leftover food. Other predators couldn’t smell the food and find it because of the layer of soil above it.
Also, the temperature was lower in the hole, so food supplies did not spoil so quickly. On the contrary, the organic content of the earth virtually marinated the meat, giving it a satisfying taste for future meals. However, I don’t advise people to try to use this culinary hack.
What other answers can there be to the question "Why do dogs hide their treats"?
You gave your dog too much food. So he decided to keep it for "better times".
Your dog is anxious. If you see that your dog looks unhealthy and hides food or things every day, it can be a sign of anxiety. It means that your dog doesn’t feel safe. For example, obsessive-compulsive behavior, in which a dog repeats the same behavior to a concerning degree. You should consult a veterinarian, who will be able to find out the cause of this state in your pet.
By the way, I have a solution for owners who always want to be sure of the safety of their animals. This is the Pet Emergency Fund, which is special insurance for animals. With this insurance, you can protect all your pets from emergencies for less than $1 per day. Subscribe now and get 24/7 vet support and compensation for the treatment of your dog or cat.
Why Do Dogs Bury Toys
Dogs hide more than just edible things. Toys can also be their treasure, which should be placed in a safe. But in addition to instinct, there are two other possible reasons why dogs bury their toys.
Your pup has too many toys. Our human brains would think that with more resources—like toys—there would be less need to be protective of them. However, dogs don’t think that way. So if the dog has a lot of toys, they will protect and hide them even more. They could be becoming overwhelmed, leading to compulsive burying.
Just like humans, dogs can fixate on things, and if there are too many toys around, it can lead to overstimulation and obsession. In his case, it’s not necessary to throw out all your dog’s toys but try to move them to an area of the house where they don’t immediately see them or have access to them. Then toys will not excite your pet and activate the "burying" mode.
Your dog is bored. Dogs are used to spending a lot of energy during the day. If you haven't played or walked with your pet, he will have excess energy and can start to bury his toys. So if you want to keep the toys, do more activities with the dog.
FAQ
What breed of dog hides things?
All dogs have a burrowing instinct. But some breeds are more predisposed to digging and buying than others. A few of these breeds are terriers, dachshunds, beagles, basset hounds, and miniature schnauzers.
For example, Cairn Terriers were originally bred to chase and hunt small game. So they have maintained their excellent digging skills and their instinct to search. You can find this breed hiding more often than the Chihuahua.
Why do dogs bury things with their noses?
In general, dogs use their noses as an auxiliary tool during burial. This is natural and normal. But sometimes, if your dog is pretending to bury food with their noses, it can be a sign of nausea. Also, it might be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Fever;
- Depression;
- Weakness;
- Dehydration;
- Stomach pain;
- Weight loss;
- Bloody vomiting.
In this case, you have to get your dog to a veterinarian and provide first aid.
Do dogs remember where they bury their bones?
In fact National Geographic did a study on memory and found that dogs usually forget unexciting events within 2 minutes. But they will remember more important things, like where they buried a bone.
They use spatial memory and associative memory to remember where their bones are hidden. The first one helps to remember "good" and "bad" places. The second one helps to make an association with a certain experience and determine whether it is good, neutral, or bad.
To sum up, your dog usually remembers where they buried bones. But their need to dig it up may not always be there.
Conclusion
Now you know what characteristics dogs inherit from wolves. Hiding things is not a bad habit. It’s the call of nature and instinct. If you are still worried about this behavior or have noticed other signs of illness, it is better to consult your vet.
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