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Why Dogs Bury Bones in the Ground: 3 Reasons
26.06.2024 06:10
This is a funny behavior of our four-legged friends, familiar to many owners - hiding bones and other edible trophies in the ground.
And a reasonable question arises: why do dogs do this and what is going on in their heads when this happens?
Let's figure out the reasons for this funny behavior.
An instinct "absorbed with mother's milk"
First of all, it is worth noting that the habit of burying or hiding food items in dogs is a completely natural and genetically determined behavior.
It was developed through long-term evolution and adaptation of species of the canine family.
After all, wild wolves and dogs do not always have a stable source of food. They are forced to obtain food for future use, demonstrating intelligence and resourcefulness.
Therefore, animals hide the remains of their meals for the future, if possible, by burying them or covering them with leaves. This increased their chances of survival during periods of food shortage.
This custom has been passed down to pets as well. Even if they always have a full bowl of food, their instinct tells them to hide the found piece for a rainy day! After all, you never know what tomorrow has in store.
In addition, by burying the meat treasure, dogs instinctively mark a certain "their" territory. Signaling to others: don't even think of encroaching on my property! Such a gesture drives away potential competitors from the coveted resource.
Peculiarities of breeds and character
Of course, not all dogs are equally inclined to hide food they find or left over from feeding.
This habit is more typical for hunting breeds, which have in their blood the desire to obtain game and protect it from other predators.
Dogs such as huskies, huskies, terriers and others, from childhood show pronounced instincts to hide valuable objects. In less "obsessed" with hunting decorative breeds, this behavior is usually not so pronounced.
In addition, the tendency to bury finds is influenced by the pet's character and living conditions.
If a dog has been hungry or stressed by competition with other animals in the past, it will be more picky about its food and will try to hide any extra bits.
But dogs raised in an atmosphere of prosperity and comfort are less likely to exhibit such behavior.
When should you be wary and should you be?
In general, the habit of hiding food remains should not cause concern for owners. This is a completely natural manifestation of the instinct of self-preservation, inherited by dogs from their distant ancestors.
However, if your pet starts to show an obsession with hiding any objects in storage, it may be worth paying attention to.
Perhaps the dog is constantly anxious due to stress in life. Or suffers from a lack of attention and ignoring of basic needs.
In this case, only close emotional contact with the owner and the organization of more comfortable conditions for the pet, in which he will not have to engage in exhausting and obsessive hiding of food supplies, will help.
Otherwise, don't worry if your dog likes to bury a tasty bone in the ground. Just let him pay tribute to the genetic memory of his ancestors sometimes!
Earlier we talked about why it is sometimes better to take a street cat into your home rather than a purebred pet .
