AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.
Does your Dachshund bury those expensive dental chews you buy them? Maybe your Standard Schnauzer hides pilfered socks under couch cushions or in blankets on your bed. It can also be frustrating if they’ve made a molehill out of your backyard.
It’s natural to wonder why your dog is burying something you know they like. So, why do dogs bury bones and other items?
Ancestral Needs
Domestic dogs’ ancestors, including wild dogs and the gray wolf, lived on a “feast or famine” diet. While they may need meat every day, they didn’t always find it. So, when they did, they’d feast and gorge themselves because they knew they may not have another meal for a couple of days. This also means they didn’t want to waste food by leaving any extra that can’t fit into their bellies immediately.
Instead, they buried the food in the dirt. This helps the meat last longer, as the dirt protects it from the sun, which causes meat to go rancid quickly. The wolf can then return to that treasure spot and dig up the meat when hunting is scarce, and they’re in need of a meal. Think of it as the wolf’s pantry.
Lingering Instinct
Of course, your Dachshund is fed every day without fail, probably twice a day. Obviously, they don’t need to squirrel away their food, toys, or treats for a famine day. But just like herding, hunting, and tending, burying resources is part of a dog’s natural instinct, and some exhibit it more than others. It’s interesting to note that owners of hunting breeds seem to witness this behavior more than owners of herding or non-sporting breeds.
Now that you know where the instinct comes from and its relation to hunting, this tendency for some dogs to dig makes sense. Dogs that are bred for hunting may also have a heightened desire to save their resources as part of their hunting instinct. Therefore, they’re more likely to bury bones.
Too Many Resources
Since you know now that your dog’s urge to bury their bones comes from an instinct to save surplus resources, you can help curb this behavior by making those resources more scarce, thus saving your garden. For example, if your dog tends to bury their toys, give them just one or two at a time. You can rotate toys weekly to keep your dog’s interest and fend off boredom. Also, avoid giving them a bone right after they eat, when their stomach is already full.
If your dog really seems to enjoy the hide-and-seek aspect of burying, you can turn it into a trick. Have them “bury” a toy or bone on cue in a pile of blankets or pillows. Then, give them a cue to retrieve. This turns it into a game that you and your dog can play together that won’t destroy your yard. If you have the space, you can also give your dog their own dirt box to play in. Here, they can bury toys and treats to their heart’s content while staying away from your freshly planted flower garden.
At the end of the day, providing your dog with a way to dig and bury their bones and toys is a great way to enrich their life, since it satisfies their natural instinct. Plus, now you know where to look the next time you can’t find your TV remote!