Why Do Dogs Bury Bones?

Your pup is storing his extras away, but the holes in your yard are less than ideal.

You give Max plenty of yummy bones to chew on practically whenever he wants, so why do you keep finding them buried in the yard, hidden under blankets, or at the bottom of the dirty clothes pile?

"Dogs bury bones mainly out of instinct," says Dr. Chyrle Bonk, a veterinary spokesman at Doggiedesigner.com, a dog owner's resource.

Dr. Bonk explains that in the wild, dogs live from meal to meal, never knowing where or when they'll eat next. So, when they end up with a surplus of food, they save it for later by burying some of it close to their den. "That way, it's there when they need it most and it keeps other dogs from eating it," she says.

Meet The Expert

Dr. Chyrle Bonk graduated from Oregon State University in 2010 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM). She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from the University of Idaho in 2006.

The Call Of The Wild

Even though our domestic pups don't have to worry about food the way their wild relatives did, some of them still carry that strong instinct to save and prepare for the future. Dogs may also be inclined to bury toys, treats, or bones when they're being overfed. Their thinking is, There's excess, so I'll save some for later.

Anxious dogs or those whose resources were limited when they were a young pup with their litter may have had to fight for or hide food or toys to ensure they got some. Once pups realize they don't have to do that anymore, often the behavior lessens. If you've got more than one dog, he may be doing it so his canine housemate won't steal his prized bone!

Breeds That Bury Bones

While almost any breed or mixed breed can bury bones, some are more into this holdover habit than others. "Hunting breeds, like Dachshunds, actually tend to bury bones and toys more than herding breeds, for example," says Dr. Bonk. These breeds may have a stronger desire to save resources. Hunting breeds include labs, spaniels, and retrievers.

Herding breeds that exhibit this behavior include Border Collies, shepherds, and sheepdogs. Also referred to as "working dogs", they tend to gain a sense of accomplishment from burying their toys or bones. The reward of burying is a job well done.

Curbing The Burying Habit

Coming across bones or toys under the couch or behind doors is usually a harmless habit unless the dog is digging and damaging the yard. "While most dog parents don't want to encourage burying, for some dogs it's an itch that needs to be scratched or they could become destructive in other ways, even to themselves," says Dr. Bonk.

For those dogs that have burying bones or toys ingrained, there are a few things you can try to lessen the behavior.

Limit Toy Access

Consider giving your pooch only one or two toys at a time. That way they won't feel like they have a surplus that needs to be saved. Overwhelming a dog with all his favorite things might just make some of those things disappear!

Avoid Food Excess

Avoid excess treats, chew sticks and bones right after meals when a dog isn't as hungry and instead may choose to bury or "save" their treat for later. Controlling your dog's diet is a preventative health measure. Aside from the multiple complications brought on by obesity, your sweet pup is also susceptible to diabetes, should they continue to be overfed. The key to keeping your pet’s weight in check is to feed them a well balanced diet with an appropriate number of calories for their breed, age and body type.

Designate A Burying Spot

You can encourage your dog to "bury" bones in a designated spot like a doggie blanket or pillow pile or designated area in your yard. Dr. Bonk says you can use a small kiddie pool with some sand in it to be the burying spot. This way they're satisfied, and your yard won't suffer.

Is This A Training Opportunity?

Paying attention to your dog's behavior will give you insight into their burying behavior. When repetition in training is employed, you may just be able to crack the code. Teaching them a command like "Go get your bone," can be a fun game they learn to play that's less destructive and still satisfies their instincts of hiding and rediscovering prized objects.

Now that you know why your pup buries his bones, you can be a little more forgiving when you end up with one in the washing machine. After all, he's driven by thousands of years of survival instincts.

As always, consult your vet about any questions or concerns regarding your pet's behavior.

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