Why Are Dogs Burying Bones

Burying bones, barking and chewing are only some of the natural behaviors of dogs. Dogs burying bones are often seen in children’s books, in the movies and in animated cartoons. Dog owners would know about the dog’s puzzling habit.

With a sneaky look on its face, a dog that has a bone on its mouth will look for an ideal spot to hide the “treasure”. The instant the best hiding place is found, the dog will dig madly and bury the bones. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years but are dog owners aware of the reasons why the pets bury bones Do dogs know why they are burying bones? The pet may not be aware why it is burying bones as scientists believe that this is an instinctive habit to survive.

Dog scientists have this theory that the inclination to bury bones is an ingrained habit of canines. The habit of burying bones is as old as the dog’s history. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years but these animals have been in existence for millions of years. Burying bones have been a very useful habit for primitive dogs that need to survive the harsh life in the wild. The ancestors of modern day dogs have had difficult lives. Dogs in the wild constantly need to be on the lookout for predators and to safeguard their food from other animals that would want to have a share of the prey.

Stocking the pantry is a habit of humans. Squirrels work long hours to fill their coffers with acorns and nuts. Even ants fill their anthills with food in preparation for the rainy days. Dogs bury bones to hoard food. In the wild, food is hard to come by. A dog that has hunted a prey would need to secure the “bounty” not only from other animal but also from members of the pack. The buried food will be unearthed when food is scarce. The dog will unerringly find the buried prey although it is possible that what will remain are the marrow-rich bones.

Dogs these days never lack food. Dogs need not bury bones for the rainy days but the instinct to hoard remains. Dogs still have the inclination to hide not only bones but other food as well. Dog owners would just be surprised to find treats and bits of food hidden on the dog’s bed. Because digging and burying bones and other food is instinctive in dogs, pet owners just have to take in stride the inclination of the pet to rearrange the garden to bury its “treasures”.

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