Why Do Dogs Bury Bones
Dogs seem to love burying things. Some breeds tend to dig more than others. These are often breeds which were bred for hunting and digging up prey. These include the dachshund, beagles and some types of terriers. Other breeds, usually those from cold climates developed a digging behaviour which they used to excavate underground sleeping places. These breeds include Huskies and Chows.
There are various theories about why dogs bury their food.
dogs may bury bones to Avoid Sharing
Dogs were originally pack animals. They hunted for food, but carrion also formed a large part of their diet. The food item was often more than they could eat in one go. An individual dog would bury some of the food and come back for it later. He didn’t want to lose it to another animal or fight over it with another member of the pack.
burying food may stop it rotting
Buried food doesn’t rot as fast as food on the surface. The soil protected the food from the sun so that it didn’t go rancid as quickly. The animal could return later and dig up the item when food was scarce. Dogs existed in a feast or famine situation and didn’t know where their next meal was coming from.
Boredom
Modern domestic dogs still have the burying instinct even though they are fed on a regular basis. They are often fed more than once a day. If they are fed outside, they could be hiding their food from scavengers such as crows and other birds. that visit that visit their yard.
They could also be digging and burying things because they are bored.
