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Why Does My Dog Bury Their Food? 6 Possible Reasons

Kit Copson

By Kit Copson

german shepherd digging a hole in the garden

If you’ve been feeling baffled as to why your dog seems to enjoy planting their food more than actually eating it, you’re not alone. There are a few causes and explanations for this behavior, ranging from a dog’s innate love of digging to anxious dogs burying food as a stress-busting activity. Keep reading to find out why your dog may be burying their food.

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Why Does My Dog Bury Their Food? The 6 Possible Reasons

1. The Instinct to Dig and Bury

It’s natural for dogs to get the urge to dig and bury things—including their food—as it helped their ancestors survive out in the wild. Way back before dogs had us to cater to their every whim, their ancestors were burying food in the ground to keep it cool and store it for later. This also helped keep their food safe from other animals.

Husky digging in the dirt
Photo Credit: SabbraCadabra, Pixabay

2. Breed Characteristics

Closely linked to our first point about instinctive digging and burying, some dogs dig more than others because it’s a characteristic of their breed.

Jack Russell Terriers, for example, are avid diggers due to being bred as hunters and used throughout history to drive rabbits, foxes, and rats from their underground homes. Other Terrier breeds, Beagles, Dachshunds, and Huskies are also some of the most enthusiastic diggers.


3. Dislike of Certain Foods

In some cases, dogs will dig a hole and bury food in it simply to get rid of the food they don’t like or that is making them feel sick. They do this to cover up the smell and dispose of the food as best as they can! Your dog may also do this with the extra food if they’re overfed.

If your dog is frequently burying their food instead of eating it and has a low appetite, is throwing up, is experiencing diarrhea, or seems otherwise unwell simultaneously, contact your vet.

dog dig a hole
Photo Credit: sanjagrujic, Shutterstock

4. Guarding Tendencies

Sometimes, dogs bury things as a means to keep them safe. Some dogs are very possessive of their food, which could lead to this kind of behavior, especially if there are other dogs around or your dog has a history of trauma. This brings us to our next possible cause.


5. Anxiety

Stressed out or anxious dogs may bury things, especially when they have a fear of another dog taking their food away. If your dog has had a difficult past, or one in which they had to compete for their food or didn’t get enough to eat, it’s possible that they could have developed anxiety about their food being stolen.

small dog digging
Photo Credit: freestocks-photos, Pixabay

6. Boredom

A bored dog may bury food and other items to get rid of pent-up energy because it allows them to engage in physical activity. It could also be a way to get your attention if they’re feeling neglected. You can combat this by playing with your dog, sticking to a walking schedule, and leaving toys for them if you’re going to be out of the house for a while.


How Can I Stop My Dog from Burying Food?

This depends on what’s causing the behavior. If your dog simply does it to get your attention or because they’re being fed a little too much, some simple changes like exercising your dog more and making sure they’re getting proper portion sizes may help.

If your dog has a history of trauma and hides their food out of stress and anxiety, things get a little trickier. For sensitive dogs like this, you might want to try keeping an eye on them while they eat. Have them eat indoors and take the leftover food away when they’re done so they don’t get a chance to sneak away with it. Splitting up their food portions to eat throughout the day instead of all in one go may help, too.

If you suspect that your dog may be suffering from anxiety, it might be a good idea to consult your vet or meet with an animal behavioralist to help get to the root of the problem.

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Final Thoughts

It’s not that unusual for dogs to bury their food, and instinct is at the core of the behavior. If your dog burying food has been worrying you, the first step is to find out what’s causing the problem. If you suspect boredom or overfeeding is behind the issue, some routine changes may just do the trick. However, in extreme cases, you may need to call in professional help.

 

Featured Image Credit: Fra tta, Shutterstock

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