Why Do Dogs Bury Their Food?

Have you ever wondered what’s driving your dog to stash things away in the first place? There are a variety of reasons for this canine behavior:

• Anxiety: If your dog feels anxious, they may bury items as a form of self-soothing. Knowing that food or chew toys are “safe” may have a calming effect on your dog. Other common self-soothing behaviors include chewing, digging, licking, and sniffing.
• Attention-seeking: Sometimes, your dog will bury something to get your attention. These items tend to be things they know you’ll notice, like a TV remote, slippers, or shoes, and they may hide them under couch cushions or inside of a laundry basket.
• Breed: Though most dogs like to dig and bury things, certain breeds are more likely to do it than others. Terriers, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, and other dog types originally bred to hunt small prey may have a stronger digging and burying instinct than other dogs.
• Excess: If your dog feels overwhelmed by toys or treats, they may bury the excess out of the recognition that they can’t use it at this particular time but want to keep it safe for later use.
• Instinct: The primary drive to bury lies in your dog’s natural instinct to engage in a behavior called “caching,” written into their canine DNA. To survive periods of scarcity, the wild ancestors of modern dogs buried leftover meat they could return to and eat at a later time. The ground acted as nature’s refrigerator, keeping the meat cool and protecting it from scavengers and the elements.

The most common reason your dog might bury food is the hereditary survival instinct of “caching” (or storing food in the ground) for later use. However, there are several other reasons your dog might bury their food:

• Nausea or a lack of appetite: If your dog feels nauseous, they may try to “bury” their food with imaginary dirt to “cover up” the scent or taste that’s repellent to them. If diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, or changes in demeanor accompany this behavior, contact your veterinarian. However, if they only attempt to “bury” their food with no other symptoms, they may just find the food unappetizing. Try feeding them again later, perhaps with different food.
• Overfeeding: If you feed your dog too much dog food or treats, they may bury them to eat later. Always provide your dog with a consistent amount of food on a regular schedule. Consult your veterinarian if you need help determining the healthiest amount of food for your dog’s size and weight.
• Possessiveness: If there are other pets in your home, your dog may fear that another animal will take their food. Dogs that come from shelters or breeders may have had to compete for a limited food supply and can be possessive. Resource guarding is a common, natural dog behavior that can become dangerous. Immediately seek help from a qualified veterinary behaviorist or certified behavioral consultant if it veers into aggression.

Though burying food is a natural instinct, it can be dangerous if your dog buries perishable food that could eventually make them sick. Here are a few tips to help limit burying behavior:

• Keep a regular eating schedule. Regular mealtimes with a dependable supply of food make your dog feel secure, and they won’t feel the need to save excess food because of an unreliable supply of kibble. If you overfeed your dog, they may start hoarding food and burying bones, which can paradoxically make them feel anxious about protecting those spots.
• Meet their needs. If your dog buries food due to anxiety or attention-seeking, meeting their needs may reduce the unwanted behavior. Provide your dog with plenty of enriching experiences, such as social play, walks in nature, puzzle toys, and training games.
• Provide safe places to bury things. Occasionally burying things is a natural part of being a dog. Provide indoor and outdoor spots where they can safely bury items, such as a sandbox or a pile of blankets.
• Supervise their mealtimes. The best way to ensure your dog won’t bury their food is to supervise mealtimes and keep them near you while they enjoy chews and bones. Instead of “free feeding”—providing an open bowl of kibble at all times—feed your dog at regular intervals during the day. A baby gate or tether can ensure your dog doesn’t take the food somewhere inappropriate to hide it.

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