Q: Sometimes my dog buries his treats. Is this normal?
A: This is called hoarding and is an instinctive, survival behaviour that originates from a dog’s ancestors. These dogs did not have access to regular food and would bury some of it for times when food was in short supply.
Dogs in the wild would be fortunate if they found food every couple of days and, if there was ever an abundance of food available, or more than could be eaten in one sitting, some food would be buried in a safe place to be retrieved later. Wild animals still do the same thing today.
Today’s domestic dogs may have a full bowl of food every day and have a consistent daily feeding schedule, but the instinct to plan for later and ensure survival still remains strong. Although many dogs will bury food or treats, it’s commonly seen in rescue dogs that may have gone without or had to compete for food.
In multiple dog households, one dog may be more assertive with treats or food, and the other dog may sneak off to bury his share to prevent the assertive dog from taking it away. Even if this doesn’t apply, it is normal behaviour and nothing to be concerned about.
This behaviour could be compared to someone giving you a chocolate, but you don’t feel like eating it right now. Maybe you’ve just had a meal and are feeling full, so you put it away for later and make sure it’s in a safe place so no one else eats it!
Alyson Kingsley-Hall, behaviourist
