Why Are Dogs Burying Bones

Burying bones, like barking and chewing is a common behavior of dogs. Dogs have always been depicted as bone burying animals in cartoons, in movies and in children's books. Dog owners are also exposed to the inclination of the pets to bury bones.

A dog carrying a bone on its mouth would furtively look around and try to look for the best hiding spot. As soon as the ideal hiding place is found, the dog will dig madly and speedily bury the bone. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years but are dog owners aware of the reasons why the pets bury bones What encourages a dog to bury bones? Burying bones is an instinctive behavior thus dog experts believe that man's best friends don't really know the reasons why they have this habit.

Dog experts believe that the habit of burying bones, similar to other canine behaviors is an instinctual nature that have survived in spite of domestication. The habit of burying bones is as old as the dog's history. Even though dogs have existed for millions of years, it was not very long since these animals were domesticated. The rather puzzling behavior of modern day dogs to bury bones has helped their ancestors to survive in the wild. The ancestors of modern day dogs have had difficult lives. Apart from the need to avoid the predators, dogs have to fight other animals for the prey because food is scarce.

Stocking the pantry is a habit of humans. Squirrels fill their nest in tree hollows with acorns and nuts. In preparation for the rainy days, ants would fill their anthills with food. Dogs bury bones to hoard food. Food in the wild is scarce. 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. What was hidden will be uncovered when hunting is nil. The buried prey may already have rotted but the bones rich with nutritious marrow will remain to fill the hungry stomach of the dogs.

Modern day dogs no longer need to hunt as food is regularly provided by the owner. Dogs need not bury bones to survive but they do because it is an instinctive behavior. This is why dogs will still bury bones. 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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