Download the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a> today and give it a go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many different breeds of dog have digging as a part of their natural set of behaviors. Some dig holes in the yard, some dig them in the carpet, and some are happy to dig because it simply makes them feel happy. But they don’t stop at burying bones. They\u2019ll often bury other things like pig ears<\/a>, rawhide chews<\/a>, toys<\/a>, and maybe even your own shoes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your pup can\u2019t eat their chew or bone all at once, then they\u2019ll frequently bury it for later, kind of like food hoarding. This term is called \u2018caching\u2019 and is common in many wild mammals and birds, not just dogs. By burying it underground, the smell gets covered so that other animals can\u2019t take it, and so no one else can steal their snack. It\u2019s actually quite smart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs have inherited the instinct to bury bones from their distant relative<\/a>, the wolf. Actually, some dogs often don\u2019t have access to soil, so they\u2019ll bury a chew<\/a> in a pile of laundry, or in the blankets in their crate<\/a> or playpen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some dogs will try to bury their chews in thin air too. It\u2019s strange, we know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re feeding your dog their regular amount of food and then feed them bones, chews and treats on top, you might be overfeeding them. If you see them trying to bury them, it\u2019s probably because they\u2019re full and definitely trying to save them for a snack later on! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not quite sure how much to feed your puppy? Check out articles on puppy nutrition<\/a> and how much you should feed your puppy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog doesn’t have a lot to do in their everyday life, they can become bored. This means that they\u2019ll have to create their own fun. Digging can be a great boredom reliever for under-stimulated dogs, but it can become compulsive; and if done indoors, damage your beloved furniture you took so long to pick. Taking them on regular walks<\/a> and playtimes will do the trick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some breeds of dog like Jack Russell Terriers<\/a>, Whippets<\/a> and Dachshunds<\/a> were bred specifically to dig out critters and help with hunting. Naturally, they will want to dig. It\u2019s literally in their DNA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a dog who won\u2019t eat in front of you, they may be more inclinedcan to bury bones and other items. This is probably because they\u2019re feeling stressed and anxious. Digging can often happen when your puppy comes into a new home<\/a>, or if you\u2019ve just got a rescue puppy<\/a>. If you have more than one dog at home, they might do some digging as they\u2019re worried other dogs might steal their treasures. Clever puppies\u2026nothing gets past them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs who feel emotionally conflicted often dig as a displacement behavior. Now, displacement behaviors are perfectly normal behaviors, they\u2019re just done out of context. You can look at them as a coping mechanism that makes dogs feel good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Digging is frequently seen in dogs with separation anxiety<\/a>, so if it only happens when you\u2019re not there, you might want to set up a camera and see what they do when you\u2019re out of the house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Is burying bones harmful?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Burying bones and other items is not usually a cause for concern, as long as the items aren\u2019t perishable and likely to cause stomach upset<\/a> or vomiting<\/a> later. Just imagine that raw bone<\/a> sitting in your flowerbed until your dog magically finds it weeks later. Gross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog is often hiding things, you want to make sure they\u2019re not hiding them to resource guard<\/a> later. While hiding them from other dogs and not wanting to share is normal, you don’t want them to resource guard<\/a> towards you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a look at your pup\u2019s body language<\/a> when they\u2019re burying bones. Does it seem tense or frantic? You might want to ask yourself if their relationship with your other dogs is good, whether your dog has had a lot of changes, or bad experiences around food or bones lately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Eating soil can happen when they dig holes in the ground. This might not be great for their stomach, so make sure to keep an eye on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is their digging getting on your nerves? Here\u2019s some tips to help you stop your dog from burying bones in places you don\u2019t want them to, and how to reduce the behavior overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs as we know them today are far removed from their ancestors. But they still need to be fulfilled or they create their own fun. This can often look like destructive or even dangerous behaviors – like digging through doors. Feeding from Kongs<\/a>, providing them plenty of chews<\/a>, and using interactive puzzle toys<\/a> will help to stretch their brains and prevent tunnels and holes from being dug out of your home<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog is constantly burying bones in your yard, you can always give them a corner to turn into a digging pit. You\u2019ll make their day – that\u2019s for sure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s always best to think about how you can change your dog\u2019s behavior in a positive way, rather than just suppressing it and trying to get them to stop digging completely. If we simply tell them not to, they will likely just look elsewhere to dig because they can\u2019t do what their instincts tell them to do and you\u2019ll end up stressed. No one likes you when you\u2019re stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re feeling like a DIY project, turn a hard sided sandpit or paddling pool with dog-safe soil into a digging pit. Don\u2019t want your dog getting dirty? Build them an indoor digging pit instead – check out the instructions in our training games library<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog likes to dig in a particular place you don\u2019t want them to, manage their access to it so they can\u2019t go at it. You can use mesh, fencing or simply only allow access to that area when they’re on a lead with you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you see your dog walking over to that particular digging spot, try and engage them in doing something else. Perhaps you\u2019ll play tug or a game of fetch<\/a> to distract them and <\/em>not spare them all the fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your dog can be taught to leave<\/a> stuff they carry in their mouths, but also to leave<\/a> the spot they\u2019re digging that you don\u2019t want them burrowing in. Teaching them basic cues<\/a> will also help to stretch their brain and be less inclined to go self-employed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog is burying bones because they can\u2019t eat them all at once, try giving them shorter lasting chews like pig or cow ears<\/a>, or vegetable style chews<\/a>. That way, they\u2019ll be less likely to cache and hide them for later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog is digging itself into trouble, give your dog somewhere you actually want them to dig or redirect them onto something else. Getting cross just stresses everybody out, doesn’t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use positive reinforcement training<\/a> instead. Dogs learn better that way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, all they need is attention. Quite frankly, it works, but to their bad luck, probably not in a good way. Instead of waiting until they want attention, give them something to do, like a game<\/a> or puzzle toy<\/a> so they don’t solicit it from you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs often dig due to stress and anxiety, often known as a displacement behavior. Whether they do that by burying things or digging at corners of the room, it\u2019s a good idea to look at how your dog is feeling day to day, and remove stressors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think your dog’s digging behavior is related to separation anxiety, read how to help in our full guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a breed of dog that\u2019s genetically programd to dig or simply a dog who enjoys getting their nails<\/a> in the dirt, you\u2019ll make their day by taking them on a trip to a sandy beach and letting them run wild. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, we\u2019ve dug deep and tried to help you with reasons as to \u2018why do dogs bury bones?\u2019. Hopefully, you\u2019ve learned some good tactics. You should know that it\u2019s a totally normal aspect of canine behavior to dig in a lot of cases, but it\u2019s always good to go through the list to discover why your dog is burying their bones, and if you should be concerned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you\u2019re here, you might want to read more about puppy body language<\/a> or maybe on what to do if your puppy is eating everything in sight<\/a>.Do you have even more questions about a dog burying their bones? Or perhaps more questions about puppy life in general? Download the Zigzag app<\/a>. There\u2019s a whole program that will take you and your pup on a training journey, as well as tips and guides, and you\u2019ll gain access to our team of puppy coaches<\/a>. They\u2019re available to chat 7 days a week, and will always be happy to dig you out of a hole.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/aditya-naidu-vLe0chrdq70-unsplash-683x1024.jpg\")
Why do dogs bury bones?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Burying bones and caching food is normal dog behavior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Overfeeding can cause your dog to bury their bones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Burying chews and other treasured objects due to boredom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some breeds are natural diggers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Digging and burying items due to stress or anxiety<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Dog](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/syed-ahmad-_29XJFmAnQ4-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
Digging as a canine displacement behavior <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How do I stop my dog burying bones?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Provide plenty of enrichment opportunities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Create a digging pit for your dog<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Manage the environment to stop dog digging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use distraction and redirection to stop digging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Train your dog to leave the digging spot alone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Give your dog shorter lasting chews<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t tell your dog off for digging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Give your dog more attention <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lower stress to reduce digging in dogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Take your digging dog to the beach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"dog](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/janosch-diggelmann-fF0se3AQfqM-unsplash-683x1024.jpg\")