Another suggests : Geez why didn't I think of covering up MY food with Air? If you notice your doggie's beloved squeaky bone toy tucked under a thick rug in your downstairs den, you can be sure what's she doing -- keeping it safe and secret for later. For example, if your dog has a tendency to bury his toys, give him just one or two at a time. Dogs suffering from nausea-causing illnesses may attempt to “air bury” their food. Most of these animals either drag the food into the underbrush or bury it, but cheetahs eat and cache their meals in trees. We used to give him dry food, then he stopped liking it. A dog nose sunburn can be pink or red, just like a human sunburn. If your dog simulates burying her meals before she eats, she may be in "survival mode," a throwback from her ancestory. Dogs aren't the only animals who do it. It's a regular ritual. It may also appear dry, flaky or crusty. Your dog could resort to covering things to get your attention. My Dog Covers up her food with...what? So my dog demonstrated some behaviour last night which I've never witnessed before. Your dog might not just bury his edible item or toy in the dirt, but constantly dig it up and rebury it. You give your dog his dinner, but rather than just wolf it down, he first pretends to bury it. Digging. Stashing Away. It is like she is trying to rake stuff into her food pan. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. If your dog is bored, lonely, or simply wants to get your attention, it’s not uncommon for them to bury things to get you to “play” with them. They typically nudge the bowl away with their nose or try to cover it with imaginary dirt. Does your dog back away from the food bowl when he moves it upon eating? Hiding it consisted of burying the remains. Your doggie is just being a doggie. Dogs’ possessiveness – If you have multiple pets at home, your dog will surely bury stuff that’s his or her ownership. ASPCA: How to Create a Digging Pit for Your Dog, The Humane Society of the United States: How to Get Your Dog to Stop Digging. At the end of a long hot day when we were settling into our camping trailer, we brought our dog inside for bed, but when I put his food bowl down in our room, he was kinda whimpering, took only one kibble off the top, dropped it on the carpet, then started using his nose to try and "bury" the kibble. We’ve all seen squirrels and birds hoarding nuts and seeds for the winter; however, male wolves also may bring food to their nursing mates and pups and bury it near the entrance to the females’ dens. I have a 1 year old Border Collie/ Golden Retriever. You could find kibble or treats squirreled away in various parts of your house. Sometimes your dog might pretend to bury food because he's more interested in something else going on in his environment at that time. Some dogs do not like the fact that the food bowl moves and the metal ones can be noisier when moved compared to a plastic bowl. This prevented other canines in the pack or other predator species from devouring that dog's dinner. We got her from the Humane Society about 5 months ago. This is a direct natural behavior handed down the ancestral line through wolves and remembered by our dogs today. Does anyone have a dog who pretends to bury treats? You can rotate toys weekly to keep your dog’s interest and fend off boredom. Your dog's behavior of nosing away his food could be a hint of his wild heritage. She will only eat small amounts of Alpo beef stew. Although that's difficult to do with canned food, it's not with chew toys and other treats. The Dog Pretends to Bury Food Before Eating. Digging. Don't worry -- there's nothing wrong with your dog, or with the food you give him. Perhaps serve canine dinner at a different time than human meals. He might also do it because there's too much activity in the house at the moment. Some are really possessive, which may lead to anxiety. Then gave him wet, then he stopped liking that too. Even if your doggie has access to all of the good, healthy food she could possibly ever need, she may continue simulating the act of burying anything it considers a snack worth saving. Dog Suddenly Growling & Protective of Food→. The behavior is part of digging a hole to bury extra food after the hunt. My dog will put a treat on a cushion or blanket, then use his nose to "push" something over it. Sometimes a dog's instinct to bury food might go beyond pretending. An eager dog, like his wolf predecessors, would eat whatever he could. Your doggie is just being a doggie. Other wild animals collect and hide food specifically for future use. That's it, just air! You name it, an enthusiastic dog with the opportunity will attempt to bury it. F your dog becomes bored or gets lonely while youre out or at work digging and burying things is one way they might try burn off some excess energy or to occupy their minds. If you notice your pet seemingly frantically digging at the ground with her paws before she begins eating, she's in the midst of her natural "hoarding" process, so don't be alarmed. Air! Second, if you are feeding very big portions to your dogs, they will bury what they cannot eat, especially if they found the food enjoyable. Apart from storing away precious food to save it for harder and hungrier days, burying it in dirt helps to keep it staying "fresh." Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. It’s not unheard of for dogs to nose air-dirt over their food bowls, push imaginary soil over their bones, and do other weird things in the name of apartment survival. My daughter has resorted to spoon feeding her. That's especially true of more timid canines. Nothing! Many dogs also pick food out of the bowl and carry it to another location to eat it. It's a throwback to ancient times. The behavior is 100 percent natural. ... my 1 year old shepherd lab mix seems to nose here food like. In the primary case, there must be a food surplus. Jupiterimages/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images. Your dog may be attempting to "bury" her food without you even realizing it. If you notice your pet seemingly frantically digging at the ground with her paws before she begins eating, she's in the midst of her natural "hoarding" process, so don't be alarmed. Your dog might take items outside and actually bury them. Your dog may be resistant to touch because their nose is sore. Your dog may be attempting to "bury" her food without you even realizing it. She will eat a little bit, pause and rake the floor with her nose towards the food bowl, then go back to eating. Unless he's ruining your yard with his digging, it's not harmful. If so, you … My dog tries to bury her food and wont eat it and Ive tried different foods and still she tries to bury it any ideas on - Answered by a verified Dog Specialist. He just started this very annoying habit. If you notice your pet seemingly frantically digging at the ground with her paws before she begins eating, she's in the midst of her natural "hoarding" process, so don't be alarmed. He might also do it because there's too much activity in the house at the moment. Sometimes it can be hard to wrap your head around why a dog may be doing a certain thing, whether it's pretending to bury his food or obsessively digging up the yard. VPI Pet Insurance: Why Dogs Do Strange Things. Just watch out if your dog is unusually behaving when it comes to his or her buried stuff. Dogs may dig in order to bury valuables the wild ancestors of dogs would bury food so that they could return to it … This also applies to toys, especially if a dog has many toys. Back before canines became man's domestic companions and food came out of a can or bag, dogs had to hunt for their meals. 1. Cesar's Way: Why Does Your Dog Bury Her Treats or Toys? From the day we brought her home she has "buried" her food by pushing imaginary dirt over her food bowl.