Burying food by dogs is a habit that surprises many owners. It’s as if pets have everything they need, but sometimes they try to hide a bone under a pillow or bury a treat in the garden. Where does this behavior come from and why has it persisted even in modern dogs?
Ancestral instincts
This habit has deep roots in the evolution of dogs as a species. Their wild ancestors – wolves, jackals and coyotes – lived in a world where food was not always available. Animals that managed to catch prey could not immediately eat it completely. To keep the leftovers safe from other predators and even from members of their own pack, they buried the food. This phenomenon is called caching. In this way they masked the odor and created a reserve for the future. Modern dogs have retained this behavior as an instinct, even if the bowl is always full.
The scientific explanation
In terms of ethology (the science of animal behavior), burying food is an example of a behavioral rudiment. The dog’s brain “remembers” that stashing food helps survival. In experiments, it has been observed that dogs are more likely to hide food that has high value (such as meat or bones) than dry food. This is due to the neurobiology of reward: the brain releases more dopamine when “higher value” prey is obtained, and thus there is an increased need to preserve it. The researchers also explain that burying it masks odors, because soil and grass reduce the volatility of aromatic molecules, making the food less visible to competitors.
Logic and everyday life
On the practical side, this habit is a way of “insurance” for the house dog. Dogs do not think about supermarkets or refrigerators, they are guided by an inner feeling: “I’d better save it for later”. This is often the behavior of animals that receive treats in large quantities – they hide them because they cannot physically eat them all. Puppies may bury food, following the lead of adults, even if they have never lived in the wild.
Another aspect is emotional. Burying food can be a manifestation of anxiety or insecurity: the dog “hides” food because he is afraid it will be taken away. In large families where several dogs live together, this happens especially often. It is like a person who leaves money “for a rainy day”, even if they have a stable income.
Should I be worried?
In most cases, burying food is a completely normal behavior. It’s not indicative of health problems or improper grooming. But if your dog starts doing it excessively often, becomes anxious or aggressive when trying to approach the stash, it’s worth consulting with a dog behaviorist.
Conclusion
Although domestic Pets have been around humans for a long time and do not need to be stocked, their behavior retains the imprint of past generations. It is a kind of reminder of their origins and that a bit of wildlife still lives in every doggie.
