Why are dogs burying bones
Dogs bark, dogs chew and dogs bury bones. Dogs have always been depicted as bone burying animals in cartoons, in movies and in children’s books. Because of the dogs’ inclination to bury bones; it would be safe to say that all dog owners have seen the pet digging and burying bones.
A dog carrying a bone on its mouth would furtively look around and try to look for the best hiding spot. The instant the best hiding place is found, the dog will dig madly and bury the bones. Do you know why your dog is burying bones What encourages a dog to bury bones? The pet may not be aware why it is burying bones as scientists believe that this is an instinctive habit to survive.
It is believed that the habit of burying bones, similar to other canine behaviors is an instinctual nature that have survived in spite of domestication. From the time dogs have existed, they have been burying bones. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years but these animals have been in existence for millions of years. 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. The ancestors of modern day dogs not only have to avoid predators but also other animals that would want to have a shot at the dog’s hunted prey.
Stocking the pantry is a habit of humans. Squirrels make sure that the tree hollows are filled to the hilt with nuts and acorns. In preparation for the rainy days, ants would fill their anthills with food. Dogs are hoarders too. In the wild, dogs would not know when the next meal would be. 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. The buried food will be unearthed when food is scarce. The dug up bones will ease the gnawing of the dog’s stomach.
Dogs nowadays don’t go hungry. Dogs need not bury bones to survive but they do because it is an instinctive behavior. The ingrained habit makes dogs dig holes to hide their bounty. Bits of food are even seen on the dog’s bed and blanket. Dog owners would just have to accept the fact that the dog may destroy the garden once in a while to bury its treasured bones.
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