Why Do Dogs Hide Their Food?

Misconceptions

• Dog owners may be tempted to jump to conclusions if a dog starts hiding food and bones. While the behavior may seem bizarre, especially if it occurs with sudden onset, it is rarely the result of a medical problem. Dog owners need not worry about a food-hiding dog, but instead should focus on the factors surrounding mealtimes, urges the Mmilani website. Mmilani suggests that dogs who do not like their food or who are sick are more likely to completely ignore their food than to hide it. Understanding basic canine behaviors may help many owners understand the reasoning behind why their beloved pet begins to hide food.

Wild Dog Behavior

• To begin to understand why domesticated dogs hide food, it is important to understand the behavior of wild dogs. In the wild, dogs learn that food is not always guaranteed and that a big feast may be followed by weeks without food. This behavior causes wild dogs to bury food and dig it up when the hunt does not produce enough food, according to the See Fido website.

Instinct

• Domesticated dogs may act on a similar instinct to that of a wild dog, according to The Daily Puppy. Dogs may feel that an overabundance of food or daily guaranteed feedings is a sign that lean times may be ahead. As a result, dogs act on instinct and bury their food in order to preserve it for later. It is perfectly safe for a dog to eat food that it has previously hidden or buried. Dogs are equipped with a digestive system built for eating food after it has been hiding for some time, according to See Fido. Hunting dogs and feral dogs are more likely to hide food based on instinct. Dogs may also hide their food when they have had their fill and are presented with leftovers.

Protecting Territory

• Dogs may also hide their food because they do not feel safe or protected in their environment. Shy and timid dogs are most likely to hide food when they feel like eating makes them isolated, according to Mmilani. Shy and timid dogs may be intimidated by other animals in the home or feeding time may cause them general anxiety.

Solutions

• In order to prevent dogs from hiding food, owners must be willing to play detective, according to Mmilani. Evaluate a dog's behavior around their food is the first step to understanding how to prevent hiding food. Periodic hiding is most likely the result of a dog feeling threatened during a certain time of day. Work to adjust feeding times and places until you discover one where the dog feels comfortable. Also, try feeding dogs a lesser amount, more often to help the dog understand that food is not a treat but a constant process. This may help cut down on instinctual hiding and hiding leftovers.