Well, well, well, looks like we have a bone to pick with this question. As a dog trainer, I get asked all sorts of questions about our furry friends, but the one that always seems to come up is: why do dogs hide bones?
The truth is, there are a lot of theories out there. Some people say that dogs hide bones because they’re instinctively programmed to hoard food in case of a future famine. Others say that it’s a territorial behavior, and dogs hide their bones as a way of marking their territory and keeping other animals away.
But let me tell you, as someone who has seen their fair share of bone-hiding in action, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every dog is unique, and they all have their own reasons for doing what they do.
For example, I had a client whose dog would hide his bone in the couch cushions. That’s right, he would dig a little hole in the cushions, tuck his bone inside, and then sit on it like it was a throne. When I asked the owner why her dog did this, she simply shrugged and said, “Who knows? He’s a weirdo.”
Another client had a dog who would bury his bones in the garden, but only after first covering them with a layer of dirt, then a layer of leaves, and then a layer of grass. It was like he was creating a little bone lasagna, and I couldn’t help but admire his commitment to culinary excellence.
And then there are the dogs who take their bone-hiding to the extreme. I’m talking about the pups who will dig a hole so deep that they practically hit China, or the ones who will hide their bone in such a clever spot that even they can’t find it later.
But no matter how bizarre or extreme their bone-hiding behavior may be, one thing is for certain: dogs take their bones seriously. So if you ever try to take a bone away from a dog, be prepared for a serious fight. It’s like trying to take away a toddler’s favorite toy, except with a lot more teeth and growling.
At the end of the day, we may never fully understand why dogs hide their bones. But that’s okay. Part of the joy of being a dog trainer is getting to witness all the weird and wonderful things that dogs do, and trying to decode their behavior one bone at a time.
