Dogs Bury Bones, Rawhides and Other Chewy Objects but Why Do They Do It?

The reason dogs bury things like bones, rawhides and other chewy objects is simple, they want to soften them. In general, people believe dogs are more interested in chewing on hard items but not so. Depending on age and the health of their teeth and gums, some dogs prefer to snack on things of a moderate or even soft consistency. Puppies and young dogs tend to like rubbery things to chew on since these help with that natural tendency to chew.

If a dog is given a hard object such as a dog biscuit or a shank bone, in order to achieve malleability, they bury the object. A few weeks or even months later, depending on the amount of moisture in the ground, the object will be softer and to their liking.

One of our dogs in particular, refuses the dog biscuits offered him until they have been run under water to soften them a bit. His teeth are fine and he has no gum problems, it's just his preference. We’ve spent a small fortune on chews and other knuckle bones only to have them buried somewhere never to be found...by us anyway. Later, they dig them up and with a disgusting smell akin to dumpster juice; they proudly parade them around until they find just the right spot in the yard to settle down and happily dine on their “new and improved” chewy. So there you have it, there is no mystery as to why dogs bury things, they just want them softer.

*Important! A very real danger lies in pieces breaking off of an object being chewed and lodging in a dog's trachea. If this happens to your dog, without immediate medical attention he could choke to death. Many dogs die each year as a direct result of choking on some play toy or chewy item. Therefore, whenever you give your dog a treat, stay with him until he has chewed it completely or if you do not have the time to spend, take up the item and offer him something you know he cannot swallow, such as a Kong toy stuffed with his favourite cheese, meat or peanut butter.

This advice also applies to given your dog that is not suitable to his size. Think before offering your dog something such as the smaller sized tennis balls that a large dog could accidentally swallow while retrieving or the smaller rawhides usually given to dogs weighing less than 15 lbs. Whatever you give your dog, always be present when he is eating or playing with it. Remember, the item should be "size suitable".