Why Do Dogs Bury Their Toys? 10 Vet-Verified Reasons
Have you ever been taking a walk through your backyard only to find a freshly dug mound of earth hiding one of your dog’s favorite toys? If you have, you aren’t alone. This is a common experience for many owners. Canines love to bury toys, food, and other items throughout their territory, mostly because of instinct. Whether they choose an ideal spot is another issue.
Let’s take a look at the possible reasons that your dog may be burying their toys. This will help you better understand your pet so you can decide whether to get involved in the situation.
Why Do Dogs Bury Their Toys?
1. Instinct
Burying is a natural action for many dogs. This behavior goes back to their ancestors, and wolves, coyotes, and even wild dogs bury items they feel are special or may be needed at a later time. These can be items or food. When it comes to your domestic dog at home, they may feel the need to bury toys and food, too. In some cases, it’s simply a call back to their history.
2. Too Many Toys
Another reason you may find your dog enjoys burying their toys is abundance. This behavior also reflects their connection to their ancestors. Wolves are known for burying excess food. They do this to keep it safe from scavengers so they can eat it when needed. Your dog may look at their toys in the same way. If they have too many to play with, they may bury them for use later.
3. Negative Past
It’s possible that your pet had a bad experience with toys in the past. Perhaps their breeder, other dogs in the house they once lived in, or even people they’ve interacted with didn’t allow them to play with their toys when they wanted. If that’s the case, your dog may be burying toys so no one takes them away.
4. Possessiveness
Possessiveness can be a real issue when you have multiple dogs in a household. If there are certain toys your dog favors, they may try to bury them in the backyard to keep the other dogs away from them. If you notice growling or any type of aggression when toys are being played with in your home, a possessive dog could be the reason for the burying behavior.
5. Desire for Novelty
Dogs can be somewhat like kids, and similarly, your dog may get tired of the same old toys. If you notice your dog taking an older toy out to the backyard and burying it, this could be the reason, especially if they continue to play with newer toys. Burying could be your dog’s way of telling you they need new toys.
6. Desire for More Activity
Another reason your dog may be burying their toys is that they want more of your attention or more activity throughout the day. When your dog comes to you and, instead of taking them for a walk or spending time with them, you simply toss their toy, they may start to expect this kind of reaction from you. If your dog feels they aren’t getting enough physical activity, they may bury their toys as a sign of boredom.
7. Anxiety
Dogs show nervousness, stress, or separation anxiety in multiple ways. One of these ways could be by hiding their toys. Pay close attention to when your dog buries their toys to better understand if it's due to anxiety.
A vet can help you identify the signs of anxiety and give you advice on ways you can support your dog.
If you have a question about your dog's health or behavior, why not Ask a Vet for free? Our veterinary team answers reader questions and provides trusted advice to help you better understand your dog.
8. Desire for Attention
Your dog will do various things to get your attention. This may include burying things. These things may be their toys, but they could be other items. You may find that when your dog really wants you to pay attention to them, they will start burying random things, including things of yours or other family members.
9. Boredom
Dogs, like us, get bored with the same old things every day. This doesn’t mean they don’t like their toys anymore, but they may just want something else to do. Going out to the backyard and burying one of their toys could be your dog’s way of staying occupied when they’re having an especially boring day.
10. Protection
Your dog may feel the need to protect their toys. If a toy is a special favorite of your pet, you may find that they want to bury it to keep you or other animals away from it. In most instances, they will go back and get it when they are ready to play with it. Many owners find this kind of behavior cute, but sadly, the dog may become upset when the toy is no longer able to be played with.
Conclusion
There are many possible reasons your dog may be hiding and burying their toys, so it’s sometimes difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. Unless your dog is showing signs of distress or aggression, it's okay to allow them to play with their toys on their own terms. In most cases, you can sit back and watch your dog’s antics without any issues.
Sources
Featured Image Credit: IRINA ORLOVA, Shutterstock
GetIn Your Inbox
Want content like this delivered to you?
News, insights, expert advice, and everything dog
Melissa was born and raised in the mountains of East Tennessee where she spent her time writing in an old notebook and playing outside with her pets. As an avid animal lover, she has brought many into her home over the years. Currently, she is the mom of 5 fur babies. Her 2 cats, Princess and Pepper are total opposites who demand attention. Her dogs Jazzy, Whitey, and Demon are full of spunk and keep the entire family on their toes.
Beyond life as an animal mom, Melissa is a dedicated wife and mother to 2 children. Writing in her old notebook led her down the path of becoming not only a freelance writer but a published Indie author under the pen name, Rena Marin.
2 Responses
I was surprised when I looked up and saw the last name of Gunter because its not a very common name, My last name is also Gunter by birth and I too was born and raised in Tennessee! ?
Hi Paula, What a fun coincidence! That’s definitely not a common last name, and both from Tennessee too! Thanks for sharing that little connection, it gave us a smile :)
