Dog Food

 My dog hides food - why and what to do

If you have a dog or have a dog under your care, you will probably agree that these loyal companions can surprise us in our daily lives with them and perform all kinds of unusual behaviors that may seem funny to us. 

Certainly, if you observe your dog, many questions should arise as to why he is doing some of these strange behaviors. An example of this is the behavior that we will deal with in this DOG 57 article, i.e.

If your dog is hiding food, either behind furniture, burying it, etc. For this reason, if you want to learn or have doubts about whether this behavior is normal or not, we invite you to read this article where we will solve this problem. 

Why does my dog bury food? 

For a dog to hide its food is a completely natural thing, as this behavior is part of the dog’s instinct and the dog performs it for various reasons that we will explain below: 

To protect food from others. The most plausible reason why your dog hides food is because he thinks it necessary to hide it from the other animals he lives with. Oftentimes, this is because you live with more dogs or animals who steal each other's food, either due to lack of supervision or because they are not satisfied with their food.

It is also common in these cases to see the dog eating too quickly, to prevent the other from taking it away and harming his health in the long run. 

It is great value food. Your dog may only hide food when you occasionally give him a tasty treat, such as a treat or bone to nibble on, so he saves it for later enjoyment. 

Inappropriate environment. If the environment in which your dog eats is not quite comfortable for him, it is normal for him to get nervous and move to another place to eat.

For example, if your food bowl is in a very noisy place, in a very crowded place, or, conversely, in a very secluded place, then it is natural to strive to feel better somewhere else in the house.

In these cases, we can notice that the dog takes the food to his bed. Not all dogs like to eat alone or in the company of everyone, the important thing is to understand what your dog needs. 

He does not have a proper diet. The reason your dog hides his food maybe because he doesn't eat what he needs every day. By not eating enough, you are hungry and need to take a dose during the day, as well as store it to make sure you can eat it later. 

Negative past experiences. When a dog is hungry due to a complex and stressful past (eg if it has been abandoned), it may have developed this habit of hiding food to ensure it gets food at a later time.

game or boredom. Finally, your dog may hide or bury food just because he finds it interesting. Additionally, if your dog spends a lot of time alone or doesn't get enough activity in his day in and day out, he may find himself getting bored and seeking to have fun in this way. 

Should I let my dog hide food? 

If your dog is hiding food or burying it at the right time, such as when hiding some succulent foods, you don't have to worry. However, it is recommended that you find the food later to prevent it from rotting and eating it in poor condition.

Now, as you have seen, some of the reasons why your dog hides food can be cause for concern because the fact that he is holding food or burying it shows that he feels insecure about such a resource as important to him as food. You must find and treat the cause either because he is afraid that others will take her away or because he has been hungry or hungry in the past. 

In addition, if you notice that your dog has been cranky since or before he began performing this behavior, this is also causing concern, as it can be a way of expressing his nervousness or boredom. Therefore, check if your dog's behavior is normal or if he is showing other symptoms of stress, such as nervousness, excessive barking...

Should I let my dog hide food? 

If you come across any of the reasons we have mentioned, then you don't have to worry as you can fix this issue by following the proper instructions: 

Separate animals at feeding time. Wouldn't you feel uncomfortable if you always had someone by your side who wouldn't let you eat in peace? If this is the situation your dog is going through i.e.

Living with a companion who keeps stealing food from their bowl, the simplest solution is to separate them at mealtime.

In this way, you will ensure that each one takes their corresponding role, as well as overcoming this stressful situation for everyone.

Find a comfortable area. If the area your dog is eating in is not pleasant for him (especially if his personality is somewhat unsafe), try placing the furry food in a quiet place away from the stressful stimuli around him. 

Change your diet and schedule. If you are in doubt as to whether you are providing enough food for your dog or whether he has an adequate diet based on his size and daily exercise, the best thing you can do is to consult a vet for advice on an appropriate change in diet .

In the same way, in order not to create anxiety in your dog, who is eagerly waiting for his food, you should try to adhere to the feeding schedule. 

environmental enrichment. If your dog lives in an environment that is poor in stimuli, with no objects or items to distract him while he is alone at home, he will naturally seek to enjoy his way.

So, apart from making sure that you spend enough time with him every day (walking, games, etc.), look to enrich your home by adding sturdy toys like kong, trophies are hidden around the house or nibbles.