Why your dog loves to bury bones, toys, and anything else they can get their paws on

• As pack animals, dogs have a natural drive to bury important possessions like bones and food.
• Burying things also provides stimulation, so dogs might hide toys and food when bored or stressed.

Do your dog's favorite bones and toys seem to gradually disappear?

Maybe you've searched long and hard — under furniture, inside cabinets, and in your dog's bed. Eventually, you might resign yourself to shelling out more cash for new toys, still wondering where the other ones went.

Your dog might be hiding their treasures in the dirt outside, so don't be too surprised if those toys show up later, caked in mud. If they don't have access to a backyard, their toys might eventually turn up in baskets, bedding, or under couch cushions.

This burying behavior is common among dogs. Just as you might hide your favorite snacks from your family or housemates to keep them from raiding your stash, your dog wants to protect their favorite things and save them for later.

Here's what drives your dog's burying instinct.

Why do dogs like to hide things?

Your pet inherited this very natural behavior from its canine ancestors — and wolves still do this.

As pack animals, dogs sometimes didn't have enough food to go around, so when they had a surplus, they would hide food for later, says Dr. Abel Gonzalez, a veterinarian with Fuzzy Pet Health.

This instinctual behavior might also involve hiding things other than food or bones — like beloved toys.

Dogs might hide anything they consider necessary, according to Gonzalez. That's because burying important items keeps them safe and prevents them from getting lost or stolen from other pets in the household.

Note: A dog born into a large litter of puppies might also be more likely to hoard its belongings, since it had to compete for mom's milk, puppy food, and toys right from birth, Gonzalez says.

What breeds do this most often?

Most modern-day pet dogs don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from — but they may still carry around the natural impulse to hide things away.

Dogs originally bred to dig for underground prey tend to be more confident diggers, and they may bury toys and food more than other breeds, according to Dr. Preston Turano, veterinarian and AKC Pet Insurance spokesperson.

That's why some breeds are more likely to bury stuff than others, such as:

• Basset hounds
• Dachshunds
• Terriers

A 2022 study that surveyed over 18,000 dog owners suggests that no behavior is exclusive to one single dog breed. However, it also found that greyhounds are unlikely buriers.

Non-sporting and herding breeds, like collies, bulldogs, and chow chows, are also less likely to bury things underground, Turano says.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), other reasons dogs may bury or hide things include:

• Perceived competition from other dogs or animals in the household
• Boredom
• Stress or anxiety
• Overfeeding — if you give them too much at one meal, they may try saving the leftovers for later

Should you worry about your dog's secret stash?

Most of the time, burying things is harmless. "It can be a very mentally stimulating and enriching activity," Gonzalez says.

Since burying things is a natural instinct — just like chewing or herding — your dog's body is wired for it. Engaging in this behavior helps them release physical, mental, and emotional energy, according to Gonzalez.

However, he does say trying to dig somewhere with a rigid substrate, like a rock garden, can cause injuries to your dog's paws and nails.

Dogs that love to hide and bury things may also damage items indoors, such as pet beds and couch cushions, Turano says. And of course, if your dog engages in destructive behavior that puts you on edge, both you and your furry friend may end up stressed out.

Quick tip: Investing in more durable cushions or carefully supervising your dog during outdoor playtime can help. Just keep in mind this won't address the problem at the source, if your dog hides things due to stress or anxiety.

If your dog obsessively buries items, to the point where they hurt themselves when hiding or retrieving their toys, a good next step involves contacting a veterinarian or certified pet behaviorist. They can offer more guidance about anxious and destructive behavior.

Keep in mind, too, that many vets recommend not giving your dog bones, as a general rule. Bones can break into sharp pieces, crack teeth and lead to expensive dental procedures, or get swallowed and stuck in the intestinal tract, requiring emergency surgery, Turano says.

If your dog loves chewing on bones, the American Kennel Club recommends keeping supervised chew sessions short — up to 15 minutes — and getting rid of the bones after three to four days. You can also opt for synthetic bones, like Nylabone, instead.

What to do about it

Maybe you didn't mind when your dog stuck to burying their bones and toys — but now they've moved on to your belongings, like the remote, your shoes, or household knick-knacks.

You can try the following strategies to deal with this behavior:

• Put away anything you don't want them to bury: If your dog has a high drive to hide their prized possessions, you might find it tough to break this habit. Instead, keep the things you don't want them to bury out of reach.
• Create a sandbox or area in your yard made for burying things: Designate a spot for your dog to bury and hide toys. "It can positively impact a pet's mental health to engage in an instinctual activity," Gonzalez says — as long as it's in a safe and controlled way.
• Block them from dig-free zones: Use temporary fencing or other barriers to keep your dog from digging in spots you don't want them to damage, like a garden bed.
• Train your dog to bury only certain items: "Dogs are intelligent and capable of learning," Gonzalez says. Most dogs can quickly pick up new tricks and habits — like burying their toys instead of your car keys. Training helps improve the bond between you and your dog while also enriching their daily life.
• Get in touch with a behaviorist: A certified animal behaviorist can help you pinpoint possible causes of destructive or constant digging and suggest potential solutions.
• Give your dog something else to do: A bored dog might bury things because they have nothing else to do. If you notice other signs your dog may need more activity and stimulation, like restlessness and excessive barking, try incorporating more exercise into their day or introducing them to interactive puzzle toys.

Insider's takeaway

Your dog's urge to bury its favorite things is completely natural. This inherited behavior can even be a mentally rewarding activity for your dog.

Of course, if you're losing things around the house, you might want to consider strategies for controlling this behavior, like training or blocking access to diggable areas.

Excessive digging and burying behavior can sometimes lead to injury or property damage, not to mention worries about your dog's health and well-being. If this behavior causes problems or your dog seems stressed, consider seeking help from your vet or a dog behavior specialist.