“Why does my dog bury bones in the couch?” Ever found a treat tucked away in your couch, bed, or under blankets and wondered why your dog feels compelled to bury bones around the house? Today, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know to deal with dog caching behavior, which is the instinctual act of hiding food and bones.

We’ll not only explore why dogs hide bones in the house, whether in couches, beds, or under blankets but also what root issue might be driving all of this. We’ll then explain how you can stop your dog burying bones and other items around the home. Keep reading!

Why Does My Dog Bury Bones in the Couch?

Your dog buries bones in the couch due to instinctual behaviors inherited from their ancestors. Known as caching behavior, this is a natural way for dogs to store food or valued items for later use. Understanding this instinct can help you manage or redirect the behavior to more suitable locations.

Why Does My Dog Hide Bones in the Couch?

Your dog hides bones in the couch as a way to secure valuable items for future consumption. This behavior, known as caching, is a survival instinct passed down from their wild ancestors. Dogs often choose hiding spots like couches because they provide a sense of security and ownership.

Dog Caching Behavior: What Is It?

Dog caching behavior is an instinctual practice where dogs hide food or objects for future use. In the wild, this behavior was important for survival, allowing dogs to have a stash of food when resources were scarce. Domestic dogs still exhibit this behavior, although they no longer need to cache food for survival.

How to Stop Dog Burying Bones

To stop your dog from burying bones in the couch, consider the following steps:

1. Provide designated areas or toys for your dog to bury their items, such as a toy box or a specific spot in the yard.
2. Limit access to bones or treats that your dog tends to bury, only giving them when you can supervise.
3. Engage your dog in regular exercise and play to reduce the instinct to cache due to boredom or excess energy.

Burying bones in the couch is a natural behavior for dogs, rooted in their ancestral instincts. While it’s generally harmless, providing alternative outlets and managing access to items they like to bury can help redirect this behavior to more appropriate places.

But if your dog continues to cache bones and food around the house, they may also have underlying anxiety or resource-guarding issues that are continuing to drive your struggles. And until you address those, any positive changes you see will only be temporary.

“Well, how do I do that then?”

By getting your dog to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like your dog burying bones in the couch and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about your dog hiding bones around the house ever again!

Why Do Dogs Hide Bones in the House?

Dogs hide bones in the house due to their natural instinct to store valuable items, a behavior inherited from their wild ancestors. This instinctual practice, known as caching, is a way for dogs to safeguard their food or treasures for later use.

Why Does My Dog Bury His Bone in My Bed?

Your dog buries his bone in your bed because it represents a safe and comfortable spot. Dogs often choose places they associate with security and comfort (like under the covers of your bed) for caching their valued items. Your bed, with your scent, offers a familiar and secure environment for your dog to hide their bone.

This behavior can also be a sign of your dog’s trust in you since they’re showing they consider your bed a shared space where they can safely store their prized possessions. Learn how to stop your dog burying his bone in your bed by going back to the first section.

Why Do Dogs Bury Bones in Blankets?

Dogs bury bones in blankets as these spots provide a soft, hidden, and secure place to store their valued items. Blankets mimic the soft earth their ancestors would have used for caching, and the act of burying under a blanket can satisfy a dog’s natural urge to hide and protect their food. You’ll need to be careful that dog bone aggression doesn’t develop, however.

This behavior is also a way for dogs to keep their bones away from potential ‘predators’ or rivals, ensuring that they have a hidden stash of food or treats that only they know about.

Why Does My Dog Bury Food in My Bed?

Your dog buries food in your bed for similar reasons they hide bones; it’s a place of comfort and security. Dogs often choose your bed as a hiding spot due to the familiar and reassuring scent, as well as the softness and ease of creating a hiding spot.

This behavior might also indicate a dog’s desire to share something valuable with you, as they might associate the bed as a communal space belonging to their beloved pack leader – you.

In conclusion, the behavior of dogs hiding bones and food in the house is rooted in their natural caching instincts. While this behavior is normal, understanding the reasons behind it can help you manage it effectively, ensuring both your dog’s needs and your household’s orderliness are maintained.

I’m sure you’re ready to begin now that you have all of your questions about why your dog is caching answered, so I’ll let you get started on things. Good luck, and thanks for taking a look at our article “Why Does My Dog Bury Bones in the Couch, Bed, or Blankets? (+Stop!)”.