Why does my dog bury her food and bones using toys and her bed?

Thank you for your question. Many dogs like to hide things, including treats and food. This is probably a remnant from their ancestors who may have had to hide some of their food items to protect it from other members of their pack or predators. We would not consider this a problem behavior unless he is becoming aggressive around his buried food/toys.

It's a weird behavior, huh? I am not sure why they do it, but many dogs will do this. Sometimes it is that they are looking for a piece that they prefer to eat, they don't like the food, maybe they don't like the bowl the food is in, or they think they will save it for later. Some dogs do this all the time and other only sometimes.

Bonnie Blue Bell sounds like mischievous one! I couldn't say for sure why she is doing this honestly. If she is only doing this when they are vibrating or ringing, my suspicion would be that the noise or sound is interesting (or bothersome to her) in some fashion. As long as she isn't trying to chew or eat the objects, I don't think you need to be terribly worried about this other than that it might be sort of annoying. The best thing you can do is keep your electronics a little closer to you to prevent this type of behavior from occurring. Hopefully in time, she will stop doing this type of thing on her own.

She is training you. Do not allow her to do that. Speaking to her at all or standing there while she is eating is giving her positive feedback for a negative behavior. The tendency to hide food and belongings relates to natural instincts of attempting to buy food to "save" for later. First, slightly reduce the amount of food you give your dog. Try to determine the exact amount that satisfies her hunger. Feeding more frequent, smaller meals would be best if possible. Ignore the behavior when your dog is doing it (again, you are giving positive feedback). Any attention to the food dish or her behavior is encouraging her to seek your attention. Put the food down for 10 minutes and then walk out of the room (not saying anything or looking at her). If after 10 minutes she doesn't eat, pick up the food and repeat this again at a later time. Eventually she should learn to eat when the bowl is placed down.

If your dog is whining or "digging" at bedding, it may be that she is attempting to nest with her favorite toys. Dogs that are unspayed may be showing signs at the beginning of a heat cycle (displaying nesting behavior to get things ready for puppies), however spayed dogs may also have this behavior just as a comforting factor. Digging helps create a nice soft bed, and bringing a toy means having something to cuddle! It may also be that your dog is feeling a little distressed or bored, especially if the behavior happens when you are doing something else (such as focused on another task, or out of the home). If this is the case, providing a nice place for your dog to rest (such as a big bed or a kennel) may help. Providing toys that also distract such as ones filled with treats or puzzles can also help with anxiety. Leaving behind a shirt or object that smells like you in the bed may also help to comfort your dog if she is anxious. If you are concerned about your dog's behavior and do not think it is related to anxiety or normal doggie behavior, it is always a good idea to make an appointment with your local vet. Your vet can perform a complete examination and rule out any signs of illness or pain to make sure everything is OK.

While these changes in behavior pattern are curious, I don't see a need to be overly concerned if everything else is normal. However, it is true that these small changes may be an early sign that something is wrong. Pay attention to how much she eats and drink. If it seems more or less, then this can indicate a problem. Also run your hands over her entire body and feel for anything out of the ordinary. Also, I am seeing that Lalya is 72lbs. This is rather heavy for a husky. Make sure that she is not getting too chunky or this can cause problems like diabetes in her old age. They can easily get fat without you noticing, because of all that fur. I've added a link below that can help you assess her body condition. You want Lalya to be at a 3. http://petobesityprevention.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/DogBCS_APOP.pdf I hope this is helpful.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think part of it is truly because they find it fun. They also like them as they find them tasty though it is not recommended to give them bones as they can choke on them or they can even result in a gastrointestinal obstrcution. Good luck and have a good night!