It’s the weekend. You and your pup have just finished breakfast. You turn around to see your dog chomping on a salmon jerky. Didn’t you run out of those days ago? Where’d those puppy paws find such a treat?
You realize your sweet little Max might be hiding and hoarding his treats. And maybe not just treats.
Those polka-dot socks and new chew toys have been missing for a few weeks. Wonder who’s responsible for that? Oh Max!
Here’s the thing: hiding treats and toys isn’t just a Max thing. It’s common for most dogs. But why? Why do dogs hide treats? Some say certain dog breeds hide treats more than others. Some say they hide treats because of health issues. Still others claim it’s an instinct. Well, there are several reasons. And we’ll explore the best explanations, starting with instinct:
Hiding Food Is In Their Nature
If you look at old canine survival strategies, you’ll see how common it was to bury and stash any extra food. If there was leftover meat from a kill, dogs tended to bury it in the cool ground to keep it preserved for later.
Plus, it was a great way to keep it safe in harsh weather and from lurking scavengers. It was a vital strategy since they didn’t know where their next meal would come from or when they’d get it.
And just like that, we’ve covered one of the answers to the question, “Why do dogs hide their treats?”. It’s an instinct. And they may be protecting their prized possessions from other pets in the house or neighborhood.
They’re Saving It For Later
We all know what that’s like. You bring home your favorite snack. You eat half now and think about saving half for later. But instead of keeping it on display on the kitchen counter, you stash it in your snack drawer. Away from the kids, your spouse, or even from yourself. You know it’ll stay safe there, and you’ll have your favorite snack whenever you’re in the mood.
Dogs aren’t very different when it comes to saving their favorite treats for later. Maybe you’ve given them their favorite and they’re not sure when you’ll throw ‘em another scrumptious bone. So they stash it away. And whenever that furry tummy growls for some lip-smacking peanut butter and sweet potato, they know where to find it.
It’s How They Deal With Over-Feeding
We get it. It’s difficult to determine how much food to give your pup. For one, some dogs are super food-motivated and beg for more food than they need. And two, some brands of dog food contain fillers.
This may mean your dog gets full quickly but swiftly gets hungry again, especially if they lack nutrients. So, why do dogs hide their treats? By hiding their food, they’ll have more to eat later. This can make it hard to gauge whether you’re under-feeding or overfeeding. And it may contribute to the reason your dog hides treats.
To solve this conundrum, we recommend talking to your vet, and sticking to healthy foods and treats. If you’re feeding your dog a healthy diet supplemented with healthy, natural dog treats it may be easier to determine how much is sufficient.
Your Dog May Be Dealing With Anxiety
Some dogs deal with anxiety that stems from negative past experiences. This happens commonly in rescue dogs. Because of past experiences, they may tend to hide their toys and treats.
This anxiety will likely go once your dog realizes they’re safe and cared for. It also helps to have a well-established feeding schedule so they don’t become anxious about meal time. If your dog’s anxiety doesn’t go away, it may be best to consult your veterinarian.
When Dogs Hide Treats Because Of Health Issues
If you’ve ruled out instinct, over-feeding, and anxiety, you might want to take a closer look at any possible health conditions. Because hiding treats is something dogs with health issues sometimes do. Dogs dealing with nausea or a lack of appetite might refuse to eat and bury their food instead. If other symptoms like vomiting or behavioral issues are also present, a checkup may be necessary.
Why Do Dogs Hide Their Treats? Maybe Your Pup Needs More Attention
We’ve all done something to get more attention, whether at home, the workplace, or elsewhere. Whatever we can to be more seen and heard. And just like that, your furry friend may seek extra attention from you.
Even for dogs, it’s easy to learn that negative attention is better than no attention. So they might act out. And that might look like burying and hiding some treats.
Setting aside additional play time every day could make this behavior go away. No more negative attention seeking. Hopefully.
Remember, dogs hiding their treats isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But what if your dog hides treats because of anxiety, over-feeding, a health-related issue, etc? That’s when you may want to solve the problem. Having a controlled eating environment and serving healthy, nutritious food is likely a great path to take. Hopefully, then your dog won’t feel the need to hide treats.
In addition to healthy dog food, be on the lookout for treats that are free from fillers and made with natural, top-notch ingredients. Just like our savory Pork Jerky, or Chicken Tenders treats.
