Have you ever watched two dogs eat and wondered why one dog always has more food than the other? It seems like they would just naturally share, but sometimes that doesn’t seem to be the case. So why do some dogs hoard their food while others are happy to share? Turns out, there’s a scientific explanation for this behavior. Keep reading to find out what it is!
Also read: How to Become a Dog Trainer: From Certification to Apprenticeship
A Look Back in History
The first recorded instance of hoarding behavior in dogs dates back to the early 1900s. This is when a woman named Ethel Corson began observing her two dogs, one of which always seemed to have more food than the other. After watching them for some time, she noticed that the dog with more food would often hide pieces of it around the house. When the other dog couldn’t find any food, it would start to look for scraps.
Corson realized that this behavior was likely due to the fact that the first dog had experienced hunger at some point in its life. As a result, it learned to hoard food as a way of ensuring that it would never go hungry again. The second dog, on the other hand, had never experienced hunger and didn’t feel the need to hoard food.
While Corson’s observations were never published in a scientific journal, they provide an interesting insight into the behavior of dogs. It’s possible that hoarding behavior is more common in dogs that have experienced hunger or deprivation at some point in their lives.
Learn More: Does Yelling Stress Out Dogs?
Sharing as Puppies
Puppies typically start to develop hoarding behavior around the age of six weeks. This is when they begin to become aware of the fact that there are other dogs in the world and that they may compete with them for food. As a result, they start to hoard their food as a way of ensuring that they always have enough to eat.
This behavior generally declines as puppies get older and learn that they don’t need to hoard their food in order to survive. However, some dogs continue to hoard their food into adulthood. This is often due to early life experiences or genetics.
What Studies Reveal
A study published in the journal “Animal Behaviour” found that dogs that were raised in homes with multiple dogs were more likely to hoard their food than those that were raised in single-dog households. This suggests that early life experiences play a role in the development of hoarding behavior.
Another study, this one published in “PLoS ONE,” looked at the genetics of hoarding behavior. The study found that dogs that were related to other hoarding dogs were more likely to hoard their food than those that weren’t related. This suggests that there may be a genetic component to hoarding behavior.
Possible Reasons for Hoarding Behavior:
There are a number of possible explanations for hoarding behavior in dogs. It may be a way of ensuring that they always have enough to eat, or it may be a response to early life experiences. It’s also possible that there is a genetic component to the behavior.
Whatever the reason, hoarding behavior is a natural part of many dogs’ lives. If you have a dog that hoards its food, there’s no need to be concerned. This is a normal part of their behavior and is nothing to worry about.
Read More: The Best Training Method for Dogs According to Research
Tips for Dogs Who Won’t Share With Other Dogs
If you have a dog that hoards its food and you’re concerned about the other dogs in your home, there are a few things you can do to help them share.
- One option is to feed your dog separately from the other dogs. This way, they won’t feel the need to hoard their food and will be more likely to share with the other dogs.
- You can also try training your dog to give up their food when asked. This can be done by asking them to “drop it” or “leave it” when they have food in their mouth. With enough practice, your dog will learn that they don’t need to hoard their food and will be more likely to share with the other dogs.
- Finally, if your dog is hoarding food because they’re afraid of going hungry, you can try feeding them smaller meals more often throughout the day. This will help them feel full and will lessen their need to hoard food.
As a pet owner, it’s important to be informed about your animal’s health. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. If you are worried about your pet’s health, please take them to see a vet.
Get Ultimate Dogs Guide Here: The Ultimate Guide To Dogs Behavior
