Hi my dog Buffy (malamute) has started behaving very peculiarly ever since we put a little pea shingle down in the garden that seems to be her poo patch which is fine by me BUT when she does a poo she goes around the perimeter of the poo with her nose and covers the entire poo with shingle is this something that goes back to where they originate from? It's very amusing to watch but curious to know why it's just started, she is two now.
thanx
jacqui

I can't answer why your dog is "hiding" the poo, but I know mine (westies) try and hide food, i.e. biscuits, crusts, etc and its usually down the side of the sofa, lol. Maybe it doesnt like the gravel you have put down, or thinks its there for hiding the poo !!!!!

I would guess it IS an instinctive thing that bitches do to hide their scent from predators. I do know that bitches eat their puppies poo to stop predators finding their den so would hazard a guess its along the same lines - maybe the shingle is easy to manipulate and cover it up with. :d

You might consider telling her to "leave it" (alone). It's easier to stop now, than a year or so down the line. This could easily develop into an obsessive trait where she "has" to do it. You don't know if this will transfer elsewhere ...out into a park, or just not being able to relieve herself outside of your yard because no shingle is available. Also, mouth/nose being right next to her poo can't be healthy :(

I had a dog that wanted to bury her biscuits so badly, the hair around her muzzle nose went down to raw skin. She was rubbing it against the carpet to try to pull it over her treats. :(
good luck,
toodles

I think it is funny when they do the burying thing. My bitch looks like she has an invisable blanket sometimes. She seems to be covering her treats with thin air..

Wonder what we do that they laugh at.

Pam :-)

I get the puzzled look from my two whenever I start moving furniture. :rolleyes:
Samma's also very 'helpful' when I put furniture together out of a box. Wants to know what I'm doing. Sits right there and watches. I have to keep telling her to stop leaning against me and peering over my hands. Lord, if she had thumbs, she'd be trouble :) :) :) :D :D

I am positive they are far more like us than we think..

I keep laughing a my pup just now he's is 6.5 months and he watchs my every move if I look his was for even a second the tail goes. You can't resist giving them a wee cuddle.

Pam

Hi Jacqui,

When Kaani was still using newspaper to wee on Kavik and Timber would both push the paper around with their noses to try and bury the wee (I won't mention what they did with the poo!)
Timber will also, occasionally, try to push the (fitted :rolleyes: ) carpet with her nose to cover her food if she doesn't want to eat it.

I would imagine Buffy has only just started doing this because the shingle is easy to do it with.

Just a primitive breed doing what comes naturally I suppose :)