Why does the dog like bone? Discover the reason for this furry preference!

This is not the invention of animation studios or pet product manufacturers! Anyone who has or has had a puppy at home knows well that they can spend a lot of time having fun with a bone. But why does a dog like a bone?

In the lack of appropriate resources, many dogs can come to gnaw other objects of the house, arriving to destroy shoes or even frames of glasses and any items that are giving soup for there. Following, it understands because that dog likes bone and of gnawing other objects in general.

After all, why does dog like bone?
When looking at the friend of four-legged playful and companion, many people even forget that the dogs are descendants of great and wild hunters, the gray wolves.

Although throughout their evolution they have been domesticated and developed very different characteristics, many of them linked to communication with humans, they still preserve several traits of their ancestors, especially the hunting instinct.

Sniffing food, running after small balls, destroying plush and other objects... What may seem like mere play to us is, in fact, the manifestation of instincts linked to the behavioural sequence of hunting. This involves the following stages:

• sniffing;
• visualizing
• chase;
• apprehend;
• shoot;
• Carry;
• Chew;
• ingest;
• gnaw on the prey's bones.

So, when we throw an object like a solid ball or a toy bone to the dog, what we are basically doing is to stimulate him to manifest the chasing behaviour.

In that sense, bone to dog to gnaw and other resources, as bites, they correspond to the moment in that, after to abate and to eat the prey, the dogs gnaw her bones in order to remove meat remains that per chance are arrested in them.

Some researchers also suggest that the answer for "why does dog like bone?" is the fact of the canids be cleaning the teeth when gnawing and also as calcium source.

Is it true that some breeds are more likely to like bones?
In general, all dogs are very fond of gnawing on bones and other objects. However, it is true that some breeds are more "gnawers" than others. Considering what was said above about the act of gnawing being one of the steps in the behavioral sequence of hunting, it is expected that dogs of breeds selected for hunting have an even greater interest in bones than others. It is the case of the dogs of the Hound or Terrier type.

Regarding the larger or smaller tendency to gnaw objects, it is important to highlight that the age group is another factor that influences. Usually, dogs filhotes use to be more rodent than adult dogs, especially during the phase of change of teeth, that happens from the four months.

In this case, the habit of chewing is a way of relieving the discomfort in the gums due to the growth of the permanent teeth. For this, there are bones for puppies, which can be made of rubber, so as not to hurt the pet's gums!

Dog chewing more than the normal: what can it be?
As part of the canine hunting behavioural sequence, chewing is something natural and expected for dogs. That said, it is only one of the steps, which is not the most essential or the most interesting.

Then, because some dogs end up presenting a destructive behavior, gnawing not only bones, but everything that they find for the front? Most of the time, that type of destructive behavior is linked to the lack of alternatives to express other natural behaviors.

That is, in the impossibility of having a routine and with resources that allow him to sniff, chase, run and other activities that stimulate their senses and their cognition, the tendency is that he ends up directing all his frustration and energy in what is within his reach: chewing objects of the house.

Thus, if you want to preserve his things and, mainly, to increase the emotional well-being of your four-legged friend, it is essential to create a routine, walk with him every day and enrich the environment with resources that give him opportunities of choice to follow his instincts in a playful way.

This includes giving him bones and teethers that actually have an important occupational function, especially when the pet is alone, but not alone. Besides them, also invest in other options, such as toy feeders, solid balls (preferably with irregular bouncing), plush toys for dogs and others.

Remembering that the way the toys are offered and used are determinant so that it fulfills its role in the environmental enrichment. A small ball thrown by the tutor is an object to chase, while a small ball abandoned in the house is just another object to chew, which may bring risks if it is not made of an appropriate material.

How to choose the best type of bone or nibbler?
Now that you understand why dog likes bone, it is important to know how to choose the best for your furry. As much as they may seem like the most logical option, natural dog bones are not recommended.

Uncooked, they increase the risk of contamination by micro-organisms such as disease-causing bacteria. Cooked, they become more porous and prone to breakage that can form splinters and sharp edges capable of hurting the digestive tract of the pet. Bird bones are among the most dangerous.

The best dog bones are the natural ones, made of bovine leather, found in shops like Petz. They are a good option for most dogs.

When buying, give preference to the versions free of dyes, which can cause reactions in pets more sensitive, and choose a proportional size or a little larger than the dog's jaw to reduce the risk of choking. In any case, the ideal is always to have the supervision of the guardian.

More durable, the teethers are another good option to entertain the pet. Besides the size, the material should also be proportional to the dog's destructive potential. Because they are more resistant, nylon teethers are indicated only for very destructive dogs and that are in order with the oral health to avoid dental fractures.

Now that you understand why dogs like bones, check out other publications here, on the Funz.dog blog! To find the best bone option for your furry one, check out our online shop and receive it within a few days, in the comfort of your home!