Help!

[Janice Felciano]

My doodle buries every thing!!!  All new toys are played with for a few minutes and then buried. If he thinks I want something he buries it. He has buried my cup, socks and all stuffed animals. Do all doodles like to bury things? He is 18 months old and I rescued him in June. How do I stop this behavior?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Perhaps he is still not quite stable in his new home.  I think with time he will know that things don't disappear and that he can rely on you.  It's like having a puppy with all the watching and basically you are going to have to restrict access to the burial site or the things he wants to bury.  I would play the 'leave it' game where you swap things for high value treats.  You have only had this guy for a few weeks and this is such a big adjustment for both of you.  Give it time and thanks for giving a Doodle a chance of a loving home that he deserves.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I think he wants to make sure nobody takes his things away from him, the trust isn't there yet. I don't know about digging because mine never dig. Good luck to you.

[Christine & Camus]

I adopted Camus when he was ~ 12 months and he buried lots of toys when I first got him. Since I don't have a yard, just a large patio, he did not have many places to dig, so he decided my planters were a good alternative.  The toys that were buried most often were his stuffed animals and, of course, bones.  He stopped burying toys after a few months, but he continues with the bones.  My thinking is that it was a security/anxiety issue.