Why do dogs take food you give them to a carpet to eat it?

Question

When you give a dog table scraps, (if you have hard floors) why do they take it to a rug or a carpeted floor to eat it???

I understand about "packs". I understand that they take it away to eat it, but my question was really why to carpet? Every one of my friends dogs do the same thing. Give them something and they walk to the carpet to eat it. I just thought it was funny!

Answer 1

My dog does that too! Good question, I've been wondering that myself! I always figured it was because she is the runt of the litter and the other puppies would not let her eat, so she had to grab a mouthful of food and take it somewhere else to eat it. So I figured that 'til this day she continued with the habit.

Answer 2

I believe that it has to do with the "pack animal" type instincts.
They are removing the food from the central eating area and claiming it as their own, if you notice, they usually take it to the same area of the rug every time. Even if you have only one dog, this is something that is "THEIRS", no one can take it if they have it away - (you, their alpha dog, or any other "threat" to their "catch"). I watch this on a daily basis and with every dog I have ever had. It's just a doggie thing! It may help to give them their own throw rug in the area they cart their scraps too so as to save the cleaning of your carpet and the possible smell left over.
It is kind of like marking their territory with their food.

Answer 3

Its a natural instinct to do so. If you don't like it you may train them not to do it you just have to gentely pick it up place it in their bowl or designated spot and give it to them again. Slowly they will learn. Dogs are pack animals and in the pack the best food is for the Lead Dog and the scraps are left over for the lower rank. Part of that is protecting their food and saying this is mine. Its just the way they are. Hope that link is useful to you. I recomend getting a book on dogs and their behaviour it makes so much sense when you understand the way the pack works.

Answer 4

to anoy you maybe
i put the food in a bowel and the dog empties the bowel on the gravel ,then eats of the gravel
also a mystery
better feed him outside ,and it is bad to give your dog scraps at the table ,because he will anoy dinner visiters begging for food,

Answer 5

My does this too!! She even has our new puppy a rat terrier (now9 months) doing it each and every now and then. i'm not particular what that is all about. i purchased a bath mat and that i save it contained in the nook contained in the kitchen and placed her nutrients beside it. That way she is going to devour there particularly of bringing it to a distinct spot. considering that that mat is amazingly for her i do not challenge if it receives dirty.. in basic terms pop it contained in the wash. desire this works for you too :) by technique of how, i presumed she would improve out of it because it began even as she became youthful - yet she's 6 and nonetheless needs to go someplace mushy.

Answer 6

I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with the carpet being like grass...

Answer 7

because they like being difficult....

actually its in a dogs nature to take food off somewhere else where they can enjoy it without another dog taking it. (take a look at predators fight over food)

Answer 8

Why would you feed a dog inside the house? That's really inappropriate and unclean. Feed dogs outside. Always outside. Yuk.

Answer 9

They wern't trained to eat above the dog dish, they were trained to find their food and eat it.

Answer 10

It's softer and more comfortable