dog dish

Question
We put a bowl of food out in the pen daily for the dogs.  One likes to bury the dish, which means that we find it turned over, buried under stuff, etc.  What's the best type  of dish to stop her from doing this?

Answer
Hi Mary,  This is normal behavior in alot of dogs.  They bury food, bones etc. for the same reasons that squirrels bury nuts & seeds.
We see this especially when a female has pups, the theory here being she doesn't want anything around that would attract predators or varmints around her denning area.  You mention that you have more than one dog in this pen.  It could be that the more dominant dog is burying the food to keep it away from the others.  "Food guarding" is common behavior & things like this are usually not done when the pack leader (you) is around, so they often go un-noticed.  Dogs usually bury things by rooting the soil & debris up with their noses.  They can wear the hair & skin off quite bad if it goes on for any length of time.
     My suggestion would not be a new dish, but a new feeding schedule.  The dog that's burying the food is obviously not hungry.
Here's a little example.  Feed all the dogs first thing in the morning. Feed the problematic dog in a separate area. Feed dry food, not necessarily the most expensive, but a good quality.  Give them their regular amount.  Any food that is left after 15 or 20 minuets is then picked up & not offered again until the next day.  Any dog not finishing the day's food is given less the next day.
    It doesn't usually take dogs very long to get the hang of this one & you won't have old food out in your kennel to attract varmints.
Good Luck Mary, Thanks for Asking,  Rob