Home / Field guides
Understand before interpreting
Under the cushion: caching without a garden
Hiding does not require a hole in the ground. A blanket, laundry basket or chair cushion can conceal something just as effectively from the person about to sit down.
Indoor hiding is still hiding
VCA describes kibble tucked in a corner or under sofa cushions, and toys hidden in laundry or bedding. An indoor stash is not automatically evidence that a dog wants more outdoor exercise or needs a garden.
Record the room, not an address
A label such as 'living room, blue chair' may be enough for a household handoff. The map does not need a street address, a floor plan or a child's name. Use only the detail needed for the people who will read it.
Original editorial household-record method, not a clinical assessment.
Do not turn the inventory into a confrontation
ASPCA explains that some dogs guard valued objects and even the places where they hide them. Do not approach, reach toward or remove a hidden item to test a dog's response. If guarding or a bite risk is present, keep people away and ask a qualified professional for a plan.
A list is a snapshot
Mark when the information was recorded. A dog can move an item after a map is saved. An empty entry or an old saved file does not prove that the chair, basket or room has no hidden objects. Recheck arrangements through safe household management, not a confrontation.
Original editorial household-record method, not a clinical assessment.