Page 279 - Rogue Instinct

This whole scene is full of dog-like things before the main antagonists even show up: Several of Spike’s mannerisms, Rarity’s pats on the head, the whole buried stash thing akin to a dog hiding a bone in the backyard…

You could call that foreshadowing, or theming, but I’m not gonna. It’s just an interesting parallel to draw.

Rarity: This is going a little TOO well.
Spike: What do you mean? Finding all these gems is a bad thing?
Rarity: We keep finding these deposits only a meter or two beneath the surface.
Spike: Oh, I’m totally okay with that. I’m the one digging, after all…
Rarity: Just be on the lookout for potential danger, Spike. Part of this feels like a trap.
Spike: Don’t worry, miss Rarity! I’ll defend you from any evildoers!
Rarity: That’s adorable of you to say, but we both know it’ll be the other way around.
Spike: Y-Yeah…