Believe it or not, hiding is not a behavior only related to cats, dogs can hide too. As we will see later, this behavior can be due to several reasons and can cause some concern in its owners K9 training Houston. If you ask “why does my dog hide?” in this article we will see the reasons why dogs hide and what we can do to avoid it.
Why is my dog hiding?
This behavior is not so uncommon and can be due to several reasons, these are the most common:
- Recent changes at home dogs do not usually feel comfortable when we make changes at home (new people arrive at home, a person leaves permanently, a change in our dog’s routine, a change in the weather, changes in the people around him… etc.)
- Stressful situations: another reason why your dog hides is when they experience a situation that causes stress.
- They are sick or in pain: hiding can also be a sign that our dog is not feeling well (illness, discomfort, physical pain… etc.)
- They feel comfortable: some dogs feel comfortable when they hide, for example under sofas or beds since they feel more protected (we must take this into account when designing the calm area )
What can I do if my dog hides?
As we have seen, not in all cases in which we see that our dog is hiding there is something wrong. It is important that we analyze the causes well since depending on the reason we will have to take some measures or others.
What to do if my dog hides when there have been recent changes at home
Dogs are very sensitive to changes and hiding can help them feel more protected. If the changes are temporary (for example the temporary absence of a person) the solution will simply come when the situation returns to normal. When the changes are permanent, dogs may either need a lot of time to adapt or, in more difficult cases (for example: the death of a person or another dog in their home) they may require professional help.
What to do if my dog hides in a stressful situation
When faced with a situation that causes stress for our dog, we must identify the source that generates stress and either avoid it or get our dog to adapt to it. For example, fireworks are a major source of stress in some dogs, which leads many of them to hide. In this case it is not possible to avoid it and we must get our dog used to fireworks .
What to do if my dog hides due to a health issue
When we suspect that our dog is hiding due to an illness, pain or discomfort, what we should do is go to our veterinarian. Being in a hidden place helps them in this case to cope with the pain or avoid interaction with other people or dogs that could cause discomfort (for example, joint pain if it is an older dog). Other things that can cause discomfort They are allergies, medication, parasites such as fleas or ticks, tooth pain, the presence of an object in your body… etc.
What to do if my dog likes to be hidden
If your dog likes to be hidden for no apparent reason, you should know that many dogs like to be in small, hidden places with little light since it gives them a feeling of shelter as if they were in a burrow. This does not mean that our dog is shy or does not want to interact with us, as long as he wants to leave this place.
If your dog likes to use hidden places as places to rest and hang out, perhaps you should consider offering him a more suitable alternative that offers him the same feeling of shelter, such as using a carrier and putting his bed inside, this will offer him a comfortable place where rest and at the same time it will provide the feeling of shelter and protection that your dog is looking for.