Hiding is not a behavior reserved for felines. Dogs too hide, and it is common. Dog hiding often occurs when the dog feels stressed, confused, or is in an unfamiliar situation. For some dogs, small, dark spaces are comforting during stressful situations. The most important thing to look out for when evaluating the behavior is the change.
Usually, when a dog hides, he responds to some change such as a move, loss, a new place, or new people’s introduction. A change in the environment like traveling or even a slight change to the dog’s routine can be stressful to the dog and sometimes causes them to seek hiding spots.
Dogs also hide during anxiety-inducing situations, such as thunderstorms or when fireworks go off. The metal pipes in the bathroom act as electrical grounding devices, and by grounding himself, some static electrical charge is released, making the dog calm.
Why are dogs obsessed with the bathtub?
Dogs frequently jump in the tub. When bathing, they do not appreciate being confines, slipping on the bottom, losing their scent or the sound and smell of cleanliness. During a storm, they appreciate the grounding effect of the tub. When a dog is hiding, he responds to a change in the routine, and in some cases, hiding indicates a health issue. Some hide when they are scared or anxious.
Dogs hide in enclosed dark places mostly because they find it a comfortable spot to relax and take a nap. As den animals, dogs find small, contained spaces safe and help them to relax easily. If the dog is prone to anxiety attacks, hiding is one way to relieve stress.
Why dogs hide in the bathroom
Dogs hide in the bathroom for a whole host of reasons, and in most situations, it is an occasional inconvenience. It is natural for dogs to find a cozy space to nap or hide from things that make them afraid. If the behavior becomes chronic or interferes with the dog’s daily enjoyment, behavioral conditioning or medication may help alleviate the behavior. If the dog is hiding and showing additional signs of pain or discomfort, they may be sick and require a medical checkup.
Some common reasons for hiding in the bathroom include:
Abuse
A dog that has been previously abused or neglected tends to be regularly nervous and fearful. He often likes small places like the bathroom, under the bed, or in the closet to feel comfortable and safe. Dogs that hide in response to fear should not be treated aggressively or roughly as fear can sometimes turn to hostility if the dog is provoked.
Illness or injury
Dogs also hide if they are not feeling well. If the dog starts regularly hiding with no apparent provocation, he might be sick. Other signs include lethargy, loss of appetite, indications of discomfort and pain, retching, or vomiting. It would be best if you visited the vet for a medical examination.
Protection and safety
In some circumstances, the dog may simply be trying to find a safe space to stay out of the way or to avoid something that happens to be dangerous. This type of response is responsible for dogs hiding when in an unfamiliar environment or moving items around. It is also responsible for dogs hiding during fires rather than escaping.
Solitude
Dogs that hide in the bathroom or under the bed might not necessarily be hiding due to negative emotions. Sometimes, the dog finds a nice quiet place to spend some time undisturbed or take a nap.
Storm Phobia
Storm phobia is the most common form of canine phobias and may have multiple triggers that cause discomfort and fear to the dog. The noise thunder creates is a large part of most dogs’ problems combined with electrical energy generated and a lightning flashlight.
Visiting strangers
Many dogs get nervous when new people or animals are introduced. They end up hiding most of the time to avoid the situation. If that is the case with the dog, the behavior can be curbed by using de-conditioning training.
Noise anxiety
Many dogs fear loud or sudden noises, and they will run and hide when the noise occurs. The most common causes of noise include vacuum cleaners, construction noises, fireworks, and gunshots. Phobia to noise generally intensifies with repeated exposure, and in severe cases, it can require anti-anxiety drugs to recover.
Initial anxious behavior can progress to sheer panic, and a panicked dog can harm himself or escape and get lost. Initial anxiousness can lead to generalized anxiety, which, with time, can be harder to treat. Certain dog breeds are prone to anxiety than others, but any breed can be affected. Huskies, German shepherds, and other hunting breeds are over-represented and are considers more prone to anxiety disorders.
Some signs of anxiety include trembling, hiding, cowering, or seeking you out and pawing. The signs can progress to violent shaking and destructive behavior like chewing through a door or crashing through a window when the dog panics.
Recommendations to manage a dog with noise anxiety
- Do not punish the dog for being fearful, as it will make it worse.
- Comfort the dog in a calm and reassuring manner
- Do not act stressed and avoid petting the dog forcefully.
- Be a calming presence for the dog.
- Close the blinds and play music to counter a storm and leave the lights on if there is lightning outside
- Teach the dog to go to bed or a safe place when the dog is not anxious and reward him for being calm
- Counter conditioning is a long-term intervention. Play a clip with thunderstorm sounds at a low level that the dog does not react to. Over time, increase the volume slowly and reward for calm behavior.
Noise anxiety products that help
- Thunder shirt or anxiety wrap made of elastic material that the dog wears around his chest.
- Mutt muffs are dog ear muffs used by working dogs.
- Anti-anxiety medication
Signs of a shy dog that is prone to hiding
Naturally, a dog’s body posture and behavior will alert you to know if they are timid. A shy and anxious dog can exhibit the following:
- Cowering posture
- Ears flattened back to the head.
- Shying away from interactions with people or other dogs
- Shaking or panting
- Tail tucked between the legs.
- Glassy, dilated eyes
- Hiding, pacing, skulking, or escaping
- Raised hackles
- Barking or whining
- Submissive urination
- Sneering, biting, or nipping
- Fear of eye contact
What to do if your dog is hiding
If the dog is hiding to look for a place to get away and rest for a while, there is no need to be worried. However, if he is hiding out of fear, the first step is to comfort them. Some vets recommend ignoring the dog until he is calm to prevent the behavior from being reinforced, while others condone comforting until he is calm and reassuring. If the dog appears to be in distress, the vet should be consulted to know the next steps to take.
If the behavior is interfering with normal life, you should take the dog to a therapist who will create a treatment program based on counter-conditioning training. In severe cases, medications can be used to reduce the dog’s anxiety.
How to stop the dog hiding behavior
- Stay on a schedule-keep a constant daily schedule that includes walking, playing, and feeding the dog.
- Offer a comfort zone– provide a safe place that the dog can escape to. A quiet place like the bedroom where the dog can get away from commotion is constructive.
- Meet and greet with caution– do not force your dog to meet new people or strange dogs. Allow the dog to initiate contact.
How to help a dog come out of hiding
Obedience Training
Dogs that know exactly what you are asking for are less likely to panic. It is important to teach the dog basic commands like sit, stay, and come. It would be best to use overbearing and intimidating words or yelling but be calm and supportive. Treats and toys are helpful while training to keep their mood upbeat.
Begin teaching the behaviors in a quiet place with no distraction, then gradually introduce the dog to distractions. The distractions can be friends coming over, a football game on TV, or kids playing outside the window.
Dog mentors
Professional dog trainers often recommend the help of a confident dog helper. When a scared dog sees a confident dog playing and sitting, he will relax and join in. the mentor dog should be known to the dog to make the training smooth.
Subtle socialization
Nervous dogs do not always respond well to the standard socializing technique. Busy or active homes can send them into a panic mode and look for a hiding place. Be subtle and have someone sit quietly next to the dog and give random treats. Gradually, the dog will associate the person with something good and eventually stop hiding.
Games
Anxious dogs have a hard time playing and enjoying. To break the cycle, teach the dog to play games like hide and seek or fetch. If the dog has a dog friend, include him in the game. This will make the dog relax. If you can, change the environment to make the dog feel comfortable playing with strangers’ insight or unpredictable game.
Trick and treat
Teaching dog tricks will help him focus and stay out of panic mode. Use the positive cause and effect where if he performs a trick, he gets a treat. For a nervous dog, learning to initiate a reliable, predictable interaction is of great comfort.
Exercise
A tired dog is less likely to worry than one with pent up energy. Try to get the dog as tired as possible with many exercises daily. Take a jog, walk, or bike with him in areas where they cannot panic easily. Do whatever that will get him worn out and keep his mind off worrying.
Directed walks
If the dog fears other dogs, the normal dog greeting procedure should be replaced with a directed walk technique. Instead of allowing the dog to greet other dogs, let him walk side by side, briskly with space between them. Space prevents the dog from panicking. After a while, let the dogs sit some distance apart, then reward them. With time, your dog will get used to being with other dogs and avoid hiding.
Desensitizing
Desensitizing means pairing a great experience with a worrisome one. This slowly soothes the anxious dog and reduces stimuli that cause the dog to worry. For instance, if they fear the sound of a vacuum, try to record the sound, then slowly play the audio in low volume. Ensure to give the dog treats while playing. Over a few days, increase the volume while giving treats.
Additionally, try playing the dog’s favorite games while the audio plays in the background. The trick is to increase the volume slowly and reward the dog for not reacting to the audio. These desensitizing drills should get the dog to look forward to the sounds over time.
Scent work
Teaching an anxious dog to find scented items around the house is a great way to take his mind off being worried and build great confidence. Start by hiding the items in plain sight and asking him to find it. Lead them to the item if need be and praise them. As he improves, make the item harder to find and use different items that he relates to.
Routine and trigger reduction
The most vital thing is to reduce the possibility of hiding by setting up the dog for success. Have a consistent, predictable schedule for the dog and keep the house free of triggers as much as you can. Counter condition the dog slowly as you gradually expand the pack to include trusted dogs and humans. Once you are certain that you are managing a personality disorder more than you are curing a bad behavior, you are headed in the right direction. The anxious dog will progressively make strides towards minimizing his fears and worries and eventually stop hiding.
The Bottom Line
Get to understand your dog better and know what is normal and what is not. If the dog suddenly hides in the bathroom or under the bed or table and is a new behavior, take a keen interest. The dog could be signaling danger, stress or warning that something is not right. If the dog is ill or suffering from an injury, take him to the vet to have him checked out as soon as possible.
