AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.
Have you ever wondered why your dog spends so much time hiding under the bed or a table? There are several reasons why this common dog behavior might be happening. Some of those are more concerning than others. If your dog insists on scurrying under the bed or a table to hide, here are a few likely explanations.
They Love Private Spaces
For many dogs, hiding under a bed or table out of sight can feel like a personal safe space. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 their fun little fort to relax in,鈥� says Jessika Jake, a CATCH Canine Academy-certified dog trainer based in San Diego, California. 鈥淭hey like the little den environment.鈥�
Jake says her Pomeranian is always searching for new hiding spaces around her home. However, she adds that a dog might find the permanence of a bed or table comforting. Unlike a mat or a chair, which might often be moved, dogs can depend on certain locations to remain unchanged.
They鈥檙e Afraid
鈥淚f there鈥檚 something scary going on, dogs love to find a hiding spot,鈥� says Jake. 鈥淎 bed or table might be a great spot where they like to go hide.鈥�
Anything from a loud car alarm to fireworks might scare your dog. Jake鈥檚 dog was fearful of fireworks, so to help ease his worried mind, she gave him treats every time she heard fireworks. After enough repetition, her dog eventually learned to expect a treat whenever he heard loud noises.
Jake recommends using a soft voice to help calm your dog when they鈥檙e afraid. Next, try removing them from the environment. Ideally, get them somewhere safe and far away from whatever is scaring them.
They鈥檙e Physically Ill or Injured
鈥淚f they鈥檙e not feeling so well, they might find a place to hide,鈥� affirms Jake.
When Jake鈥檚 dog was stung by a bee, he hid behind the toilet as a way to cope. If your dog is hiding and it鈥檚 not typical behavior, take a closer look to ensure they鈥檙e feeling well. At the first sign of any symptoms of illness or injury, visit your veterinarian to assess the situation.
They鈥檙e Looking for Food
There鈥檚 often an easy explanation for why dogs spend so much time under the kitchen table in particular. They know they might find food there. 鈥淚f you have a dog that likes to supervise what you鈥檙e cooking and eating, they know they鈥檙e going to get it. Things like that hold their interest,鈥� says Jake.
To keep your dog from loitering or begging, train them to stay out of the room while you鈥檙e cooking or eating, then reward them with treats for doing so.
They鈥檝e Found Something They Shouldn鈥檛 Have
Your dog may have found a or food that fell on the floor and they鈥檙e trying to hide it under a bed or table. Some dogs will eat such foods alone to have it all to themselves. According to Jake, her dog once hid under a coworker鈥檚 desk after finding a normally-forbidden blueberry.
They Sense a Change in the Environment
If your home is normally fairly quiet and you have people over, your dog might hide to find a quiet place. Often, when dogs used to quiet homes find themselves surrounded by other dogs and people, they may need a break from the commotion. Dogs hiding under beds for these reasons will often come out when the environment has returned to normal.
鈥淭hey often don鈥檛 want any social connection,鈥� says Jake. 鈥淚t can be a way of saying, 鈥業鈥檓 done playing.'鈥�
How to Get Your Dog Not to Hide Under Things
To get your dog to stop spending so much time hiding under things, one approach is to train them to perform a different behavior. If your dog is hiding under the bed, ignore it. But when they鈥檙e laying on a mat or a rug, give them a treat. Keep at it and eventually, your dog will likely learn to change their behavior.
鈥�Reward what you want. Ignore what you don鈥檛 want. When they know you like something, they like to show it off,鈥� states Jake.
Know Your Dog
鈥淕et to know your dog and know what鈥檚 normal and not normal,鈥� says Jake. If they suddenly hide under tables and that鈥檚 a new behavior, take note. It could be a sign of a stressed dog or a warning that鈥檚 something鈥檚 wrong. If you suspect your dog isn鈥檛 well, then head to the vet to have them checked out as soon as possible.