3 – An Illness May Be Afoot
No pet owner wants to hear this, but one potential cause for hiding behavior is illness or just generally not feeling well.
You should stay aware of any other signs that this could be the reason for your dog finding solitude under your couch, such as vomiting, excess sleeping, eating less or not at all, limping, coughing, or other physical symptoms.
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Place flat storage boxes under the couch so theres no space left for your puppy. Fill the storage boxes so theyre heavy and your pet companion cant push them out of the way.
Socialize your puppy so he doesnt hide under the couch each time visitors come over. Take him for walks and allow him to explore and play so he can meet other people and dogs and enhance his socializing skills. Have him interact with all family members and invite friends over to meet and play with your pet companion.
Redirect your pet companions attention so he forgets all about hiding under the couch. Avoid holding and comforting your puppy after removing him, because this tells him he was right to be fearful and wont break the habit. Instead, show your pup a dog toy and play games with him to distract him.
If you think your puppy is playing a game of hide-and-seek each time he hides under the couch, think again. He might be hiding out of fear or maybe he just wants some peace and quiet. If the space under the couch is narrow, this behavior can be dangerous and your furry friend might get stuck. To avoid this, make adjustments so your puppy cant go under the couch and provide alternatives that are safe and always available.
Why your dog hides under the couch
Below are a number of possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.
The reason why it does it could be that it feels safer there. By going under the couch, it will be able to protect itself from above and behind making it more likely that it will be able to see potential threats. This could be the reason why your dog does it even if there is no reason for it to be scared. This would be more likely to be the reason if it tends to have a more submissive personality.
The reason why it has been doing it might also be that something has been causing it to be fearful. This would be more likely if it tends to do it when a certain thing happens such as when there is thunder or loud noises outside.
The cause could also be that it is feeling threatened. This would be more likely if it does it more when a certain person or animal is around or if it does it when you are mad at it. In this case, it would help to interact with it calmly and to use positive reinforcement training to change its behavior instead of punishing it.
It is not uncommon for dogs to go under the sofa. The reason why yours has been doing it could simply be that it finds it more comfortable there since it’s cooler and darker which likely helps it to sleep easier. This would be more likely if your dog does not show any signs of being anxious or scared around the house and if it behaves normally otherwise.
It might also be the case that it does it because it does not want to be bothered. This would be more likely if it goes there to sleep after getting exercise or being fed. It might also be a sign that it has been struggling to fall asleep at night. It would help to ensure that the area it sleeps in, at night, is cool, not too bright, quiet and that there is a space for it to lay down.
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.
If your dog did not always hide under the couch, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as something causing it to start being anxious such as someone being aggressive towards it.
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that it tends to hide under the couch. If there is, it could be the case that the timing has something to do with it. For example, if it tends to do it more after getting exercise, it could be because it wants to be able to sleep without being bothered.
Ask Amy: Why Dogs Hide Under the Bed
Sometimes dogs go off on their own, crouching behind furniture or running underneath the bed. Dog hiding may seem strange at times, but why do they do it? There can be several reasons why your dog might tuck themselves away in a corner or try to conceal themselves. It may be fear, tension, playful musing, mischievous hoarding, or something else entirely.
This guide will help you determine why your dog is hiding. There are a few things to help you recognize how your pooch is feeling and when this behavior becomes excessive.