How to Get a Dog Out from Hiding
A dog hiding in comfort will come out when it’s ready, but a canine experiencing a problem may be reluctant to come out of its hiding spot. Keep an eye out for the symptoms mentioned above so that you can coax your dog out of hiding if the behavior becomes excessive.
In some cases, you might need to take your dog to a vet or pet specialist. Since hiding and running away are potential symptoms of tension, trauma, and fear, keeping a calm tone and relaxed demeanor is important. Being overly forceful with your dog could make the situation worse.
How can you stop dog hiding behaviors?
When your dog is in distress, it’s hard not to feel in distress yourself. According to Dr. Dilmore, here’s what you can do when your dog is hiding:
Your Dog is Hiding Because of Stress or Anxiety
An unfamiliar setting can cause stress in people, and the same is true for our pets. While fear in canines can be addressed by removing the alarm source, nervous behavior is often caused by vague sources. Dogs can be stressed by less tangible situations such as thunderstorms, separation anxiety, and past trauma.
It is impossible to simply remove these sources of tension, so the best way to help your pet is by comforting them. Give your dog its space, and try to pet and reassure your furry friend once things have calmed down. Other signs of stress or tension include:
Another reason a dog may hide is that it is not feeling well. It is common for many animals, including dogs, to hide if suffering from illness or pain. This is an evolutionary trait that protects animals in poor health from being spotted by predators.
Giving a dog space is important, but make sure your pet is not injured before giving it some alone time. Since dogs can sometimes hide health problems, the issue may not be immediately apparent. Signs of illness can involve:
