Why do dogs hide when they are sick

Dog Hiding: Top 7 Reasons Why They Hide & How To Deal With It!

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.

Is It Normal for Dogs to Hide?

Hiding is generally a normal behavior for dogs. While the behavior can be linked to fear, pain, or anxiety, many dogs are simply drawn to the cozy confines of secluded spaces.

Sometimes dogs seek out a familiar and secure area when they are feeling overwhelmed, similar to the way people might retreat to their homes or bedrooms in times of stress. Being territorial creatures, familiarity is important to canines. This is also why dogs mark their territory with urine.

Dogs hide for plenty of reasons, but this behavior is not always natural. It is important to tell the difference between healthy and excessive hiding.

Normal vs. Excessive Hiding

The best way to tell if your dog is hiding too much is if their routine changes. Crawling underneath the bed late at night or during periods of relaxation is normal. However, if they start to skip meals, refuse to go outside, or run away from others, there may be a more serious issue going on.

Why is My Dog Hiding?

Dogs hide for many different reasons, the most common being that they want to feel safe. The need for safety could be due to fear, anxiety, depression, or stress. If you notice your dog is scared or anxious, try to determine the source of their fear and remove it.

Your dog might also retreat to a small space for playful reasons like hiding a toy. Sleepiness, stashing some tasty food, or even searching for some sweet treats are other reasons for hiding.

Canines can be overwhelmed by strange or unfamiliar things such as a loud noise or a new acquaintance in their home.

They're Afraid of Something

Is your pooch hiding under the bed each time there is a loud noise, the doorbell rings, or someone new enters the house? Dogs can feel threatened by unfamiliar situations, and your furry friend may be hiding out of fear. Other symptoms of fear include:

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:

• Digging
• Escape attempts
• Destroying furniture
• Excessive licking or chewing

Your Dog Feels Sick

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:

• A lack of appetite
• Difficulty urinating or defecating
• Runny eyes or nose
• Stiff limbs
• Vomiting, gagging, sneezing, or coughing

RELATED: SCARED DOG: HOW TO EASILY IDENTIFY & CALM ANY NERVOUS CANINE

They're in a Safe Place Where They Can Relax

The ancestors of domesticated dogs often found refuge from the wild in dens. Whether it was a small cave, hollowed-out tree trunk, or an underground burrow, a den is any small space that an animal makes its own. These areas make the dog feel safe and in control of their surroundings.

This urge to find a personal space is still present in domesticated dogs, and it's one of the main reasons why crate training can benefit your pet. Curled up in a comfortable cage, underneath a bed, or behind some furniture makes the dog feel like they are protected on all sides.

Also, since the "dens" have their own scent, it could be why dogs repeatedly hide in the same spot.

Your Dog is Hiding Their Goodies!

One of a dog's favorite pastimes is burying their favorite possessions. We can all picture that classic image of a pooch digging a hole in the yard to drop in its prized bone or tennis ball. Your dog may be visiting its secret stash of goodies when it hides.

In addition to being territorial animals, dogs can show possessive behavior. Any pet owner can tell you that a canine does not easily give up its favorite chew-toy. Guarding belongings and stashing food around the house is a natural survival strategy.

They Found Something They Shouldn't Have

Another reason your canine might be hiding is that it is stashing things it shouldn't. A pooch can experience shame just like a person, and sometimes our pets know when they've done something wrong. A dog may hide contraband like "people food" or toys that don't belong to it.

A sign that your dog is storing things it shouldn't is if the animal waits for you to leave before hiding. This indicates the dog doesn't want you to see where its stash is.

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.

Help Alleviate Their Anxiety or Stress

When your dog is acting scared, they need to know that you're there for them. After you've confirmed the animal is in good health, get them some food and water. Bring their favorite toy and a blanket to the hiding spot and speak in a soft voice.

A dog that shows nervous behaviors is likely reacting to a situation that feels strange or threatening. Removing the alarm source may help a dog that is acting fearful. However, tension can be caused by uncontrollable situations such as city traffic or fireworks.

Even though there are certain scenarios we can't control, we can take care of our pet's emotional state with CBD dog treats and CBD oil just for dogs. Dog treats infused with CBD oil are a great incentive for a dog hiding in a hard-to-reach area. You can also mix CBD oil into your dog's food to alleviate tension as well.

CBD boosts your pet's endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is present in nearly all mammals, and it helps regulate essential body functions. A well-functioning ECS can relax your dog and soothe fearful or nervous behaviors.

Train Them & Reinforce Positive Behaviors

If you see your dog acting strange or retreating to its private place, first give them some space. After you think they've had enough time to themselves, call the dog by its name. Not responding to the sound of its name is one sign that you need some additional incentive.

The same situations can repeatedly trigger dog hiding. If you can't change or remove the cause of your pet's discomfort, you might be able to change its reaction to the source. Find some time to get your dog used to the trigger by giving it CBD dog treats.

For example, let's say your dog runs to hide under the bed each time there is a clap of thunder. The next time it rains, keep some CBD dog treats nearby. Each time it thunders, give the dog a treat so that it will get the soothing effects of CBD while simultaneously associating the sound of thunder with food. Also, giving your pet CBD 30-minutes before you know a storm is coming can help prepare them with a boost of tranquility.

A dog hiding underneath the couch might not respond to its name, but it may perk up at the prospect of treats. One way to get your dog out of its hiding spot is to offer it food, but how can we tell them that it's snack time? Try shaking the bag of treats to coax them to come out.

Eventually, your furry friend will associate the sound of the bag shaking with food. The next time you want to get your dog out from underneath a piece of furniture, just shake the bag and watch them come running!

RELATED: HOW TO SOCIALIZE AN AGGRESSIVE DOG: #1 GUIDE WITH PROVEN TIPS AND TRICKS

Play With Them

If the problem isn't an illness, tension, or fear, it might be boredom. Try pulling out a ball or a length of rope to get your dog out of hiding.

Find plenty of opportunities to play with your pooch. Even though a new chew-toy is a good way to lure your dog from underneath the bed, these should not be the only times you play with your dog. Playtime is good for your pet's physical health, mental stimulation, and even their sensitivity to overwhelming situations.

Final Thoughts - Why is My Dog Hiding?

If you can't find your furry friend in their usual spots, they may be hiding somewhere in your home. This is a natural instinct that is often a source of comfort for the animal. However, the behavior can also indicate a health problem, hidden stash of goodies, or tension.

Change or remove the source of discomfort if possible. Otherwise, get your dog food, water, and plenty of space. Take them to the vet if you notice any symptoms of pain or sickness. Pay attention to your dog's needs so that you can provide them with the safest, healthiest, and happiest care possible!

Why Dogs Hide When They Are Dying

One of the most difficult parts of being a pet owner is knowing that you'll outlive your pet.

As their parents, we want to be there for them til the end, but some dogs tend to run away or hide. There are a couple of reasons why dogs hide when they are dying.

In this blog, we'll discuss what causes this behavior on why they hide when they die.

Most of us desire to be surrounded by loved ones when we're at the end. But that's not the case for dogs.

Knowing a dog is hiding or running away because he is close to death is hard and no one wants to discuss this topic.

5 Reasons Why Dogs Hide When They Are Dying

Most pet parents can't imagine a world where their pet is not part of their lives, but this is inevitable, and we will need to face it in the future.

And when this moment comes, we want to be there for our dogs just like the times they stick with us in our worst times.

We want to be there to say our goodbyes and take reassurance in knowing that their death is peaceful.

However, some dogs hide or want to die alone. And there are multiple reasons why they choose this.

Below, we'll discuss the causes of this action. Without further ado, let's get right into it.

For Safety

One of the main reasons why dogs hide when they're going to die is for protection.

Dogs, even though domesticated, still have the instincts to survive in the wild. And these instincts tell them to isolate themselves for protection.

Dogs will listen to their bodies which is one of the reasons why they hide when they feel like they are about to die.

Your dog knows that he is weak and will not be able to protect himself. Dogs hide to feel safe since they feel vulnerable to predators.

Their instinct can override years of affection, protection, and warmth that you've provided.

So if ever they hide when the moment comes, please don't feel bad because it's not your fault. It's his instinct.

Dogs love to hide under beds, back of closets, behind furniture, or in a nearby bush.

For Comfort

Other dogs hide out of discomfort. While the majority of dogs hide when they are about to pass because of their instincts, some do it to get a more comfortable spot to rest their heads.

Comfort is everything when a dog is dying. I mean, who would want to spend their remaining time uncomfortably?

Dogs that are dying will have a difficult time moving around. They'll struggle to switch sides.

Finding a cozy place can make the load a little lighter for them. Some dogs prefer to lie down in darker and quieter spaces to spend their final days.

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (Dog Dementia)

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS), also known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) or Dog Dementia, is the dog equivalent of Alzheimer's disease in humans.

In humans, Alzheimer's disease affects an average of 10% of people aged over 65 and 50% of people aged over 85.

In dogs, however, about 14% of dogs 8 years old and above are affected by CDS.

As dogs reach their senior age, their brain will slowly degenerate, which will lead to abnormal and senile behaviors that will decline cognitive functions.

CDS will limit the dogs' memory and learning. They'll have minimal responsiveness to stimulation and changes in awareness of their surroundings.

If your dog is sick and is suffering from CDS, keep a close eye on them. Some may run away from home because of sudden changes in their behavior.

Some dogs just wake up and decide to leave their homes because they can no longer recognize anyone or the environment, even if they have lived there for many years.

Make sure that your place is secured since some of these dogs go out and will not or can not find their way back. They'll just keep wandering or stay in one place until it's their time.

Fear

Fourth on our list of why dogs hide when they are dying is out of fear.

Some dogs leave and hide when they are about to die because they are scared.

Scared dogs will tend to hide when they're about to die since this event is overwhelming to them.

They will rather be by themselves in a quiet and hidden place where they'll feel a bit comfier, and it'll make dying more bearable than having multiple people and pets around.

Not Trusting People

Last on our list is another possibility of why dogs hide when they're about to pass dogs that don't trust people.

Some dogs have trouble trusting people because some of them have been abused or traumatized by people.

You'll notice this behavior when they become frightened when people try to comfort them when they are dying.

Do Dogs Know When They're Going to Die?

Dogs have been great partners and friends for humans for thousands of years now. But there are still plenty of things we don't understand about them.

For instance, we still can't figure out what is going on inside their brains. However, there are plenty of signs that a dog can show you they're at the end of the line.

But even if dogs throw you all the symptoms of a dying dog, it is still impossible to know when is the exact moment their time with you is coming to an end.

There's no doubt, however, that animals have a deep understanding of death. For example, elephants tend to grieve for a long time when one member of the herd dies.

The same goes for dogs. Some dogs tend to be depressed or will become inactive when a family member or someone in their pack dies.

How to Prevent a Dying Dog from Hiding or Running Away

If you've noticed that your dog is trying to hide or run away, these can be signs that they are experiencing sickness, stress, pain, or they're about to pass.

Other physical symptoms that Fido is in his final days or weeks are:

• Decreased in social interactions
• Loss of learned behaviors
• Lack of interest in activities he used to enjoy
• Lack of appetite
• House soiling
• Changes in the sleep/wake cycle
• Restlessness
• Discomfort

Multiple ways can prevent a dying dog from running away or hiding.

You can provide them with a safe space where they can hide and feel more comfortable. You can also put a cover on your dog's crate.

Ensure that they are in a secured area. This can help to avoid your pup getting lost or wandering off.

End-of-life Care for Your Older Dog

If Fido is sick and you feel like you're about to lose him, there are still plenty of ways to help them feel comfortable and to let them feel overwhelmed about what's going to happen.

Even if these changes don't seem that important, they can have a significant impact on your dog's quality of life. A few of these are:

• Providing comfort: You can give them a warm and comfortable place to sleep in. Bring their favorite blanket, toys, and treats beside them.
• Give easy access to necessities: Senior dogs or sick dogs that are about to pass away struggle to move around. Make sure that they have easy access to food and fresh water.
• Hygiene: Even until the end, it's still important to keep your dog clean and dry. You can purchase dog diaper, but you have to ensure that it is changed regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do dogs want to be alone when they are dying?

This depends on the dog. Some dogs want to be alone that's why they hind.

When they sense that their body is weak, it's their instinct to hide because they feel like they can't protect themselves.

On the other hand, some dogs seek out the comfort and company of their pack or their family.

These dogs tend to be more clingy as they want to spend their last days or weeks with their person.

How do you comfort a dying dog?

Once you've recognized that your dog is dying, the best thing you can do is compose yourself and make their final days as comfy as possible.

A few tips that you can do to comfort your dying dog are:

• Stay close to them
• Keep normal activities as long he is able
• Ask your vet for possible medication
• Don't introduce new people or new environments

How do you say goodbye to a dying dog?

Saying goodbye to your dying dog is probably the hardest part of being a dog owner.

In these times, we can send him off with spending time with his favorite things.

Keep his favorite toys or blankets beside him. Feed him his all-time favorite treats. These little things can make your pet comfortable and at ease.

Why Dogs Hide When They Are Dying: Summary

Seeing our sweet doggy go is one of the, if not, the most devastating feelings a pet owner can feel.

They've been a huge part of our lives, and no one wants to see them pass away. If only they could live for much longer.

But during these tough times for you and your pet, some dogs tend to hide or run away. Why? Well, there are multiple reasons why dogs hide when they are dying.

One of the best possible reasons for this is that it's their instinct. Dogs, even though domesticated, still have instincts that will help them survive in the wild.

And when a dog is dying, he feels that his body is weak, and his first instinct is to hide for protection and comfort. They know that they will not be able to defend themselves.

Some dogs tend to run away when they are about to die because they are scared, and others seek comfort.

That's why it's important to have your dog in a secure and comfortable place.

Bring Fido his favorite toys and feed him his favorite treats. This can help calm things down and can impact his quality of life.

Some dogs hide when they are hiding because they don't fully trust the people around them. Often this is caused by abuse and other traumatic events in his life.

Whatever the cause for such behavior, it's important to make their last days as comfortable as possible.