

If they have already been diagnosed with an illness or disease, there may be another reason why your dog is hiding. If the dog is infected by rabies, the disease affects the brain, so they may be hiding out of confusion. For example, if the dog is suffering kidney problems, they may hide to lie down and minimize pain. When disease is affecting the dog, when different organs are affected, different symptoms emerge. Apart from hiding away, we need to ask in what way are they behaving strangely? Is their gait affected? Are they vomiting? Are they making odd vocalizations? By looking at the entire symptomology of the dog we can get a better idea of why they may be hiding and acting weird. We need to look at it more specifically as a symptom of a larger physical or behavioral problem. If they have not been socialized sufficiently, behavioral problems are likely.Īcting strange is also a vague signifier. The socialization period of puppies is particularly important. Their experiences early in life are also fundamental. Genetic predispositions, whether passed down from specific family lineages or due to certain breed characteristics, can influence how they act. For example, dogs may develop compulsive behaviors which they did not do beforehand.Ī dog's behavior is informed by various factors. As we stipulate above, you need to know what is normal behavior for your dog before you can tell if anything has changed. If you think your dog is acting weird, it is because they are deviating from their normal healthy behavior. To understand why your dog is acting strange we need to define what is ‘strange’. Take into account their personality and you will be able to make more sense of the situation. To best work out why your dog is hiding or behaving irregularly, you will need to look at the overall context of their behavior. The most frequent reasons a dog is hiding and acting strange include: Getting to know their personality and habits is a vital part of forging a strong bond between dog and guardian.

It is not only important to know possible reasons why your dog hides, you also need to know what is usual behavior for your canine. While there are behaviors and instincts common to all domestic dogs, some dogs have certain idiosyncrasies which may involve hiding in certain places.

We also need to be aware that each dog is an individual. However, we need to know that illness and disease is only one reason why a dog may go into hiding. While you may not think your dog has anything to feel threatened by in your home, their natural instinct is strong. In the wild, predators, rivals and other dangers can threaten their well-being, so hiding is a form of protection. While they may not have the cognitive ability to understand the reasons behind their illness, they do know that a weakened physical state makes them vulnerable. When a dog is sick, they tend to hide so they can find a safe and isolated shelter.
