Understanding Your Dog's Crying and Hiding Under the Bed: A Guide for Concerned Owners

It’s that time again; time to take your dog for a walk!

But as you stand in the doorway, leash in hand, your pup is nowhere to be found.

“Alright, buddy. Let’s goooo…” you say.

It seems like you’re more excited about your dog’s walk than they are!

Confused, you pace through the house, looking for your pup.

Then, you hear a sound…faint whimpering. You follow it to your bedroom and then to your bed.

You pop your head underneath, and that’s when you see: your dog is crying and hiding under the bed!

What in the world?

Dogs may cry and hide under the bed for several reasons. They may do this because they have separation anxiety, are suffering from fear or past trauma, have a medical issue, or due to cognitive decline. Thankfully, you can help them to stop crying and hiding under the bed.

In this article, I will explore some of the common causes of dogs crying and hiding under the bed. I will also help teach you how to determine the cause of your dog’s behavior and give you tips on how to address it.

You wanna play with your furry friend, but they wanna cry and hide under your bed. This is not only frustrating but can be confusing and concerning too.

But no worries, I can help you get to the bottom of exactly why your dog is crying and hiding out beneath your bed.

Let’s get down to it!

Common Causes of Crying and Hiding Under the Bed

The reasons a dog may be crying and hiding under their bed are as diverse as the dog themselves. But if your dog is doing this, there is definitely some reason why.

Let’s take a look at what a few of these reasons may be:

Separation Anxiety

Crying and hiding under the bed can be a doggy symptom of separation anxiety. If your dog misses you when you’re away, they may feel sad, confused, and downright anxious. They may not know what to do. Crying and hiding under the bed may be their way of trying to cope and soothe themselves.

Fear or Trauma

If your dog is crying and hiding under the bed, they may be feeling fear. Your dog could be afraid of anything from a loud noise outside, an unpleasant voice, or an overly hands-on child in the home.

Your dog may also have a past marked by trauma. Because of this, they may have developed a more timid personality and get spooked easily. Something that happens in your home may also be reminding them of a traumatic event from their past, further freaking them out and sending them scurrying under the bed.

Medical Issues

Something may be wrong with your dog physically if they’re crying and hiding under the bed. Your pup may have just injured themselves while outdoors playing or there may be something more serious going on. They may be sick or in pain, and hiding away feels better for them at the moment.

Aging or Cognitive Decline

Your dog may be crying and hiding under the bed due to old age. They may be declining so much mentally that they don’t really know what to do anymore. They could be losing control over their faculties and are doing this just because.

How to Determine the Cause of Your Dog’s Behavior

You’ve learned some of the reasons your dog may be crying and hiding under the bed. Now you probably want to know the specific cause behind why your pup is doing this.

Here are a few ways to figure this out:

Observe Your Dog’s Behavior

Perhaps the easiest way to learn why your dog is crying and hiding under the bed is to observe them.

Take a closer look at your pup’s behavior and try asking yourself the following questions:

• Is there any recurring event, noise, or activity at home that always sends your dog running and crying under the bed?
• Are there other animals in the house modeling this behavior, and your dog is simply picking it up and copying it?
• Other than hiding under the bed and crying, are there any other concerning behavioral patterns your dog is exhibiting?
• Is your dog showing any signs that something could be wrong with them physically?

If you’re able to link a common trigger to your dog hiding under the bed and crying, you can try making adjustments that may solve the problem.

For example, say it seems your dog is afraid of the doorbell and runs to cry under the bed each time it rings.

In this case, you could let friends know to give you a phone call when they’ve arrived instead of ringing the doorbell. This way, you can sidestep the trigger altogether. You could also train your dog to be used to the doorbell, so they aren’t afraid of it anymore.

Take Your Dog to See the Vet

So you’ve observed your dog’s behavior, and you think something deeper may be going on. This is when it may be best to seek professional guidance. Try reaching out to your vet to schedule an exam for your pup. Your vet will be able to determine if there’s a physical or emotional problem behind your dog hiding under the bed and crying.

Consult a Dog Trainer or Behaviorist

Reaching out to a dog trainer or behaviorist may be the best route to take if your dog’s hiding and crying behavior are persistent but yet they have no physical illness. If you’ve taken your dog to the vet and they check out fine, a behaviorist or trainer may be your next resort. They can offer new insights and work in-depth with your pup to help them change their ways.

How to Address Your Dog’s Crying and Hiding Under the Bed Behavior

Now that you’ve narrowed down the reason your dog is crying and hiding under the bed, what do you do about it?

There are many ways to work on this behavior with your dog. Once your pup has been cleared of having any physical issues, you can work with them to help change their behavior.

In some cases, a trainer or behaviorist will be best able to do this. But there are also many things you can try on your own at home, just you and your pup.

Some tips include:

• Monitoring the atmosphere in your home when your dog goes to hide under the bed and adjusting any possible triggers (i.e. closing doors lighter rather than slamming them, speaking more softly, rearranging your dog’s food or toy area)
• Making sure your home is a loving, comfortable, and peaceful environment for your pup
• Gently approaching your dog when they’re hiding and patiently coaxing them out from under the bed with treats and praise
• Giving your dog extra play time and snuggles if you think they are attention deprived

Big Dogs Don’t Cry

…wait, sometimes they do!

You may think you know your pup inside and out by now. But everything comes into question when you see them hiding under the bed and crying!

Are they unhappy? Hurt? Anxious? Fearful?

It could be any of the above.

Thankfully this doesn’t have to be a forever thing for your dog. With some careful observation, small changes, and professional assistance if needed, you can help your dog reemerge out from under your bed as the joyful doggy you know and love!