Why Is My New Dog Hiding Under The Bed? How To Help

Bringing home a new dog, whether they are a puppy or an adult, is always an exciting time.

For humans at least. 

But new surroundings, unfamiliar people, new food, new routines, and unfamiliar situations can be overwhelming for any dog, no matter what their background. 

If you have adopted a new puppy, it may be the first time she has been away from her mom and littermates, which will feel uncertain and scary.

When a dog is suddenly uprooted and placed in a new environment where everything is different she doesn’t know what’s happening or if she is safe.

Not only that, it is highly stressful to feel that you are not in control of your environment.

So in a way, it is the perfect storm and it often takes time for things to settle. 

In the meantime, you may find your new dog or puppy chooses to retreat to an enclosed space and hide away – and under the bed is a prime candidate.

In this article, I’ll provide some key insights into canine hiding behavior and offer tips on how to handle it, so you can make your dog feel more comfortable and confident in her new home.

Understanding Hiding Behavior 

The first thing to realize is that your dog’s behavior is an attempt to cope. It is not done out of spite, to make your life difficult, or the desire to make you feel bad. 

Rather, it is her way of dealing with the stress and anxiety your new pup feels in her new environment. 

The Importance Of A Safe Environment

Dogs, like many animals, often seek out enclosed spaces when they feel anxious or overwhelmed. 

A dark, small space also provides a comforting environment, reminiscent of a den-like atmosphere, that offers privacy and safety. 

New Environments Can Be Overwhelming For Dogs

Just like humans, dogs feel a range of emotions when they find themselves in a new environment and don’t know what’s going on. 

Your new dog most likely feels confused, insecure, and vulnerable in her new space -especially if she has been through a traumatic experience (e.g. adopted from a stressful shelter environment or rescued from an abusive situation), or, as I said earlier, separated from her mother and siblings for the first time. 

Being in a new home where everything is unfamiliar can be completely disorientating, and your dog may just not know how to cope – especially if you have a fearful dog by nature.

For this reason, she may choose to hide under the bed as a way of seeking safety and security while she tries to figure out her new situation.

Sensory Overload Can Cause Dogs To Retreat To Enclosed Spaces

Imagine being in a new place where everything is new and unknown. 

The sounds, smells, and surroundings can be overwhelming – especially if your dog has never experienced them before. 

Again, this can result in your dog feeling anxious, and she may choose to hide to avoid the constant stimulation. 

Puppy Fear Periods

If you have adopted a puppy, it is important to know that young dogs experience two distinct “fear periods.” 

These can make them particularly sensitive to negative experiences. 

The first fear period generally occurs at 8-10 weeks of age, but as long as you carefully manage your puppy’s environment and provide positive socialization experiences, you should be able to keep her fears in check.

The second fear period is less predictable and is usually more intense. 

During this time, your pup may respond with fright to things that she previously enjoyed or seemed neutral about. 

This second fear period generally lasts 2-3 weeks and occurs any time between 6-14 months of age during adolescence. 

Yes, teenage dogs really are a thing!

So if your dog suddenly becomes anxious and reactive towards things she once confidently approached, it’s a normal part of her development. 

By staying calm and positive, you can help her develop coping mechanisms and resilience during this period. 

If you want to know more about puppy fear periods, Susan Garrett of Dogs That has an excellent podcast on this exact topic.

In it, she covers how to set up training dens at home to help increase your puppy’s or rescue dog’s confidence, how to manage and train in environments with potential fear triggers for your puppy or dog, and absolutely everything in between.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a common phenomenon in dogs and can be triggered by many different things. 

According to the American Kennel Club, one such reason is a sudden change in routine – such as moving to a new home.

So this is also something to be aware of, both in young puppies and adult dogs.

Health Issues

Dogs who are in pain or feeling sick may seek out a quiet and secluded spot to rest and recover. 

If you suspect your new dog is hiding due to a health issue, it’s important to take her to the vet for a check-up. 

Other Factors To Consider

While stress, anxiety, health issues, and fear are some of the most common reasons why your new dog may be hiding under the bed, there may be other factors at play. 

For example, your pup may simply be seeking out a dark and quiet spot to take a nap or chew on a toy – especially if you have a busy household with lots of comings and goings. 

A significant change in the weather, the environment (e.g. tradesman coming to the home), the daily routine, or new people (e.g. a new arrival, visitors, or house guests) in the dog’s space can also cause stress.

Loud noises – particularly car alarms, smoke alarms, thunderstorms, or fireworks – are inherently anxiety-inducing for many dogs and can cause also hiding.

How Do I Know If My Dog Is Scared?

To understand how your is dog feeling, all you have to do is keep a close eye on her body language. 

Canine Body Language

Dogs express fear, anxiety, and stress through a variety of body language signals. 

Drooling (especially foaming saliva), shaking or shivering even when not cold, excessive panting, barking, howling, and whining are some of the more obvious indicators. 

Other signs include pinned or pulled back ears, tail held low and tucked under the body (or, conversely, wagging excessively), “whale eye” (showing the whites of the eyes), cowering or a hunched posture, turning the head or body away (from a person or another animal), raised hackles (aka ‘piloerection’) along the spine, stiffened body muscles (aka ‘freezing’), or no behavior at all (i.e. the dog is completely shut down).

You may also notice shallow breathing, a rapid heartbeat, and avoiding eye contact.

Often, dogs are extremely subtle in their communication signals, making it harder for us to notice them. 

For example, tight facial muscles or mouth, lip licking, a furrowed brow, a lip curl, dilated pupils, and tongue flicking can happen in the blink of an eye – or just be hard to spot. 

While it may be hard to get a good read on your dog’s body language if she is hiding under the bed, it is essential to know what to look for so you can respond accordingly. 

To see positive and negative dog body language in action, this video from Fear Free Happy Homes provides an excellent visual summary:

Calming Signals

Dogs often use ‘calming signals’ to express their feelings and ease tension, such as turning away, licking their lips, yawning when not tired, or looking away.

You can use these too to communicate to your dog that you’re not a threat.

For example, when we adopted our Romanian rescue dog Florence, I would frequently use a head turn so my neck was facing her instead.

This helped show her that she didn’t need to fear me.

What To Do When Your New Dog Hides Under The Bed 

Respect Her Personal Space

First of all, always give your dog the time she needs to adjust to their new environment. 

Some dogs will adapt quicker than others. There’s no set timeline so let her take however long she needs.

Pushing her to step out of her comfort zone before she is ready can exacerbate her anxiety and risk making her think she cannot trust you. 

So just be patient and let her come out from under the bed at her own pace.

Not only that but when she does start to venture out, gently throw down some treats for her to sniff.

Research shows that sniffing lowers a dog’s heart rate and blood pressure, so is a natural way to help them feel more relaxed (Budzinski & Budzinski, 2019).

Use Consent Testing

However tempting it may be, do not try to force your new pet to interact with you. 

This will only heighten her anxiety. 

Having said that, if she approaches you and asks for attention, then absolutely go ahead. 

If she then moves away at some point, it means she’s had enough. 

That’s fine. Let her retreat if she wants to – back to her safe place if that’s what she prefers.

If she doesn’t approach you at all, then she’s not yet ready to interact, so try to restrain yourself!

You need to show her that she can trust you, and that means letting her make her own choices and respecting them, rather than trying to make her do something she doesn’t want to do or isn’t yet ready for. 

Gradual Exposure

Introduce your new dog to her new home and other family members slowly, allowing her to explore at her own pace. 

When we first brought Florence home, she was so shut down and terrified she hid in her safe room for a whole month.

During that time I allowed her to get to know me in her own time, taking her food, chew toys, and treats, but never forcing any kind of interaction.

I’d always enter the room slowly and sit on the ground at a distance of a few yards so she didn’t feel cornered or crowded (no hugging or unwanted petting – remember your consent test!).

I’d make sure I was sideways on so it didn’t feel threatening to her, and only make very soft eye contact (staring is considered to be a hostile behavior in dogs). 

I’d gently chat with her, maybe play some dog music (yes, really!), and then leave again, keeping all our interactions short and sweet.

I was always calm and very quiet and watched for signs of stress. 

If I saw a tongue flick, a stiffened posture, or a head turn, I’d quietly get up and leave again, tossing a treat on the floor as I did so, so she’d be left with a positive memory.

Over time, she started to tentatively wag her tail whenever I appeared and eventually started venturing out into the rest of the house of her own accord.

I never made a big deal of it and pretty much ignored her, unless she approached me and made it clear she wanted to interact.

Within about 6 weeks she no longer felt the need to hide away, and she trusted me implicitly. 

It was worth the wait!

How To Help Your New Dog Adjust

The key to helping your new dog adjust to her new environment is time, patience, and consistency. 

Safe Space

Providing your dog with a safe space she can call her own is essential.

Make sure she has access to everything she needs, like food, water, a cozy dog bed or blanket, and toys. 

If she’s really scared, she may only come out of hiding at night so she can eat, drink or play when no one is around.

And if you can’t get her out from under the bed in those early days, cover the floor with puppy pads to make cleaning up easier.

Don’t worry, it won’t last forever!

Establish A Routine

During the initial days, it’s a good idea to establish a daily routine to give your dog a sense of familiarity and reduce anxiety. 

So if in those early days she is hiding under the bed and won’t come out, take her food in at the same times every day, go and visit her at the same times every day, and so on.

Be Patient

Keep allowing your dog to initiate contact with you when she is ready and avoid forcing interactions, which risks causing increased stress.

The more you allow her to make her own decisions, the more confident she will become and the faster she will learn that she can trust you – as well as what a wonderful place her forever home is!

There’s no need for everything to be perfect in the first week. Slow and steady wins the race.

Positive Reinforcement

Any time your new dog ventures out from under the bed, or even makes eye contact with you, gently toss her a delicious, irresistible treat.

Be aware that some dogs – particularly rescue dogs – may be fearful of a raised arm so try to throw along the ground.

Using positive reinforcement like this will help your dog associate stepping out of her hiding spot with pleasant experiences, and she’ll be more likely to repeat the behavior in the future.

By making sure she always has positive associations and experiences with you, you can change her emotional response to your presence – from feeling scared to feeling happy.

This is also a key part of building up her trust in you and eliminating any need she feels to hide away.

Here’s a great little video from Dogkind explaining how you can encourage your dog to explore without overwhelming her.

Mental Stimulation

If your dog is hiding under the bed and is too scared to come out, try leaving her with some food puzzle toys, or other options for mental stimulation.

She may well come out to investigate them when no one is around.

Options include a stuffed Kong, a LickiMat, a snuffle mat, or an irresistible chew toy.

Giving your pup opportunities to use her cognitive abilities can have a beneficial effect in reducing emotional reactivity. 

This can be highly effective in alleviating feelings of anxiety and stress. 

Plus, the act of chewing has a calming effect all of its own.

Play

According to animal behavior expert Dr. Karolina Westlund, playing promotes psychological wellness and serves as a buffer against stress. 

Playing with your new pup can help to counteract any negative feelings she may be having, including fear.

If you’re wondering how you can possibly play with your dog when she’s hiding under the bed, try attracting her attention with a squeaky toy or by moving a tug toy quickly back and forth.

Even if she doesn’t come out and play, it is highly likely she will at least prick up her ears at the squeaking sound or follow the tug toy with her eyes.

This may not sound like much but it can be enough to switch her emotional state from negative to positive – and may even encourage her to venture out from her safe zone under the bed.

Calming Aids

While they do not work for all dogs, some dogs can benefit greatly from various natural aids to promote relaxation. 

Options include:

• A calming pheromone spray such as Pet Remedy on your dog’s bedding or in the room in general. 

• A plug-in Pet Remedy or Adaptil diffuser close to where your dog is hiding can create a sense of safety and ease. 

• An Adaptil calming pheromone collar if you are able to get close enough to your dog without scaring her, and she is okay with being touched around her head and neck area (many dogs are not). 

• If you prefer a musical solution – as I did with Florence, try playing calming dog-specific tunes from Through A Dog’s Ear or Relax My Dog to provide white noise and promote relaxation. 

• For a more holistic approach, you might want to consider trying Rescue Remedy, which is a blend of flower essences that can help reduce anxiety levels in some dogs.

Seek Professional Help If Necessary

If you have followed the advice in this article and still feel like nothing is working, then seeking expert advice from a positive reinforcement dog trainer or canine behavior consultant may be your next step.

Before You Go

It’s well-known that it can take time for a dog to fully trust her new home and family, so try not to stress too much if your new dog is hiding under the bed. 

It is a completely normal behavior and will not last forever.

Remember, it took our rescue dog Florence several weeks before she was ready to come out of hiding.

Because I hadn’t rushed her or forced her to do anything she was not ready for, once she decided she could trust me she made fast progress.

And it can be the same for you and your pup!

It features Florence in all her glory, as well as two of her canine siblings and one of her predecessors – all of whom had their little quirks and challenges. 

But we got there in the end!

Recommended Products

• Adaptil Calming Pheromone Collar
• Adaptil Diffuser
• Kong
• LickiMat
• Pet Remedy Diffuser
• Pet Remedy Spray
• Relax My Dog
• Rescue Remedy
• Snuffle Mats
• Through A Dog’s Ear

Resources

• At the Heart of the Walk – Christina and Aurélien Budzinski
• Calming Signals – The Art of Survival – Turid Rugaas
• Encouraging Your Fearful Dog To Explore [Video] – Dogkind
• Dog Body Language 101 [Video] – Fear Free Happy Homes
• PLAY – Animal Emotions/Module 4 [Educational Course] – Dr. Karolina Westlund/Illis Animal Behaviour Courses
• Puppy Fear Periods: Help For Socializing Puppies Or Rescue Dogs Scared Of People: Episode 199 [Video] – Dogs That
• Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Causes, Prevention, and How to Stop – Stephanie Gibeault
• The Dark Side Of Socialization: Fear Periods And Single Event Learning – Dr. Jennifer L. Summerfield DVM
• Understanding Dog Behaviour – RSPCA

NEED A DOG TRAINER OR BEHAVIOR EXPERT?

If you need more help dealing with a training or behavior issue, please find professional help from a force-free dog trainer who can consult with you either in person or remotely.

GOOD PLACES TO START ARE:
- COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers
- Pet Dog Trainers of Europe
- International Companion Animal Network
- Institute of Modern Dog Trainers
- Pet Professional Guild 

All dog owners deserve to have successful relationships with their canine companions!