What this means
A sudden or new change in behaviour is a reason to have a vet rule out pain and illness first. Dogs instinctively hide weakness, so withdrawing to a corner, avoiding people or not wanting to be touched can be one of the first, and sometimes the only, sign of pain or sickness.
It helps to note since when your dog has been hiding, where and for how long, whether it still eats, drinks and goes outside, and whether it answers when called. Also note whether breathing or posture has changed, and whether it licks or bites at a particular part of its body.
Hiding can also come from fear or anxiety, for example after an upsetting event or a change in surroundings. Until the cause is clear, though, do not drag your dog out of its hiding place; contact a vet.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Pain
Pain in the joints, back, belly or elsewhere makes a dog withdraw and avoid movement and touch.
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General feeling of being unwell
When a dog feels ill, it often looks for a quiet, dark place and refuses food or play.
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Fear or anxiety
New sounds, visitors, a move or an unpleasant experience can make a dog hide, with trembling or flattened ears alongside.
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Tooth and mouth pain
Sore teeth or gums can make a dog unwilling to be touched, so it avoids people and eating.
About the condition: Dental and gum disease -
Long-term illness or a tumour
Some lasting illnesses, and growths too, gradually lower a dog's energy and its bond with the family, and hiding is one of the signs.
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A change at home
A new pet, a baby, rearranged furniture or a change in the family's routine can unsettle a dog. If that does not explain it, look for a health cause.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Since when and where your dog hides
- Whether it still eats, drinks and goes outside
- Whether it answers its name and responds willingly to people
- Whether breathing or posture has changed
- Whether it licks or guards one part of its body
- Whether there is limping, vomiting or diarrhoea
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if your dog is newly hiding, has been for more than a day, or has lost its appetite. If it refuses all food and water, be seen the same day.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Anxiety General health Anxiety is a state in which a dog feels tension and fear constantly or far too strongly, even when there is no real danger. It can be set off by being left alone, loud noises, new surroundings or strangers, and long-lasting anxiety wears down both the dog and the whole household. It helps to understand that this behaviour is not stubbornness or disobedience but a sign that the dog is struggling.
- Arthritis Bones and joints Arthritis is inflammation of the joints in which the cartilage gradually wears down, leaving the joint stiff and painful. It can develop with age, after an injury or because of joints that did not form properly. Ongoing pain limits how freely and comfortably a dog moves, so changes are worth showing to a vet.
- Cancer Cancer Cancer is not one disease but a whole group of different malignant tumours that can appear in almost any organ or tissue. They can grow slowly or quickly and spread to other parts of the body, so the earlier a change is noticed, the more options a vet has. Only a vet can tell whether a lump or other change is malignant.
- Dental and gum disease Digestion and liver Dental and gum disease starts with plaque that hardens over time into tartar, and the bacteria multiplying beneath it cause inflammation of the gums. Left alone, the inflammation can damage the tissues and bone that hold the tooth in place, so teeth loosen and fall out. A sore mouth troubles a dog every day, and infection in the mouth can affect other organs too.
Body systems: General health Bones and joints Cancer Digestion and liver