Dogs have a natural instinct to seek out safe, enclosed spaces for security and comfort. Going under the bed is one such place that provides them with a sense of protection and hiding. It also helps regulate their body temperature and calms them in stressful situations. Understanding the reasons behind this behaviour can help create a safer and more comfortable environment for your furry friend.
Reasons Why Dogs Go Under Your Bed
It’s Cool
Literally, the temperature is cool! The temperature underneath the bed is probably a bit cooler than the rest of your room. Since it’s shaded, dark, and lower to the ground, your dog probably finds the temperature more comfortable.
It’s Comfy
If you have carpeting in your room, the carpet underneath your bed is probably not as worn down as the rest of your room. When you couple the comfortable carpeting with the cooler temperature, it’s really just a comfortable spot for your dog to be.
Contrary to popular belief, dogs aren’t den animals. Even in the wild, wolves spend the majority of their day out in the open. That doesn’t stop them from enjoying a nice, comfortable place to lie down! When we humans go to bed, we often find it most comfortable to be snuggled up in a bed in a cool, dark room. Dogs are similar! Dogs find it comfortable to be under the bed due to the dark, cool temperature and comfortable carpeting.
Illness
If your dog is sick, he may naturally want to retreat to a safe spot where he feels comfortable, like under the bed. Being under the bed provides a level of protection and security, which makes your dog feel less vulnerable.
Fear and Anxiety
We’ve already discussed that being under the bed is a comfortable and secure spot for your dog. If your dog is experiencing any fear or anxiety, then he will be even more apt to cosy up underneath the bed.
If you have new, stressful things going on inside the home, this could cause your dog to be stressed and anxious. This makes him tempted to find comfort underneath the bed! This could include things like:
- New guests or family staying over
- Bad weather and thunderstorms
- Fireworks or other loud sounds, like the smoke alarm going off
- Children being loud and rough with handling them
In these situations, your dog is just looking to hide out under the bed to find peace and quiet. Who can blame him?
Physical Injury
Unfortunately, dogs are excellent at hiding pain. This is an instinctual habit. In the wild, they never want to display that they are injured or painful because that makes them weaker. When you see big changes in your dog, like limping, that means they’ve been painful for some time and have been hiding it well. When they’re injured, they may be more likely to hide under the bed.
When to Worry
In most cases, your dog wanting to be underneath the bed is completely natural and normal. It’s nothing to be worried about. If your dog is comfortable being underneath the bed, you should let him.
You should contact your veterinarian if your dog is suddenly underneath the bed consistently. Contact your veterinarian immediately if he is underneath the bed while displaying other signs of illness, such as:
- Whining
- Shaking or shivering
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Diarrhoea
How to Prevent Your Dog from Going Under the Bed
If you don’t want your dog to be under the bed, you could try to encourage them to take comfort in another place of the house. Crate training your dog would be a good solution. You can set the crate up in a quiet and dark part of the house, and it will provide your dog with a similar feeling he gets when he’s underneath the bed.
Crates and dog beds are similar, but of course, crates contain a component of physical barriers. If you or your dog don’t want to bother with a crate, you could set up a regular dog bed in a quiet and dark corner of your home. Consider an extra comfortable bed, like an orthopedic bed. You can make it even more attractive to your dog by adding soft touches like pillows and blankets.
If your dog is constantly hiding under the bed because he is fearful or anxious, it’s best to get to the root of that problem. If you have new guests or family staying over, it’s important to make sure that your dog maintains his regular schedule and is still getting adequate exercise. If your dog is hiding out due to loud noises, try to remove those noises from the home. In some instances where you can’t control environmental noises, like thunderstorms, you should discuss anti-anxiety medications with your veterinarian.
How to Get Your Dog Out from Under the Bed
No matter how badly you want your dog to come out, you should never reach underneath the bed and grab him. You dog could perceive this as a threatening motion, and your dog may be tempted to bite to defend himself.
It’s best to reward your dog where you want him to sleep, rather than trying to teach him where not to sleep. If you do have to physically get your dog out from under the bed, it’s best to go very slow and be very gentle. Training a reliable recall and calling your dog would be the best, least intrusive way to get him out from under the bed.
Conclusion
If your dog wants to go under the bed, it really is the preferred thing just to let him do it. If you don’t want him to do it, you should consider setting up a comfortable crate or bed in another space. If you are worried about your dog, try to get him out from under the bed in a gentle manner. Consider making an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss your worries.
