If your dog has been hiding under the table a lot, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do to get your dog to stop doing it.
So, why does my dog hide under the table? Possible reasons why your dog has been hiding under the table are that it wants something from you, it finds it more comfortable there, it feels safer, something has been causing it to be fearful or that you have inadvertently encouraged the behavior.
Since there are a number of possible causes, it would help to consider what would make each of them more likely. Once you have a good idea of the main cause, it should become a lot easier to figure out how to get it to stop.
Why does my dog hide under the table?
Below are a number of reasons why your dog might hide under the table and what would make each of them more likely.
It wants something from you
The reason why it does it could be that it is waiting to get something, such as food, from you. This would be more likely if it does it more at around the same time that you would normally feed it or walk it. The cause could also be the case that it is hoping to get some of the food that you have at the table.
It finds it more comfortable there
It is not uncommon for dogs to sit or sleep under tables. The reason why yours has been doing it could simply be that it finds it more comfortable there. This would be more likely if your dog does not show any signs of being anxious or scared around the house and if it behaves normally otherwise.
It feels safer
The reason why it does it could be that it feels safer there. By sitting or laying under the table, it will be able to protect itself from above making it more likely that it will be able to see potential threats. Being around you would also likely make it feel more secure. This could be the reason why your dog does it even if there is no reason for it to be scared. This would be more likely to be the reason if it tends to have a more submissive personality.
Something has been causing it to be fearful
The reason why it does it could be that it is waiting to get something from you such as food. This would be more likely if it does it more at around the same time that you would normally feed it. The cause could also be the case that it is hoping to get some of the food that you have at the table.
Encouraging the behavior
It could also be the case that you have inadvertently encouraged the behavior by giving it things it wants when it goes there. If you tend to give your dog things such as toys, treats or food, when it goes under the table, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been hiding under the table.
What else happened when your dog first started hiding under the table
If your dog did not always hide under the table, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. For example, if it first started doing it when something started happening that could frighten it, such as construction works, it would be more likely to be due to being fearful of the sounds.
What is different when it does it
It would also help to consider if there is anything different in the timing that it tends to go under the table. For example, if it does it more at around the same time that you eat at the table, it would be more likely that it is waiting for the chance to get food.
The body language it shows
It would also help to consider the body language that it shows. If it shows body language signs of being fearful and it hides under the table, when you are not sitting there, it would be much more likely that it is doing it due to being fearful of something.
Whereas, if it does not show signs of being fearful, and it tends to go there when you are there, it would be more likely that it does it because it wants something from you or that it wants to be around you.
What to do about your dog hiding under the table
Below are some options you have when getting your dog to stop hiding under the table.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
It could be the case that you have encouraged it to go under the table by giving it things it wants when it does it. Instead, it would help to reward it when it lays where you want it to and to avoid rewarding it when it goes under the table.
Train it to go somewhere else
One option would be to train your dog to sit on command with the use of positive reinforcement training, in the area that you would like it to sit or lay, then you could tell it to sit there a couple of times per day and reward it for doing so. By repeating the process, it should learn that sitting in that new location results in it getting rewards.
Give it another place to lay down
If it does not currently have somewhere else to sit or lay down, it would help to give it access to another spot to go to. One option would be to get a crate for it to use and to put a cover over it so that it can go to its crate when it wants to and feel safe there.
Limit reasons why it might be anxious
As mentioned above, it could be the case that something has been causing it to be fearful. If possible, it would help to try to minimize reasons that it might be fearful such as by letting it stay in a quieter room.
Get help
If your dog has been doing it excessively and showing many signs of fear, it would help to take it to a vet or to get help from a dog behaviorist. By doing so, you should be able to see why your dog has been behaving that way and how to get it to stop.
Why does my dog sleep under the table?
Likely reasons why your dog sleeps under the table are that your dog feels safer there, your dog is hoping to get be there when people are eating or that your dog just likes that particular spot. It would help to consider if there is a certain time that your dog tends to do it since the timing could give you some clues. For example, if your dog only seems to do it when you are away, it could be due to some separation anxiety.