“Hey! Where are you?! I’ve been looking for you for god knows how long! Ah! There you are!” This is one of the most common things a dog owner tells his/her dog. And the dogs are usually found under their beds most of the time just before this whole scenario takes place. Why do dogs go there? What’s so lovely about being under the bed that makes them do it every so often?
Dogs need uninterrupted sleep during their nap time. If they don’t get this, you might notice them getting grumpier by the minute. This is one of the reasons why they prefer sleeping under the bed. While most dogs prefer sleeping with their owners, some of them don’t. Dog owners either like sleeping with their dogs whereas some don’t like taking naps with their doggos. There are various reasons as to why some people don’t like sleeping with their pets. Some people are worried about personal hygiene, some of them don’t like the movement dogs make while they sleep (dogs move in their sleep a lot, and this might cause sleep disturbance to some people), and some of them just like sleeping alone. When dogs aren’t allowed to sleep with their owners, they usually prefer to sleep under the bed to feel closer to their owners and not in some nook and corner of the house where they are left alone to sleep in their kennels. Dogs also like it when they are left free to roam anywhere they want to. Kennels are closed spaces where dogs might feel as if their freedom is being curtailed. On the other hand, while sleeping under the bed, they have a sense of freedom to do whatever they want to, like run around the house or jump around in joy. They also get fresh air when they are exposed to their surroundings when compared to the stale air inside their kennels.
WHY DOES MY DOG GO UNDER THE BED AT NIGHT?
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A Feeling of Home –
All of us want to feel secure. There’s no place like home, you feel most secure only in your homes. Are dogs any different in this aspect? Turns out, they’re not. Dogs love being in their homes as well. You can almost always find dogs curled up inside their kennels chewing on a piece of bone or playing with their toys or whatever. Kennels are dark inside. So dogs try to equate darkness to a feeling of home and they prefer darker atmospheres when compared to brighter ones. This is one of the reasons why they go under the bed, to feel at home. Usually the carpets under the bed are cleaner and warmer than where they are exposed to air, thus creating a cozy spot for a perfect nap as well. It might also mean that your dog needs some relaxation time just as everybody does, from time to time. Rushing under the bed can be equated to “Netflix and chill”-ing in human language.
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Fear –
If your dog is new to your home, he’s most likely to be a very scared doggo, always shying away from cuddles, belly rubs and whatnot. As a result, they try to stay away from their owners or whoever it is, for that matter. This gives them a feeling of being safe from danger. Their fear receptors are very sharp. If there’s thunder rumbling outside or when people come over, you might notice your dog rushing under the bed seeking for shelter. Thus, going under the bed gives him a sense of safety as small covered spaces are considered safe by dogs when compared to the wilderness outside. This is an escape from all of his troubles.
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Illness –
One of the reasons why your dog could be hiding under the bed is because he might be having a mental illness or physical pain. This makes the dog want to be left alone and disappear into a corner for a little bit. During times of high tension or stress, dogs (or any other pets for that matter), are known to love being tucked away in a corner to escape chaos. This can usually be observed at parties or highly crowded ceremonies. Dogs usually have a habit of sulking whenever they are feeling drained of energy or have an illness (either physical or mental) and so try to isolate themselves from their surroundings.
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Hoarding Treasures –
Dogs have this amazing habit of collecting treasures. Be it treats, or bones to chomp on, or small toys to play with, or whatever it is, they love hoarding them all in a spot they consider safe. This might be one of the other reasons why your dog is running under the bed all the time. Look for dog treats under your bed next time, I’m sure you’ll find treats which are decades old. XD. Some dogs just keep hoarding whatever they consider is useful but not use or utilize them in any way. This just increases work load for the dog owners, and also makes them lose their valuable items every so often.
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Avoiding Punishment –
This is my favorite of them all. This is perfect mimicking of human behavior by the dogs and I think it’s adorable that dogs behave this way. Just like how a naughty 10 year old kid might run away from his mother or father to avoid getting caught for a mischievous thing done by him, dogs run from their dog owners to avoid punishment. Funny, right? By running under the bed, they feel like their owners might not be able to reach them there to hurt or harm them in any way. But I know a lot of dog owners who reach the naughty doggos anyway. Are you one of them?
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Peeing or Pooping –
If you find that your dog is going under the bed a lot, check if he has peed there. If your dog is trained to do potty and pee in a particular spot decided by you, then this is not likely to happen. But if he is not trained in this aspect, under-the-bed-peeing is a possibility you can’t quite rule out. Although if he goes under the bed a lot more than usual, chances are that he is stressed or has his mental peace disturbed. This might lead to not coming out whenever you call out to him, or him needing to pay a visit to the vet etc. Try taking him to an animal trainer the next time you notice him running under the bed a little more than usual.
WHY DOES MY DOG GO UNDER THE BED AND SCRATCH?
It is observed that each and every dog in the entire universe (there might be exceptions ofcourse, don’t come at me, haha), no matter what size, breed or gender they are, scratch on a lot of places. Most people who own dogs have scratch marks on walls, doors and all over their house. People who don’t own dogs get scared of the fact that the dogs have some kind of a mental disturbance or something. But no, this is perfectly normal behavior for them to exhibit and there is nothing to worry about it. When dogs scratch at their beds or wherever they are just before they are about to sleep, it’s called “burrowing”. Dogs do this to create a comfortable place for them to sleep in and usually do this to their beds or carpets or whatever they are sleeping in. Just like us humans make our beds before comfortably tucking ourselves inside a warm blanket in our beds, dogs scratch on theirs to do the same (watch this video). They also do this as a sign of authority over whatever they are scratching on. Especially if there is another dog in the house, and your dog wants to mark a territory, you might notice that his scratching has increased big time. This is to communicate to the other dog and the owners that he is the one in control, or he is the one who should receive more attention. If your dog is female and scratches a lot, it’s because of her maternal instincts.
The act is then called “nesting” and is again perfectly normal. They do this to create a comfortable environment for their pups to sleep in and to make their beds warm and cozy. This is a natural hormonal response to her maternal instincts. Another reason as to why dogs scratch is that they dig a lot of places for protection. While you are taking your dog out for a brisk walk in the morning and notice him scratching on the ground or trying to dig a hole for him to go inside and comfortably settle there, it’s a sign of need for protection. If they mimic the same behavior at home under the bed too, chances are that he is probably feeling a little unsafe and wants some protection. Giving him a nice belly rub or making him sit with you for a while might solve this problem altogether. Dogs also paw or scratch when they are feeling a little anxious about something. It can also mean that they are trying to investigate something. This behavior is exploited when cops need the dogs to find something in a crime scene. (Watch this video to know more).
Source:
https://www.cuteness.com/blog/content/why-does-my-dog-hide-under-the-bed