Willy slips under the bathroom sink, into the boy’s closet and into any tight space he can find when thunder rattles the house.

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The Collie mix was rescued as a puppy 11 years ago and now uses enclosed spots to reduce sensory stimulation and feel emotionally secure during storms, according to his owner’s account highlighted by pet-care resources. That instinct — visible in pets from small dogs to a German Shepherd who once climbed into a laundry hamper during a thunderstorm — can be a coping response to noise, smoke or household upheaval. Common signs of anxiety in dogs include panting, pacing, trembling or shaking, drooling, whining or barking, and attempts to hide or withdraw from people.

Liz Gibbs, a dog trainer and educator at Woofie’s of Delray Beach, draws on those examples to explain the behavior. “Some dogs have self-soothing coping mechanisms such as licking, chewing, or other similar behaviors and other dogs may hide,” Gibbs said, describing how animals select snug spaces to feel safer. In fact, a Finnish study of over 13,700 companion dogs found that around 72% showed at least one anxiety-related behavior, such as noise sensitivity, fearfulness, or separation-related behavior, demonstrating how prevalent anxiety issues can be among pet dogs.

Gibbs said environmental triggers often compound the problem. “In addition to the loud bangs, dogs have an incredible sense of smell and the smoke and ash can cause them to panic, too,” she said, noting that smells and sounds together can drive a dog to retreat to a small, enclosed spot, often resulting in restlessness, changes in body posture (like cowering and tail tucking), and other signs of anxiety.

The Kinship pet-care resource provides advice and tools for pet parents dealing with hiding and other anxiety-driven behaviors, and the article draws on that guidance to frame common owner experiences. Kinship’s material is geared toward helping owners interpret where hiding fits into a larger pattern of stress responses and when to consider professional help.

Gibbs pointed to a range of behaviors that owners may observe alongside hiding: licking, chewing and other repetitive actions that serve as self-soothing tactics. Those actions can be short-term coping strategies; repeated or escalating avoidance may indicate a deeper behavioral issue that warrants attention. Effective training techniques for helping dogs cope with anxiety include positive reinforcement-based methods, which minimize anxiety and modify negative associations, rather than aversive or punishment-based approaches.

Owners often notice clear patterns. In the accounts cited, Willy chooses low, enclosed areas in the family home; another dog preferred the laundry hamper during storms. These habitual selections suggest the spaces perform a function for the dog: they reduce incoming stimuli and create a perceptible boundary between the animal and the source of distress.

Gibbs emphasizes action when hiding becomes persistent or unexplained. “With a lot of fighting, it is not just the yelling that can scare pets and cause them to hide,” she said, pointing to household stressors that can produce the same retreating behavior as sudden loud noises. For dogs whose hiding does not resolve, she recommends professional intervention: “If your pup is hiding under the bed for no obvious reason, Gibbs suggests finding a trainer or behaviorist to help your dog gain confidence.” This step is crucial, as addressing the underlying anxiety can lead to lasting improvements in behavior.

Beyond behavior modification, resources from veterinary centers offer context on how owners can recognize anxiety signs and seek appropriate help. Cornell’s guidance on anxious behavior outlines strategies for owners working with trainers and veterinarians to address noise sensitivity and related concerns.

For owners watching a pet retreat repeatedly, Gibbs and the resources referenced encourage documenting the triggers and the places the dog chooses, then consulting with professionals who can assess whether the behavior stems from fear, pain or another underlying issue. In many cases, creating predictable routines and safe, comfortable spaces can reduce the frequency of hiding. When those measures fall short, Gibbs’s recommendation to engage a trainer or behaviorist provides a next step toward rebuilding a dog’s confidence.

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Original reporting: view the original article.