“Does my baby no longer like being with me?”
“Is there something wrong?”
“I bet it’s normal, but it’s safer to find out.”
You’ve observed that your pawed friend seems to like sitting in the other room more than in yours.
Now, you’re not sure if it’s something you should be worrying about.
You wonder that if you’d let them be, you’d become distant from each other.
So, what could be the best thing to do?
In this article, you’ll learn:
- 7 reasons why your dog sits in another room.
- 5 tips on what to do if your dog sits in another room.
- Your dog’s strongest senses that make them sensitive to certain environments and objects.
- And many more…
Table of contents
Why does my dog sit in another room?
Your dog sits in another room due to comfort. There can also be household objects or scents present in your room that overwhelm them. Dogs have a strong sense of smell. They’re also sensitive to high-pitched noise. Sensing something unpleasant to them in your room draws them away.
7 reasons why your dog sits in another room
#1: Your room is not comfortable
Have you always been a generous and kind parent to your dog?
Yes?
Then don’t take the blame and be hard on yourself.
It has something to do with the comfort that your room may not be providing for your four-legged friend.
Something that is either beyond your control or you can adjust if you want your pooch back to chill in your space.
Keep in mind that comfort is an excellent attraction for dogs. Choosing which spot to stay in will always depend on comfort.
For example, they may not like your bed’s texture and don’t prefer sitting in there. That could be the reason why your fur baby goes to your sibling’s room that has the cushy bed that makes your dog feel cozy.
“How will I know if that’s the case? What if they likes my sibling more?”
You can ask your sibling to switch rooms with you. It’ll help you narrow down the reasons for your dog’s attitude.
If your pawed friend stays with your sibling in your room, more likely they prefer your sibling over you. If they remain for the soft blanket, then your fur baby values more the comfort it gets.
In the summer months, they’d prefer sitting on the cold floor of the kitchen more than staying in warm rooms.
There’s nothing to fret about if your dog gets back to your room to stay during cold months. It’s getting warmth from your room for comfort.
#2: Your dog is more familiar with the other rooms
Think about it.
Are you the type of dog parent who less often takes his four-legged companion to his room?
If yes, it could be the reason why your dog doesn’t attempt to sit in your personal area.
You don’t usually play with your dog in your space. Instead, you’re doing it in the living room or the balcony where they’re freer to run around.
They like staying in places they are most familiar with. You build happy memories with them in these spots, which makes them feel more secure staying.
It isn’t a surprise you’d find your dog sitting in areas of the house where they play most of the time and less so in your room.
They remember these as the places where they’re being rewarded with treats for being active.
#3: Your dog mirrors the stress from you
There are things in life that stress us.
Sometimes our frustration is evident. We tend to toss our belongings down when we get home from a stressful long day.
Without being conscious of it, we ignore our pawed friends that have been waiting for our return.
The thing is, our stress can cause our dog’s stress.
Various studies have found that dogs can sense our emotions. They can also read our facial expressions and respond to the changes.
When we neglect them, they may turn away and would not follow us into our space. They’d settle in a room without our presence.
They’ll cower and try to hide to keep their distance from us.
#4: Your dog has a fear of climbing stairs or has a joint problem
Is your room located upstairs?
Your dog may have a fear of stairs, and having easy access to your room seems to be impossible when they try on their own.
There’s always a reason for the trembling that happens when faced with a staircase.
If they’re puppies, this fear comes from the fact that they’ve never seen them before. They’ll see a staircase as an intimidating obstacle.
It can be tempting to pick pups and carry them up or down the stairs. But it’s a temporary solution even if it saves you time.
You’re not helping them to overcome their fear. Instead, it teaches them they get what they want by acting scared.
The best thing to do is to train them at the perfect time. For now, let them stay in a room that they can access if they’re too young and small.
Another thing that you should know is that there are dog breeds that are prone to joint problems. These include:
- Rottweiler.
- Saint Bernards.
- Great Danes.
- Labrador Retrievers.
- German Shepherds.
- Old English Sheep Dogs.
Unfortunately, joint problems are common in dogs as they grow older.
In this case, it’s acceptable to carry these dogs up the stairs for their safety.
You can’t expect them to struggle on their own to go to your room upstairs.
#5: Your dog is anxious
An anxious dog tends to swap positions and won’t settle to lie down. They are usually walking back and forth from one place to another.
This could be the reason why they don’t sit in your room for too long.
It’s your responsibility to support them if you’re encountering signs of anxiety in them.
You should determine the factors that trigger it and go about treatment management.
There are effective ways that you can do to calm your dog. These may also make them feel safe with you and choose to sit in your room for comfort.
Physical Contact
Be generous enough to give your pawed friend an excellent long petting session. I recommend having the session in your bed and don’t forget to provide some toys. Touching them leads to a better mood and can reduce their stress.
Exercise
Like human counterparts, exercising helps to ease their anxiety by producing endorphins. These are happy hormones that their body is capable of producing. Use exercise as a bonding time to make your dog feel closer to you.
Music Therapy
According to Dr. Deborah Wells, classical music helps soothe anxious dogs. They seem to relax when exposed to sound with a tempo of 50-60 beats per minute.
You might want to try playing Surrender by Susan Raimond in your room. In this way, you can attract your four-legged friend to sit in your space.
You might also want to read: Why does my dog howl at music?
#6: Your dog is protective
Dogs are prone to guarding behavior. It’s their instinct to be protective and assessing how their humans can be safe.
Your furred companion may choose to sit in a specific room because that is the best spot to guard the house.
They don’t go to your room often because you might have trained your dog to be a guard dog.
They feel like they should defend your house from intruders.
It also depends on your dog’s breed. If you own an Akita or a German Shepherd, you are more likely to see them sitting at the front door.
Some breeds are unlikely to feel like they should protect a territory. It’s impossible and difficult to train them to do such roles.
#7: Your dog fears your room
“I’m not hiding a ghost in my room!”
Okay. I’m not talking about ghosts or anything supernatural.
Fear develops when your dog connects your room to negative feelings. Also, unpleasant memories and sensations.
It’s noticeable when your dog’s behavior goes from confident to scared as they hide in another room away from yours.
There are possible reasons why your pawed friend has been avoiding your room.
Trust me. Nothing supernatural.
Smell
Dogs have better-smelling ability than humans and can smell in parts per trillion.
It’s like a double-edged sword. It can be incredible but imagine how an offensive scent can affect their sensitive nose.
You may have an air freshener or perfume in your room that irritates your dog’s nose. Or scented candles they want to avoid.
These fragrances release toxins that are harmful to your pawed pet.
Noises
Many dogs are afraid of loud noises. Any form of loud noise bothers and scares them.
You might be making loud noises with your hair blower or television that bug your pup away.
Say you’re a fan of metal songs and you play them in your room in loud volume. It’ll agitate your dog and induce them to bark.
High-pitched noises can cause stress to your dog. They’d want to escape and may never want to get back.
Flooring
Was there a point where your dog slipped on your room’s floor and got hurt?
If yes, then they might’ve developed the fear of slippery surfaces. The texture and appearance of your room’s flooring became terrifying for your pup.
The frightening memory of getting hurt in your room is flooding back into their brain.
In that case, they’d isolate themselves to an area rug in a different room.
Household objects
Well, your dog’s fear may not have anything to do with your room. If some offensive objects are in the area, it might be enough to avoid the entire room.
Dogs can also be aggressive or fearful toward stuffed animals present in your space.
Not all dogs like them or want to play with stuffed animals.
Here are some of the signs that your dog is suffering from fear:
- Hiding.
- Barking.
- Trembling.
- Squealing.
- Aggressiveness.
5 tips on what to do if your dog sits in another room
#1: Declutter your room
It’s common for a bedroom to become a dumping site for miscellaneous items and laundry. It isn’t an area visitors see, so it’s the last place we declutter.
But dogs aren’t visitors, and some don’t find clutter fun.
They want a comfortable place to sit in, and less likely, they would choose your room.
Ensure that there is a clean space for your pawed friend where they can move with comfort. Don’t keep your clutter for many days.
#2: Have an area rug in your room
Your pawed friend likes rugs and carpets due to their surface. They want to scratch at things, and rugs remind them of grass.
They’re also avoiding slippery surfaces not to get hurt. If your room’s flooring is hardwood, an area rug can help cover it and attract your pawed pet to come over to your space.
If your dog tends to damage your carpets in other rooms, go ahead and let them know how you feel about it.
#3: Improve your frustration tolerance
Dogs are intelligent creatures. They have potent senses.
They can determine emotions such as anger and fear. If your dog senses your anger, they’ll react by hiding in corners or keep its distance from you.
If someone or something frustrates you, give yourself some time to overcome it. It’s the best thing to do before your fur baby gets to see you.
They’re not the ones at fault. Consider how they’d feel.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
#4: Reduce noise in your room
Your dog may be suffering from a fear of loud noises. This might be what prevents them from sitting in your room.
Don’t expect your sensitive fur baby to come on its own when you’re rocking out to heavy music.
Other than the sense of smell, dogs are also sensitive to noises.
Reduce the noise of your electrical devices in your space. Also, try to play some classical music that will relax and soothe their mind.
#5: Don’t let strong scents spread out in your room
Your love for fragrances and scented candles may be the reason why your pup is unable to stay in your room.
These fragrances release toxins that can overwhelm their sense. It can also take a toll on their respiratory health.
If you’re eager to have them sit in your room, it’s best to avoid exposing them to perfumes and scented candles.