Submissive behavior can occur with some dogs, though each dog may react differently. The most common signs of overly submissive behaviors include:
- Hiding. Your dog may suddenly run from something and hide in a room or under the bed.
- Wetting themselves. Dogs may spontaneously urinate on the floor or an item. You may find the wet area hidden in a corner because the dog may hide this behavior to not get into trouble.
- Body language. Another submissive behavior is when a dog hides their tail between their legs or lowers their head. A dog may show this when scolded verbally or by an aggressive thing they fear. The dog will normally bend down to show its fear and sometimes hide afterwards.
Smaller dogs may tend to show submissive behavior more than other breeds. They will sometimes shake or hide to show their fear. The smaller dogs may run underneath a bed or an item to get away from whatever is causing them an issue.