Did you get him as a puppy?? or was he previously owned?? Duke acts the same way in certain situations. If I raise my voice at all he hides, if I Pick up something, as simple as a piece of paper, and walk in his general direction he runs and hides. We got Duke when he was 4 months old, and i think he was abused. I have never struck him, or made him think i would, yet he still behaves this way. he is 1 1/2 yrs old now. I just accept it and try my best to comfort him when he feels scared. I realy dont know how to fix the problem.