Is it normal my animal sits in the corner when they think I am upset?

I think it's fairly normal especially if they have been abused in the past. I'm not trying to accuse you of anything. The previous family my dog belonged to was not very kind to him. When we first got him he would run away from us if we picked up a broom or swept. On rare occasion where he would shit inside the house, he would avoid us as if he were fearful of what we would do. I think in general animals can pick up on our emotions. I think the best thing to do would be to somehow reassure them that you aren't mad at them.