“My dog doesn’t like to cuddle, is something wrong?” I’m sure it probably hurts a lot if your dog doesn’t want to cuddle with you because you love them and want that affection from them. So what can you do about this? Is there a way to make your dog more cuddly? And why are they being like this anyways?

Well, the good news is that while this might make you upset, this is actually not that unusual for dogs. And this means that there are plenty of well-known explanations for what’s going on with your dog, and more importantly, an easy solution for how to get your dog to cuddle with you! So without further ado, let’s get started!

How to Get Your Dog to Cuddle With You

To get your dog to cuddle with you, take things slowly but entice them. Try inviting them up on the couch with you using their favorite treat or toy. Once they’ve joined you, give it to them along with pets and praise. Continue softly petting them for as long as they stay cuddling with you, and they should quickly begin to make positive associations with it.

You’ll still want to handle what was causing your dog to not want to cuddle with you in the first place, however. Remember that you shouldn’t force things on your dog, but even those who don’t really care for cuddling can learn to like it if you train away their dominant behavior.

Get your dog to stop being dominant and they’ll be more likely to listen when you want them to come closer and cuddle, but not because you’re forcing it on them — it will be because you’ve freed them of the need to feel like they’re on patrol all the time.

Remember that dogs are pack animals, and in every pack there is a pack leader. A dog displaying dominant behavior feels like they’re in this role. One of the pack leader’s responsibilities is to watch over and protect the other members. So at the moment, your dog feels a lot of stress — and less desire for cuddling — because they think they’ve got a job to do.

But when you show them that you are the one who is in charge — not them — and that you are their pack leader, you can free them of all this worry and duty. They’ll be happier, you’ll be happier — everyone wins! Sounds absolutely great, right?

“Yes it does, but how do I do that?”

I’d recommend an excellent free video series that’s on just this subject — how to be your dog’s pack leader — by a renowned trainer named Dan. In it, he’ll show you everything you need to know to end their dominant behavior, make your dog want to cuddle more, and put a stop to all the other behavioral problems you’re likely having too.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And don’t worry about not having any experience with this type of thing, because Dan explains everything in ways that are very easy to understand and teach to your own dog, and he gets right to the point so that you’ll start seeing results in no time!

Why Does My Dog Not Like to Cuddle With Me?

There are a few reasons why your dog might not like to cuddle with you. One reason is that some dogs just want more space, and may feel overwhelmed if you try to crowd them or force them into physical contact when they don’t want to sit with you. Dogs may also be hesitant to cuddle because they’ve been hurt before by someone cuddling them too tightly, like a child for instance.

For smaller breeds of dog, it may just feel a bit suffocating for them not having room to move around and breathe. Many smaller dog breeds are more high-energy and prefer to be on the move rather than lounging around, but that doesn’t mean that they love you any less.

You also need to consider the possibility that your dog is exhibiting dominant behavior. Dogs are pack animals, being descended from wolves, and still maintain a pack hierarchy in their families even today. Every pack has a leader who’s responsible for looking after the other members of the pack.

When your dog feels the need to be “on duty” like this, then they are showing that they feel they are the head of the pack. Are they also overly protective of you and your property? Do they bark at other dogs through the fence? Does it sometimes feel like they’re pulling and pushing you around, even stepping on your feet?

These are just a few signs of dominance in dogs. If you’ve noticed any of these, you need to address things right away before they escalate into getting aggressive with other dogs or strangers. Go back to the first section of this article where we went over how to do that.

Will My Dog Become More Cuddly?

Many dogs will become more cuddly as they age, particularly as they lose that puppy energy and become more bonded with their owners. Just give them some time and don’t try to force things on a dog that doesn’t like to cuddle, because it’s very possible that they’ll learn to love it soon enough.

What Dog Breeds Don’t Like to Cuddle?

These dog breeds don’t like to cuddle, though you should remember that every dog’s personality will be different, and could change with age and once they’re more comfortable with their owner.

1. Irish Wolfhound
2. Afghan Hound
3. Basenji
4. Bloodhound
5. Scottish Terrier
6. Borzoi
7. Chow-Chow
8. Shar-Pei
9. American Foxhound
10. Shiba Inu
11. Jindo

You should now have all the tools necessary to get your dog to cuddle with you, and to stop what was causing their behavior in the first place. Good luck with everything, and thank you for reading this article “My Dog Doesn’t Like to Cuddle, Is Something Wrong?”