CareTraining

My Dog Doesn’t Like to Cuddle, Is Something Wrong?

“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

My Dog Doesn't Like to Cuddle

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.

This will get your dog to start enjoying cuddling, but it’s important to remember that the underlying behavioral issues (trust and anxiety) that were causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address those, any positive changes you see are only going to be temporary.

“So, how do I make these changes last then?”

By getting your dog to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like when your dog doesn’t like to cuddle and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about your dog not wanting to cuddle ever again!

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?”

The Author

KB

KB

Hey there! I'm a dog behavior expert and lover of travel. Since 2016, I've been sharing my knowledge of dog training and behavior while exploring the Pacific Northwest with my two rescues.