When Dogs Like to Be Picked Up and Held
Small dogs tend to enjoy being picked up and held more than large breeds. Dogs like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and Pugs may even go to their owners and jump up on them, asking to be picked up. This gives them a chance to be closer to their owners, and it makes them feel safe and loved.
A clear sign that a dog is enjoying being held is when they are relaxed in your arms. If they are calm and content, they won’t struggle to get down or squirm around because they feel nervous.
Do dogs like being picked up?
Yes, most dogs seem to like being picked up. However, whether a dog enjoys being picked up has many contributing factors, such as which breed you have, if you have raised the dog or adopted it, the dog’s mood, the dog’s personality, and the way you approach your dog to pick up.
Some dogs prefer physical interaction with humans more than their counterparts. For example, golden retrievers, Labrador, Greyhound, Pit bulls, and Collies just can’t let go of their owners and want to be held all the time.
Whereas, Scottish terrier, Chow-chow, Fox-hound, and Shar-pei are not very snugly and prefer to be on their own mostly. If you want a super-cuddly dog who wants to be picked up like babies, you may look into dog breeds that like to initiate physical interaction.
Then, some dogs cannot curtail their excitement, especially when the owner approaches them after a long day at work. You may have seen dogs jumping on their owners and wanting to be picked up by them immediately.
Raising dogs requires a lot of patience and a keen eye for noticing what makes your fur baby comfortable and which are the behaviors they clearly dislike.
I Haven’t Been Scruffed Since I Was a Puppy
Another common misconception I hear is that scruffing, or lifting a dog by the nape of his neck, is a normal way to pick him up. After all, that’s how his mother carried him when he was a puppy. While this is true, it was only in the brief, early weeks of life, and this behavior doesn’t continue when the pups are grown. Just as our mothers stop carrying us on their hips after a certain point, scruffing is not comfortable or natural for grown dogs.