Why do dogs like to cuddle?
“Dogs cuddle to get warmth, bond with their family members or pack, and because it releases chemicals and hormones that make them feel good,” Bernal says.
When dogs cuddle with us, their brains release the feel-good hormone oxytocin, “which reinforces their desire and enjoyment of touch and bonding,” she adds.
The desire to cuddle is rooted in dog domestication — dogs have evolved to be with humans — but it also has to do with a more fundamental evolutionary desire to be in social groups with other dogs.
“Dogs in the wild and young puppies often cuddle with their littermates and mother as a way of bonding and showing subordination,” Chyrle Bonk, a veterinarian at Hepper, tells Inverse.
“When your dog cuddles with you, they’re showing their complete trust and love in your relationship,” Bonk adds.
“Dogs are pack animals by nature, so touch and affection are a strong love language,” Bernal explains further.
But cuddles can mean very different things to dogs than humans, she adds. It can even lead to another typical dog behavior: Zoomies.
“For some dogs, especially those who are younger and learning to play, cuddling can be a way of engagement that excites them, leading to a period of hyperactivity or those classic zoomies around your home,” Bernal adds.
Cuddling can also turn into aggression if another person is nearby and the dog feels protective of their pet parent.
Please pay attention to your dog’s body language to assess whether and how they want to be cuddled (more on that below).
Why won’t my dog cuddle with me anymore?
There are a variety of reasons why your once-cuddly puppy doesn’t want to snuggle anymore. Some of these are temporary, while others might be a more permanent change in your dog’s comfort level for cuddles.
Sometimes, your dog is simply too warm to enjoy a cuddle session! If your dog has a lot of fur, or if the weather is warmer than usual, your dog simply might not be comfortable with the added heat.
For example, my Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Windigo and Hobbes, are quite fluffy. They love to snuggle, but they love being comfortable and cool more.
In the winter, both dogs spend much of their time sleeping in bed snuggled close to me. In the summer, however, or if we’ve turned the air off and it’s not as cool as they’d like, they tend to sleep on their own. They sometimes even prefer sleeping on the hardwood or tile floors because of the difference in temperature.
If your dog is a breed that isn’t typically cuddly, it might just be that your puppy is growing up and becoming more independent. Not all dogs enjoy snuggling, so if that’s important to you, it’s best to get a puppy from a breed that’s known to enjoy cuddling.
Here is a list of dog breeds more likely to cuddle:
Another reason your dog might not like to cuddle is because they had a bad experience cuddling. Sometimes, if your dog was stressed by being forced to cuddle, they might want to avoid that activity because it made them uncomfortable.
While forcing your dog into a situation they don’t like is rarely a good idea because it can put you at risk of a dog bite, it also often means that your dog simply won’t like that situation anymore.
Spending time to get your dog comfortable with cuddling is important if you want it to be an activity you and your puppy can enjoy together.
tends to play bite, put a chewy or toy in his mouth before rolling him over. If he wiggles and squirms, gently hold him there until he relaxes and then say, “good relax,” and then take your hand away and say, “ok”.
5. When your puppy is mellow after playing or going for a walk, pick your puppy up in your lap and gently hug him. Only hug him for a brief second, tell him, “good!” and then release him. Slowly you can build up the amount of time that you hug your puppy. The idea is to build up a positive association with being handled and lightly squeezed, instead of feeling trapped and nervous. If your puppy wiggles and squirms to get out of your arms, keep gently holding him until he relaxes. As soon as he relaxes, say, “good relax” and then release him.
3. While sitting on the floor with your puppy, put your hands around his shoulders as he is sitting and lightly hold him. If he tries to wiggle away, just keep holding him until he calms down. When he relaxes, tell him, “good relax” and then say “ok” and let him go. This exercise is good for teaching dogs to relax and chill out, before they are able to go play with another puppy or greet a person. They soon learn that self-control allows them to get what they want sooner.
1. Instead of feeding your puppy in his bowl, hand feed your puppy with one hand and gently pet your puppy with the other hand. Softly touch his ears and slowly pet his back, top of the head and chest. If your puppy is very uncomfortable with being held or is showing signs of being food aggressive, start out just by hand feeding him and then after a few times of doing this exercise, briefly incorporate lightly petting your puppy.
2. When your puppy is in a mellow mood, gently roll him onto his side or on his back and rub his belly in slow circles. If you have a puppy that