Why does my dog like to be carried? Here’s What to Expect

A wheeled dog carrier.

Wheeled dog carriers look a lot like wheeled luggage. Your dog sits in the fabric-and-mesh carrier low to the floor while you pull them behind you.

Why do dogs like to cuddle?

Why does my dog like to be carried?

“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).

Difference Between Velcro Dog and Separation Anxiety

A Velcro dog will be “stuck to you” when you are home. They will frequently seek your attention or simply want to be near you at all times. When you are gone, the dog seems fine. It’s able to cope with your absence without significant distress. A dog with separation anxiety will have anxiety when they aren’t with you.

Dogs are creatures of habit. They prefer a stable environment or routine. Some dogs handle change better than others. Moving to a new home, getting a new pet or a new person in the household, or even a change to your work schedule can temporarily turn their world upside down. Just like a child that clings to its parent in a new situation, dogs can cling to their owners when change occurs.

If your dog wants to be held or carried frequently and there’s been a change in the household or their routine, this is likely the cause.

Dogs can’t communicate with words, so it’s up to us to determine what they are trying to say. It’s possible that your dog doesn’t want to be held all the time, and that it’s simply you projecting that onto your dog’s behavior. What does your dog do that tells you they want to be held? Is it possible that they are asking for something else instead?

Carrying my giant dog like a baby

A dog that always wants to be held or carried is known as a “velcro dog” because they seem to be constantly stuck to their owner. You may be wondering why your dog does this, and if it’s something you should be concerned about. Perhaps most important, you want to know how to remove the velcro.