[Carter Smith]

all these posts are funny, and true. I consider my pup fairly affectionate when she wants to be, but I have more success getting her to sit still for nail clippings then I would for a cuddle.

 

[FenrirsMom]

all these posts are funny, and true. I consider my pup fairly affectionate when she wants to be, but I have more success getting her to sit still for nail clippings then I would for a cuddle.

Same! She’s super smart and attentive and willing to do anything I ask…except let me love her. If I try to give her some love. I get some bites and whining.

 

[FenrirsMom]

What a cute baby dog! This came up a lot between 10-16 weeks with Rosie. She still isn't "cuddly" at 20 weeks, but a couple times a day, she crawls into my lap for love. Usually first thing in the AM when I let her out of the crate, when you'd think she needs to go outside. Nope she wants to curl right on my lap and close her eyes for a few more minutes. Same thing before crate time in the PM. My wife gets a little jealous sometimes most of the time however, she's just happy being next to us. For reference, she is 50% GSD, 30% Husky, 20% Akita, nothing generally affectionate...

Thank you! We’re very proud puppy parents and think she’s so cute too!
Your dog sounds so cute! I hope mine gets a schedule like that. Wanting little cuddle moments at different times of the day. Its funny though because this morning she crawled into my lap and I was thinking “It’s happening!” And then after 30 seconds she got mouthy, bit me and scampered away. We’re working on it! 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

[Sunsilver]

Star didn't like to cuddle as a pup, but when she got older, she would come and look at me, asking permission to put her paws up on my lap. When I gave her the okay, we'd then have a nice hug and cuddle session, while her rear stayed on the floor. She was much too big to be a lap dog!

 

[WNGD]

GSD aren't generally cuddle dogs, you got the wrong breed for that.
Mine love attention though, morning butt rubs, hip massages, brushing, ear rubs, wrestling, hip checks, body slams, head butts but cuddling that equals restraint/lack of freedom/personal space is not often sought. They love to sit/lay by you but not on you (warm blooded dbl coated hairy beasts)

Love and loyalty are expressed in a myriad of other ways.

 

[adamhossane]

Some dogs are just naturally shy. They're afraid of new things and unfamiliar places. They may even be afraid of their own reflection.

 

[RosiesPaw]

Thank you! We’re very proud puppy parents and think she’s so cute too!
Your dog sounds so cute! I hope mine gets a schedule like that. Wanting little cuddle moments at different times of the day. Its funny though because this morning she crawled into my lap and I was thinking “It’s happening!” And then after 30 seconds she got mouthy, bit me and scampered away. We’re working on it! 🤷🏻‍♀️

we're new to this puppy life, for sure, especially a predominantly German shepherd puppy, but in our experience the mouthiness got better kind of quickly. we have 5 benebones, a couple rope toys, some tennis balls, and some other tug toys within reach at ALL times to fill her mouth when necessary. If it's chewing on things, grannicks bitter apple spray works wonders for our home. she hasn't ruined anything since we starting spraying it

 

[Hopps]

Fern just started to realize that laying down on the human's bed is fun. She was very stoked to find out that she can watch me up close and get head pats at the same time. The bad part is she has a bit of attitude these days... She was leaning on my leg and I moved it because my foot was going numb. She gave me the most annoyed look and sighed super loud. My bad I guess?

 

[FenrirsMom]

we're new to this puppy life, for sure, especially a predominantly German shepherd puppy, but in our experience the mouthiness got better kind of quickly. we have 5 benebones, a couple rope toys, some tennis balls, and some other tug toys within reach at ALL times to fill her mouth when necessary. If it's chewing on things, grannicks bitter apple spray works wonders for our home. she hasn't ruined anything since we starting spraying it

Wr have a ton of benebones, balls, and other chew toys and she still nips us. She’s not destructive to the house at all just to my hands and ankles. And she seems like like the bitter apple spray so that’s fun. Are there other sprays that people know of?

 

[JockSTAR]

Hi, my 8 year old boy is only getting around to coming up for a cuddle now and again now. But when he was puppy he wouldn't be having it at all. I have spoken to other GSD owners and they have confirmed the same behaviour, mostly. I put it down to that they have figured out your the boss and let's face it, none of us hug our bosses but when we have a good relationship with the boss, we are respectful? Maybe that's it. Take her outside and when she is being all independent like and ignoring you, hide behind a tree or something for a couple of seconds. You will see how much she needs you when she starts looking for you!

 

[davewis]

On a related note. I had a black lab that never once in his life did he lay done facing me! He was the biggest snuggler you could possibly imagine. But, he would always to lie down with his back or butt towards me.

What a weirdo Something must have been happening in his dog brain.

 

[Sunsilver]

I have a cat that loves to cuddle. When I lie down on the sofa at night to watch TV, he considers it my duty to provide him with a place on my lap, so he can be petted. I can't sit for long on the sofa, as it's gotten saggy with age, and bothers my arthritic hip, so I have to lie down.

Anyway, I was just getting up the other morning, and B.J. had just had some attention, when Eska came over and wanted her fair share. In order for me to stroke her, she had her butt within B.J.'s reach. At first, I though he was going to jump on her back, but instead, he swatted her bum, then it looked like he BIT her!

She immediately whirled around, and they started their usual sparring match, which happens several times a day.

I swear, I think the cat was jealous of her getting attention! 🤣

 

[car2ner]

Wr have a ton of benebones, balls, and other chew toys and she still nips us. She’s not destructive to the house at all just to my hands and ankles. And she seems like like the bitter apple spray so that’s fun. Are there other sprays that people know of?

We did something with our big-boy pup that many others don't do. We wore thick gloves and actually rough housed with our pup. Just a short game at night before bedtime. My pup and my hubby loved it. We stopped when two things happened. The pup got to big to wrestle without crashing into furniture. The other issue is that the sharp puppy teeth changed into chompers and wow, he learned to bite hard. Then we put the gloves on a rope and they became tug toys. We started this game when he was a little guy around 10 weeks old and were using the gloves as tug toys around 6 months or so. This may have helped our big-boy learn bite discernment and do well doing bite work in IGP training.

 

[Kiki18]

my gsd doesn't like cuddles ever since he was 9 weeks old, he loves his family just doesn't like to cuddle or hugs.

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

Keefer was super cuddly, even from a young age. He wasn't allowed on the furniture so I'd sit on the floor with him and he'd immediately come sit in my lap. I had to hold him away from me with one arm to brush him because he'd lean against me and I couldn't get to that side. He was a big, sweet mush of a dog and would have smeared himself all over me like peanut butter if I let him, and he loved hugs, from anyone, not just us. His half sister Dena was a cuddler too. I love this photo of him getting a hug from my husband, you can see how relaxed and comfortable he is:



Halo as a puppy was too busy being ...... busy to cuddle. But that changed as she matured. She slept in her crate in our bedroom at night, but would always jump up on the bed for cuddles before going in the crate for the night. When we traveled for flyball tournaments she's stretch out next to me on the bed and spoon. One time when she was still fairly young we'd taken the dogs to the beach and ran and swam their butts off. She wasn't allowed on the furniture yet (she later "fixed" that rule 😅) but I was laying on the couch reading after we'd gotten home and she was so tired she climbed up and laid on top of me to cuddle. It was so cute that I let her stay. And whenever she didn't feel good she would come to me for comfort. Eventually we went from "no dogs on the couch" to "only by invitation", to "okay fine, whatever", lol.

Cava is a cuddly girl, she curls up next to me on the couch every evening.

 

[WNGD]

On a related note. I had a black lab that never once in his life did he lay done facing me! He was the biggest snuggler you could possibly imagine. But, he would always to lie down with his back or butt towards me.

What a weirdo Something must have been happening in his dog brain.

Well, they can't scratch their own shoulders or above their tail by themselves you know ....

 

[Rob_Drifter]

Annie actually shies away when I go to pet her if she is in "work" mode. She is 16 months now. She is definitely not a "thirsty" dog 😀

 

[Baileyshuman]

My dog, Bailey, was not a cuddler as a puppy. in fact, he’d rather be 100ft away playing with something dead in the grass (yay). Now at a year and a bit, he loves his cuddles. Give him all the cuddles. Definitely depends on the dog

 

[finn'smom]

Finn was not a cuddly puppy, somewhere just short of the two year mark he started seeking out cuddles when it suited him. He will let me do almost anything to him but I still wouldn't consider him cuddly.

 

[FenrirsMom]

Hey everyone!
My boyfriend and I have a now 12 week old puppy who we think is pretty amazing. Fenrir has awesome focus for her age and can be very alternative during training sessions and already knows a lot of tricks and important commands.
The only thing we can’t seem to figure out is she doesn’t like cuddling…at all. She tends to turn most interactions into an immediate opportunity to nip at us or bite. She is, slowly, learning bite inhibition and not biting as hard or as often but still the lack of wanting to cuddle without biting is a bit confusing to us.
Im a long time dog owner, but this is my first shepherd. Is it common that they don’t want to cuddle? Had anyone else experienced this and worked through it? Any suggestions?
Thank you in advance!

Also here’s some pictures of Fenrir. Just for cuteness sake! View attachment 587770
View attachment 587769

I wasn’t sure what’s the best way to update this post for people but oddly enough, after reading all these responses I am figuring out my dog is very affectionate by GSD standards.

She lets me pick up her front half for a hug, she crawls into my lap if I’m on the ground, she begs to get in bed with us, so I guess she’s super affectionate.

The problem I’m realizing is she’s bitter big while affectionate. I can’t understand why she wants to be with me and “cuddle” only to get bit 1 second later. I guess this is just average puppy hood but man am I looking forward to her loosing those puppy teeth and figuring it out that I hate being bitten. My hands and legs can only take so much!
Thanks for all the stories and replies! It’s been so helpful!