Why doesn’t my sheltie like to be touched or snuggles
- Thread starter kayla
- Start date
Lol that’s my girl!
I got her at 10 weeks! She was a snuggler initially but I was training her to be a service animal at the time and was told they CANT sleep in the same bed because they won’t think I’m alpha
Unfortunately I think this was the worst advice because I ended up not using her as a service animal but rather an emotional support animal and I’m wondering if making her sleep in a crate made her resent me and hate cuddles ):
Unfortunately I think this was the worst advice because I ended up not using her as a service animal but rather an emotional support animal and I’m wondering if making her sleep in a crate made her resent me and hate cuddles ):
!
She’s a year now. She seamed more cuddly as a puppy she used to walk up to me middle of night and just lay on my chest!
SheepOfBlue
Premium Member
Nope Angus sleeps in his crate because he eats things... well everything LOL. But he is the snuggle king and is in my lap at least once a day and usually 3 or 4.
Did he hate the crate as a puppy though? Yuki HATED HATED HATED the crate! She just wanted to be with me
Ann
Moderator
Once she's house trained, I would consider letting her out of the crate to sleep. If she wants to sleep with you, let her. You need her to bond with you. Letting her come to you on her terms is the way to get there. When you're sitting on the floor and she comes and sniffs you, try a little gentle play. Use a toy if she likes them. The important thing is to let her initiate the contact. Once she loses interest, stop. You may only get a minute or two at the beginning, but once she gets it, it will really help.
My girl came to us at 5 months and had bonded with her people and siblings at home and would just go off to another room here. She didn't want to be petted or held. This is how I got her to bond with me and now she's the biggest snuggler in the house. She always has to be close to me.
My girl came to us at 5 months and had bonded with her people and siblings at home and would just go off to another room here. She didn't want to be petted or held. This is how I got her to bond with me and now she's the biggest snuggler in the house. She always has to be close to me.
Caro
Moderator
How sad someone told you that, the alpha idea has been de-bunked anyway, but there's no behavioural reason not to let her on (unless she's resource guarding other dogs). It that shouldn't make a big difference to cuddling - Mr D never slept on the bed and he was the biggest cuddler ever. Actually Tully is the only dog I've had that's slept on the bed (and she does it because the cats sleep there). However, as Ann mentioned, if she's a support dog she should really be bonding with you so letting her out of her crate, and on the bed if she wants, is a good start.
I've always had cuddlers, my feeling is you can train cuddling like you can train a dog to do tricks. So just like you would shape a behaviour with treats, do the same with cuddling. If she's not getting close, start with using treats. Have high value treats and give her one for coming in close, then closer until she's on your lap. Then extend the amount of time to get the treats. Importantly, being with you must be the best fun she can have. When she is cuddling, make it a fun time, a play time, have a special toy or a special game you only play when she's close. Another thing you can do is gentle massages, dogs love them and only do massages when she is physically leaning on you.
She is still young though, still an adolescent, so give her time. Not many adolescents cuddle their mum.
I've always had cuddlers, my feeling is you can train cuddling like you can train a dog to do tricks. So just like you would shape a behaviour with treats, do the same with cuddling. If she's not getting close, start with using treats. Have high value treats and give her one for coming in close, then closer until she's on your lap. Then extend the amount of time to get the treats. Importantly, being with you must be the best fun she can have. When she is cuddling, make it a fun time, a play time, have a special toy or a special game you only play when she's close. Another thing you can do is gentle massages, dogs love them and only do massages when she is physically leaning on you.
She is still young though, still an adolescent, so give her time. Not many adolescents cuddle their mum.
Yeah it’s been a while since I’ve made her sleep in a crate. I don’t even crate her when I leave the house since she’s usually well behaved. I moved into a smaller bed though so she used to love sleeping with me now she prefers her own bed on the floor which I can’t blame her since I always move in my sleep! I already tried the treats and sit in my lap and she took to it very well I’m going to continue this cuddle training thanks for your advice!