Zephyr does not cuddle.

A

AlterEgo

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Zephyr, my year old blue merle sheltie, does not cuddle. She lets anyone and everyone pet her, is a happy dog, plays, and enjoys a good belly rub (what dog DOESN'T love belly rubs) but will not cuddle. If she lays with me on the bed, she lays at my feet, almost never touching unless it's a chilly day, and even then it's usually just a sliver of her back pressed against my leg. I was wondering if this is a normal behavior for shelties? I'm used to smaller dogs that love to lay on you and near you. (Zephyr is my first sheltie, and I LOVE them now!)

Also, not sure if it's related, but when she does lay at my feet she tends to be very alert. Especially if my husband is working the night shift. She looks around the room, and if she hears a noise she gives a low sound like an 'oof'. Is she guarding? She also does this in the mornings when I sleep in. She won't get up until I do, even if her daddy is already up and in the living room. And when I do get up, if I go on the computer she does the same stance under the coffee table. (Though she tends to fall asleep).
 
It is not uncommon for shelties to not like to cuddle.

My sheltie never cuddles. She likes to be in the same room as me, but will not lay or sleep next to me. When she does sleep on the bed, she sleeps by my feet. She's been this way since she was a puppy.
 
Sadie was not cuddly at all and couldn't stand still long enough to be petted most of the time, which I found VERY frustrating. My parent's male sheltie was VERY cuddly.

We eventually brought home a puppy from Sadie's breeder who is a half sister of Sadie's. Sadie had just turned two when the puppy was 9 weeks old. Ginny was the complete opposite of Sadie and loved to be petted and cuddled, which made me happy.

Sadie though, apparently didn't like the competition and started cuddling with me not long after we brought the puppy home.

Of my three shelties, Sadie is now easily the cuddliest. If one of my other shelties is cuddling with me she'll watch and wait till they leave and immediately take their spot. :lol:

All shelties are different, but you could always try getting another one to make the first one jealous. It wasn't something I meant to do but it sure worked well for us, lol. :winkgrin:
 
AlterEgo said:
Zephyr, my year old blue merle sheltie, does not cuddle. She lets anyone and everyone pet her, is a happy dog, plays, and enjoys a good belly rub (what dog DOESN'T love belly rubs) but will not cuddle. If she lays with me on the bed, she lays at my feet, almost never touching unless it's a chilly day, and even then it's usually just a sliver of her back pressed against my leg. I was wondering if this is a normal behavior for shelties? I'm used to smaller dogs that love to lay on you and near you. (Zephyr is my first sheltie, and I LOVE them now!)

Also, not sure if it's related, but when she does lay at my feet she tends to be very alert. Especially if my husband is working the night shift. She looks around the room, and if she hears a noise she gives a low sound like an 'oof'. Is she guarding? She also does this in the mornings when I sleep in. She won't get up until I do, even if her daddy is already up and in the living room. And when I do get up, if I go on the computer she does the same stance under the coffee table. (Though she tends to fall asleep).
Click to expand...

Did you kidnap my Ember?:wink2::lol:Just Kidding. You just described her to a T. She will happily lay against me but don't touch her or she is gone. She lays on the bed at my feet. I can ask her to come up onto my chest if I am sitting in the chair and she will but she has the look on her face that screams Ah, mom do I have to.

This is her typical sleeping position. Like I said she would stay there all night as long as I don't touch her.

http://sheltieforums.com/album.php?albumid=171&pictureid=2012

Justice is the same way. Diva is a bit more snuggly but not overly so. All 3 will stick to me like glue and "watch" for danger. All 3 like petting and attention just not lap sitting and snuggling.
 
Awesome!

Awesome! I am glad Zephyr isn't the only one to act this way. :D I mean, it'd be nice if she cuddled with her momma, but as long as she's happy and there isn't anything wrong, I'm totally okay with her being a bit aloof.

And Ember is absolutely ADORABLE!
 
Oh yeah, totally normal. My Smokey never liked to cuddle. Trax just wants to play and only wants to cuddle when it's cold at night. Maverick hated being cuddled or picked up or snuggled for the longest time. About 6 months ago all of the sudden he decided that he wanted to be on top of us all the time. He just turned 2 in October. I have no clue what changed but he is now cuddly but he's the first Sheltie I've ever had that was cuddly. If I even lay my head down too close to Trax he'll get up and move to another sofa or chair. :lol:
 
Sounds like she's a normal Sheltie! Even if you are an experienced dog person, Shelties are different. Some have a lot of mannerisms that are more like cats than dogs. :lol:

And then, there's the crossed front paws thing. My first Sheltie, Neechee did that, but Bela, who owns me now? Not so much.

Any "odd" behavior I have to explain to my non-Sheltie-person husband always ends with "It's a Sheltie thing.":winkgrin:
 
Greyson is the same way, if he is not being scratched or petted he will move to sit under my feet. He has to get something out of it if he is going to cuddle!! :lol:
 
Gypsy has never been a cuddler either. Watching Tv she lays about a foot away from me at the other end of the couch or at my feet, at night in bed always at my feet and recently she gives me a tap around 3-4am to put her on the floor where she remains on watch til morning.

Chandler didn't want to lay across my lap but always against me in some way. behind me on the couch, up against me or above my head in bed.

Buddy my first Sheltie was always on my lap a real cuddler. In my experience the boys have been real lovers, my female admires and loves me from afar. :rolleyes2:
 
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