Seems like a straightforward question, and one that depends heavily on anthropomorphising you pet, but stick with me. Scientific schools of thought, would have us believe that dogs do the things they do because they are basically fuzzy little parasites. We have bred them over time to be cute; and more in the past then lately, do useful things. Trainers such as Ceaser Milan argue that everything they do boils down to pack behaviour, and instincts.
So what’s the deal with cuddles? Nashiitashii and I care for a four year old German shepard /Shar-pei cross called Sienna. Though quite a bright dog according to the various canine intellegence tests she’s been put through, certain behaviours I can’t seem to correlate with a purely scientific solution. For example, last night 'Nenna came over, hopped up next to me and prompted me for hugs. She does this by pushing her head against you and patting at you with her paw until you give in and cuddle her. She will also prompt you for kisses. A kiss of the forehead is always reciprocated with a lick and a tail wag. This is only used for “cuddle me” and she never recieves any other reward other than physical affection for it.
So why do dogs like being cuddled? In wild packs they often sleep together for warmth, but I have rarely observed them cuddling for the sheer enjoyment of it.
I think it’s an acceptance thing. They like the attention from you, the Alpha Dog. If you think about it, they’re not into the soft and warm cuddles like cats are, but the physical contact is fine so long as it’s there. Dogs will enjoy a cuddle (as the term is understood by humans) and a spot of play fighting equally.
My Boss has two Yorkies she brings to the office. Last week she was away for four days but her caretaker dropped them off every day. On the fourth day I went into her office and sat on the floor to get something off of a lower shelf. The Yorkies immediately came over, sat in my lap and started nuzzling me.
They missed having physical contact during the day.
My dogs love physical contact. My english setter is laying beside me right now with his head on my shoe, and that’s only because I got tired of him shoving him head under my arm as I was trying to type and made him get down. My standard poodle loves to put her paws on my shoulders and lean her head against mine. My doberman is a pushy bitch who’ll try to puch the otehr dogs out of hte way to get her share of hugs. The malamute has been an outside barn dog all his life until I adopted him, but he’ll stand behind the other dogs and look at me and wag his tail until I initiate affection. And even when it’s hot they all sleep toching each other.
Most pet dogs display puppyish tendencies even after they’ve matured. Puppies, even in the wild, crave physical expressions of affection and approval from older dogs, and particularly from their mothers. Our pets view us as large, funny-looking mommies: we feed them, discipline them, play with them. It’s only natural that they should want us to pet and hug and snuggle with them.
:smack: I’d forgotten about “imprinting”. Sienna was bottle fed as an orphan. Even at four, she still has “little” days where she will be clingy and shadow you keeping in near constant contact.
Our Boomer is a cuddlebug too. He’s mid-size so it’s easy to cuddle him. He loves to get up on my husband’s lap and snuggle sideways, with his head on hubby’s shoulder. He also likes to sit by my chair and lean on me, so I can put my arm around his neck. The hair under his neck is so soft – almost as good as cat fur.
Lexie, our Westie, likes to snuggle up against my dad on the sofa.
And when I was little, my grandmother had a little Yorkie named Jennifer. Whenever we’d visit, and Grandma was sitting watching tv, Jennifer was always curled up in her lap.
Both of my dogs adored cuddles; The ridgie was all for a good belly rub but he’d push his way into your hands so you’d pat his ears. The rottie used to be a jealous bastard and push everyone else out of the way for a cuddle. When he greets me, he puts his head in my lap so I pat his ears. My boss’ Akita is the same; loves a cuddle from everyone. But she also has a fascination with my jeans and from the moment I step inside the house to babysit his daughter, to the moment I leave, her nose is glued to my pants.
My labs love being cuddled. Tigger often lies next to me on the couch when I watch TV. She demands that I put my arm around her.
My border collie is less demonstrative toward me, but is thrilled when my old lab allows her to sleep with her paws touching him. Overall, my labs are more cuddly than my cats.
Clover the dog will come to me if I’m at the computer, and stand with her paws on my legs. “Do you want a cuddle?”
Wriggle. And I lift her up for a cuddle. She comes to me for one if she’s feeling cuddle-deprived. In bed, she loves to lie snuggled up against either me or my husband.
Ah but what is the driving motivation behind the desire to cuddle? Is it for the pure joy of it? It is simple instinct to suck up to the pack leader? Is it perhaps a more sinister motive, an insidious and subtle ploy to gain more cookies? I want to know if that wagging tail and adoring eyes are there by choice or by nature, or by evil design. :eek:
Our golden retriever is a Velcro dog. He wants physical contact with a human every moment he possibly can. Even when you tell him to sit, 90% of the time he spins around and sits on your feet. He will let you pet or skritch or brush him endlessly.
Our lab loves affection, too, but only when he wants it. When he’s sleeping, he prefers to be left alone. But at unexpected moments, he’ll come over for pets or cuddles. Of course, when he does, our golden immediately has to try to get between him and the human!
I’ve never really considered why they do it; I’m sure part of it is physical acceptance from the Alpha dog but, especially with the example of my boss’ Akita, it’s a real want for physical affection. It’s hard to describe what makes it feel that way, but she comes up and greets you, sniffs you (or in my case, glues her nose to my leg) and then waits. If you pat her, she actively enjoys it, rubbing her head against your hand etc. Sweetest dog.
I want to know if that wagging tail and adoring eyes are there by choice or by nature, or by evil design. :eek: