If your dog stopped cuddling with you, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do to get it to stop.
So, why doesn’t my dog cuddle anymore? Common reasons why your dog does not cuddle are intimidation, injury or illness, boredom, thinking you do not want to cuddle or learning that not cuddling gets rewarded.
There is a number of possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are a number of things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are a number of things you can do about it.
Reasons why your dog stopped cuddling
Below are a number of possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.
You intimidated it
The reason why your dog has stopped cuddling could be that you have been intimidating it. This would be more likely if your dog stopped doing it since you started shouting at it or doing other intimidating things.
Injury or illness
Another possible cause is that it has gotten an injury or illness. This would be more likely if it has stopped cuddling suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of having an injury or illness such as limping or vomiting. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Boredom
The reason why your dog has stopped cuddling might also be that it has become bored and unable to stay still. This would be more likely if your dog has not been able to get as much exercise as it normally would and if it does cuddle when it is able to get exercise.
An issue with its diet
It might also be the case that a change in its diet has been causing it to behave differently. This would be more likely if your dog stopped cuddling since a change in its diet and if it has been behaving abnormally in other ways as well.
Encouraging the behavior
Another possible cause is that it has learned that it gets rewarded when it does not hug you. If you tend to give it things such as extra attention or treats, when it does not hug you, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
It thinks you don’t want it to
Another possible cause is that it thinks that you do not want it to cuddle with you. This would be more likely if you have not been trying to get it to sit with you or if you have been rewarding it for sitting away from you.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main cause.
What else happened when it stopped
It would help to consider what else happened when your dog stopped doing it since there might have been an event that caused it to stop. If it stopped doing it suddenly, it might be due to a change in its diet, getting less exercise, injury, illness, or another sudden event.
What is different when your dog does cuddle
If it does still cuddle sometimes, it would also help to consider what is different when it does cuddle. If it does it sometimes, it might be the case that it does not do it when it has not gotten exercise, it is hungry or when there is something that might be causing it to be anxious.
What to do about your dog not wanting to cuddle
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Avoid encouraging it
As mentioned above, it might be the case that your dog has learned that the behavior gets rewarded. Instead, it would help to reward your dog when it behaves the way you want it to and to avoid rewarding it when it does not.
Be calm with it
If you punish your dog when it does something that you do not like, it might not know what you are punishing it for and it could cause it to become resentful. Instead of punishing it, try rewarding good behavior, avoiding rewarding bad behaviors and using positive reinforcement training.
Positive reinforcement training
One thing you can do is to try positive reinforcement training. This is where you reward your dog for doing things that you want it to with attention or treats.
To use it to get your dog to cuddle you more you could do as follows:
- Tell your dog to come where you are sat. If you have not trained your dog to come on command then I have written about how you can do it here.
- Reward it for coming to you
- Then reward it just before you think that it will leave
- Repeat the above. Each time you do it wait a little longer before you reward it for staying with you until you can get it to stay with you without leaving.
Ensure it is eating right
As mentioned above, it might be the case that there is an issue with its diet that is causing it to be unable to stay still. It would help to ensure that it has been getting the right diet and that it has been eating the right amount. It would also help to ensure that no one has been feeding it without telling you.
Give it enough exercise
If your dog is not getting much exercise or attention at the moment then it would help to make sure that it does. One good way to give it both would be to train it to play fetch this will help to wear it out quickly.
Take it to a vet
If it seems like it might be ill or injured, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular dog and to rule out injury or illness as a possible cause.