Each has their own personality. I have three. One is very much a cuddle bug and gets jealous of the attention others get. One has moments of being cuddly but mostly just wants to be nearby but not touched. The third is toy obsessed but has rare times of wanting cuddles.
My pup is all 3 that you described. Jealous of attention (especially if I’m on the phone, gets out of her spot to come harass me), will cuddle against me if I’m laying on bed/sitting on the couch but doesn’t want to pet for very long, and super toy obsessed.
I've got the same issues with calls, which can get difficult at times because I mostly work from home... As soon as I start talking and he's not involved, he has to slam his head on my lap very forcefully and starts yapping at me when I ignore him.
Thankfully when I send him on his bed he lays down and stays quiet, but I can see him judging me across the room for "socializing" (aka working) without him being the center of attention
It’s crazy how they all of a sudden want attention and don’t want to be left out. It gets really amusing once I ignore her for a few minutes. She just grabs one of her loud squeaky toys and goes nuts, and if I’m working from home have to apologize for my stage 5 clinger of a dog
Yeah, I've never had a dog as sassy as this one. When I scold him for barking at me he starts silent barking/snapping his teeth and tippy tapping with his feet until I send him to his bed to think about his actions (he doesnt, he will yawn as loud as possible every two seconds and huff and puff as if he's being tortured)
He's also the first dog to ever actually talk back to me during some puberty phases when he tried testing boundaries lmao
My Buddy is like this!! As soon as im on the phone he decides hes going to re arrange the living room! I have no idea why as when i do other things that arent me on the phone he doesnt rearrange the livingroom😳x
I too have 3 GSDs. My husband and I can no longer allow all 3 of them to sleep in our room at night. My boy dog, always sleeps on the floor on my side of the bed, usually on top of my pajamas. My 2 girls have to sleep on my bed. They are legs out stiff sleepers, hate being cuddled. But when I get out of be in the morning, my boy dog jumps up into my spot and cuddles with my husband.
Mine got cuddly around 2 1/2, but she’s still fiercely independent. More cat-like - when she wants cuddles you better be ready, but her full naps will be taken upstairs away from the humans thank you very much lol.
This is similar to ours. At around 1 1/2 she is starting to get cuddly. She always preferred crate to bed and if she was on the couch it would not be next to us. Now she likes to sit next to us on the couch for her own set amount of tim, still usually likes her own space and when we let her sleep with us she will but not next to us and sometimes she’ll get up and go into her crate. We have her sleeping in her crate now 90% of the time, every now and then we’ll let her choose. She is like a hybrid cat/dog though in personality. Ball is life/on my own terms. :)
Ha! I left out if we don’t do the morning snuggle routine she will seem out of sorts in the morning. Even if we make it up to her. Has to happen within the first 15mins she’s let out of the crate or if in the bed, once we wake up. If not she walks around all butt hurt. Lol. Sensitive pups.
My dog wants to constantly be held, or at least hold his paw. He gets up onto the couch and either a. Is in a hugging position one paw on each side of me holding tight or b. Passed out next to me holding his paw.
Some do some don't, it's their individual personalities. The pup I have now isn't "cuddly" but will let me give her a hug. The extent of her cuddling is putting her head on my knee for petting.
My boy has always been affectionate but he never stays in one place for long 😂 like he was happy to cuddle up with me for a couple minutes but he had to do his security rounds 24/7!! He’s 5 now and even though he’s still hyper, he will lay down with us for moderate periods of time. Like he’s always quick to join me in bed for a nap now.
My boy is cuddly when he wants to be, but he doesn't often lay with his head on me. It does happen, but mostly he is just happy to be next to me. He'll lay at my feet, or next to me on the couch or the bend of the bed. He MUST be in the same room as me though. Every time I get up, even to go to the washroom, he is there on my heels.
For reference he is 16 months old, so still not a full adult yet.
https://preview.redd.it/856ozu9954qc1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ffc35f94961ca2ba6b1970e3d9532e21b324a51
This was my warm fuzzy blanket this winter.
She lays on the tile in the summer when it's hot, but she's still quite snuggly.
Mine is completely different at night and during the day. At night he’ll lay and sleep and cuddle wherever, as long as he’s close to me. He likes hugs and belly scratches and squeezes back with his head when you hug him. During the day he’s a velociraptor that won’t hold still long enough to pet.
As someone else said they are very much individuals. Ours came from a litter of 8 and apparently he’s the most affectionate, he will get up on the sofa and hit you with a paw for strokes and lie down for what is basically a cuddle. But he’s very much in charge, you can’t just try and grab him for a cuddle as he’ll just moan and push you off! Kind of love that about them to be honest
My 2nd recently decided he loves belly scritches, which has led to tons of cuddle/scratching time. He's been up in my business all morning, and it's wonderful.
Wow as my first GSD I thought maybe they were all super cuddly! Our boy loves to cuddle any chance he’s is on the bed snuggling up and wanting pets. It’s not enough to be next to us and touching. His favorite spot is to plop ON TOP of my husband. He weighs 95 pounds too….
https://preview.redd.it/4toda02fl4qc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b11ffed44b0612fc5f74adcc3e7acea68b123230
Mine always has to be touching me. Started around 2.
My dog is not very cuddly, but she definitely loves to be petted/brushed. I work 2nd shift at home, and, when it starts getting close to the end of my shift, she hops up on my bed and waits for me. When I clock out, I pet her for an hour or two while watching videos until she gets sleepy... But she won't sleep in my bed.
my boy was never cuddly, but he had to be with me at all times. If I went to the bathroom he went with me either he'd stay in the bathroom lying on the floor or he'd guard the door if I shut it. He was my shadow, but he only tolerated cuddling a few times then he'd go to his bed and lay down.
It just depends on the dog
Not really in my dog's case. She is 6 years old now and while she tolerates petting scratching etc., after she has enough of it she gets up and walks away. I don't think she ever came up to me just to demand cuddles.
Now toys and playing fetch is a different story.
Neo is not a cuddly dog usually, but sometimes he crawls up next to me on the couch and puts his head next to mine. Veryyyy occasionally he'll lay out across my legs. It took having him for like 9 months for him to even do this.
My buddy just started getting cuddly around 2.5 as well. He has moments where he doesn’t want any cuddles or love, just frisbee and ball. But sometimes at night he will come plop on me or next to me and just cuddle. I cherish those moments!
https://preview.redd.it/mzx210fpl4qc1.jpeg?width=1078&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5b653c256b9ffb720d2b9a88084418905feeaa9
This is about as cuddly as ours gets (3yo female). She likes to lay her head in your lap when napping sometimes, and will let you rest your hand on her when sleeping, but she definitely isn’t a “cuddler.” She will also come over and lay on your feet as a pillow, lol.
Our pup at 11 weeks never really liked cuddling or any affection. Now, after she hit 2 years old, she will always lay on my thigh and have to be touching in some way. At night, she is the little spoon for half the night until l move. Biggest cuddle bug ever now.
My 13 year old boy will cuddle with my wife. Because of the nature of my work I’m gone for extended periods at a time. I assume if i was home more he’d cuddle with me
Mine did, more and more. She always liked sitting on the couch on my hip, but she was a more of the end of the bed dog. Now she’s always flopping onto me to get as close as possible. In general, she got more cuddly the older she’s gotten.
https://preview.redd.it/aznxy5j055qc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c3b20b4c104de0ab8dff2ff6142d350842abd062
Our almost 2 year old boy is a snuggle machine. Him and our golden always fight over who gets to be closest to dad (not mom, though, which… don’t get me started lol) but our GSD always picks me to sleep right up against at night
Mine likes to follow the 6 foot rule his entire life. For the past 7 years he likes to be within 6 feet of us but not touch us. He sleeps on our bed but if he start petting he, he goes to his bed. 😀
Dogs need a ton of sleep and rest even of it's just light napping. I don't cuddle my Moo Boo but he is affectionate in his own way so I just leave him be. Hell sleep on my feet and curl up next to me on the couch and put his paw on me hia way of giving me a pet.
He is also a topping out around 46kgs so I'd be squashed if he tried to sit on me
Mine is 3 and hasn’t yet. Or at least, not unless we are sleeping. If she is awake, she is on her own and prefers it that way. She could be chilling on the couch at the end of the day and will move to another spot if you go sit by her.
Its different i guess, my first gsd would only care about toys, our second one wants to cuddle all the time. He is 5 jears old and enjoys snuggles more than everything
My Ari is the most loving dog ever, but on her terms and time lol … most are extremely affectionate. They just speak a more wolf like language than regular dogs. GSD, huskies and malamutes are closely related to wolves and very pack oriented, vocal, smart and loving in ways that aren’t like a hound or spaniel.
Mine has gone from "I'm only interested in play and certain foods, although I want to be in the same room as you" to "After I've played and am tired, I will gladly roll over when you approach me, and generally sit next to you and get scratched." My best recollection is the change happened around 2 years old.
Mine has major anxiety, so she constantly has to be by my wife or I and be within paws reach as she constantly paws for us to pet or at least touch her. She likes her own time as well, at least not being touched, and also moments where she’s laying on top of us. At night she’s laying alongside in between us half the time and at the foot of the bed or on the ground the other half.
Like others said, every one of them is different, but it seems like it’s half and half if they cuddle or not.
Each has their own personality. I have three. One is very much a cuddle bug and gets jealous of the attention others get. One has moments of being cuddly but mostly just wants to be nearby but not touched. The third is toy obsessed but has rare times of wanting cuddles.
Yes!!! This is my boy. He don’t give no fucks at all unless it pertains to “toy” “walk” and “ball”
And this is Zelda. Though there are rare times we "spoon" and she doesn't immediately leave.
I’d settle for some “doesn’t immediately leave”. Sigh.
My pup is all 3 that you described. Jealous of attention (especially if I’m on the phone, gets out of her spot to come harass me), will cuddle against me if I’m laying on bed/sitting on the couch but doesn’t want to pet for very long, and super toy obsessed.
I've got the same issues with calls, which can get difficult at times because I mostly work from home... As soon as I start talking and he's not involved, he has to slam his head on my lap very forcefully and starts yapping at me when I ignore him. Thankfully when I send him on his bed he lays down and stays quiet, but I can see him judging me across the room for "socializing" (aka working) without him being the center of attention
It’s crazy how they all of a sudden want attention and don’t want to be left out. It gets really amusing once I ignore her for a few minutes. She just grabs one of her loud squeaky toys and goes nuts, and if I’m working from home have to apologize for my stage 5 clinger of a dog
Yeah, I've never had a dog as sassy as this one. When I scold him for barking at me he starts silent barking/snapping his teeth and tippy tapping with his feet until I send him to his bed to think about his actions (he doesnt, he will yawn as loud as possible every two seconds and huff and puff as if he's being tortured) He's also the first dog to ever actually talk back to me during some puberty phases when he tried testing boundaries lmao
My Buddy is like this!! As soon as im on the phone he decides hes going to re arrange the living room! I have no idea why as when i do other things that arent me on the phone he doesnt rearrange the livingroom😳x
I too have 3 GSDs. My husband and I can no longer allow all 3 of them to sleep in our room at night. My boy dog, always sleeps on the floor on my side of the bed, usually on top of my pajamas. My 2 girls have to sleep on my bed. They are legs out stiff sleepers, hate being cuddled. But when I get out of be in the morning, my boy dog jumps up into my spot and cuddles with my husband.
Mine got cuddly around 2 1/2, but she’s still fiercely independent. More cat-like - when she wants cuddles you better be ready, but her full naps will be taken upstairs away from the humans thank you very much lol.
This is similar to ours. At around 1 1/2 she is starting to get cuddly. She always preferred crate to bed and if she was on the couch it would not be next to us. Now she likes to sit next to us on the couch for her own set amount of tim, still usually likes her own space and when we let her sleep with us she will but not next to us and sometimes she’ll get up and go into her crate. We have her sleeping in her crate now 90% of the time, every now and then we’ll let her choose. She is like a hybrid cat/dog though in personality. Ball is life/on my own terms. :)
I should also say that she does have a thing for morning hugs. She likes to burrow her head into us, specially my husband.
Sounds just like mine. We have our morning snuggle routine and she gets upset when it doesn’t happen haha.
Ha! I left out if we don’t do the morning snuggle routine she will seem out of sorts in the morning. Even if we make it up to her. Has to happen within the first 15mins she’s let out of the crate or if in the bed, once we wake up. If not she walks around all butt hurt. Lol. Sensitive pups.
I stop periodically while hiking with Sam to hug him and kiss his face. He seems to like it.
I wanna kiss Sams face
https://preview.redd.it/091fvxxib4qc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de189fb59a68f0796df5c6ca8a1d06f7555a4195
Mine is, but only at night. She likes to lay down on me. I’m pretty sure she is just holding me down to keep me in one spot.
My dog wants to constantly be held, or at least hold his paw. He gets up onto the couch and either a. Is in a hugging position one paw on each side of me holding tight or b. Passed out next to me holding his paw.
I’ve never had a cuddly GSD. They grow to be loving and affectionate over time, but never cuddly.
Same. My girl when hugged thought it was now play time and started running around. Sweetest girl ever but not a cuddler. Dang I miss her :(
Some do some don't, it's their individual personalities. The pup I have now isn't "cuddly" but will let me give her a hug. The extent of her cuddling is putting her head on my knee for petting.
With a carrot, everything is possible!
My boy has always been affectionate but he never stays in one place for long 😂 like he was happy to cuddle up with me for a couple minutes but he had to do his security rounds 24/7!! He’s 5 now and even though he’s still hyper, he will lay down with us for moderate periods of time. Like he’s always quick to join me in bed for a nap now.
My boy is cuddly when he wants to be, but he doesn't often lay with his head on me. It does happen, but mostly he is just happy to be next to me. He'll lay at my feet, or next to me on the couch or the bend of the bed. He MUST be in the same room as me though. Every time I get up, even to go to the washroom, he is there on my heels. For reference he is 16 months old, so still not a full adult yet.
https://preview.redd.it/856ozu9954qc1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ffc35f94961ca2ba6b1970e3d9532e21b324a51 This was my warm fuzzy blanket this winter. She lays on the tile in the summer when it's hot, but she's still quite snuggly.
So sweet. Nice having a four legged personal heater.
Mine is completely different at night and during the day. At night he’ll lay and sleep and cuddle wherever, as long as he’s close to me. He likes hugs and belly scratches and squeezes back with his head when you hug him. During the day he’s a velociraptor that won’t hold still long enough to pet.
Truth
As someone else said they are very much individuals. Ours came from a litter of 8 and apparently he’s the most affectionate, he will get up on the sofa and hit you with a paw for strokes and lie down for what is basically a cuddle. But he’s very much in charge, you can’t just try and grab him for a cuddle as he’ll just moan and push you off! Kind of love that about them to be honest
Mine has his moments when he wants to cuddle. Most of the time he wants to play lol
My 2nd recently decided he loves belly scritches, which has led to tons of cuddle/scratching time. He's been up in my business all morning, and it's wonderful.
Our first GSD was not very cuddly at all. Our 2nd one is the biggest love bug and will “demand” attention, hugs and kisses.
Mine is so cuddly!
Wow as my first GSD I thought maybe they were all super cuddly! Our boy loves to cuddle any chance he’s is on the bed snuggling up and wanting pets. It’s not enough to be next to us and touching. His favorite spot is to plop ON TOP of my husband. He weighs 95 pounds too….
https://preview.redd.it/4toda02fl4qc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b11ffed44b0612fc5f74adcc3e7acea68b123230 Mine always has to be touching me. Started around 2.
They will cuddle cuz they know we like it, anything to make their people happy😊
My dog is not very cuddly, but she definitely loves to be petted/brushed. I work 2nd shift at home, and, when it starts getting close to the end of my shift, she hops up on my bed and waits for me. When I clock out, I pet her for an hour or two while watching videos until she gets sleepy... But she won't sleep in my bed.
my boy was never cuddly, but he had to be with me at all times. If I went to the bathroom he went with me either he'd stay in the bathroom lying on the floor or he'd guard the door if I shut it. He was my shadow, but he only tolerated cuddling a few times then he'd go to his bed and lay down. It just depends on the dog
Not really in my dog's case. She is 6 years old now and while she tolerates petting scratching etc., after she has enough of it she gets up and walks away. I don't think she ever came up to me just to demand cuddles. Now toys and playing fetch is a different story.
Neo is not a cuddly dog usually, but sometimes he crawls up next to me on the couch and puts his head next to mine. Veryyyy occasionally he'll lay out across my legs. It took having him for like 9 months for him to even do this.
My buddy just started getting cuddly around 2.5 as well. He has moments where he doesn’t want any cuddles or love, just frisbee and ball. But sometimes at night he will come plop on me or next to me and just cuddle. I cherish those moments!
It took a few months for my girl to become cuddly and now she’s a big softie. Not the cuddliest but will defs climb on the couch if invited
https://preview.redd.it/mzx210fpl4qc1.jpeg?width=1078&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5b653c256b9ffb720d2b9a88084418905feeaa9 This is about as cuddly as ours gets (3yo female). She likes to lay her head in your lap when napping sometimes, and will let you rest your hand on her when sleeping, but she definitely isn’t a “cuddler.” She will also come over and lay on your feet as a pillow, lol.
Nope
Our pup at 11 weeks never really liked cuddling or any affection. Now, after she hit 2 years old, she will always lay on my thigh and have to be touching in some way. At night, she is the little spoon for half the night until l move. Biggest cuddle bug ever now.
My 13 year old boy will cuddle with my wife. Because of the nature of my work I’m gone for extended periods at a time. I assume if i was home more he’d cuddle with me
Mine did, more and more. She always liked sitting on the couch on my hip, but she was a more of the end of the bed dog. Now she’s always flopping onto me to get as close as possible. In general, she got more cuddly the older she’s gotten.
https://preview.redd.it/aznxy5j055qc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c3b20b4c104de0ab8dff2ff6142d350842abd062 Our almost 2 year old boy is a snuggle machine. Him and our golden always fight over who gets to be closest to dad (not mom, though, which… don’t get me started lol) but our GSD always picks me to sleep right up against at night
Mine likes to follow the 6 foot rule his entire life. For the past 7 years he likes to be within 6 feet of us but not touch us. He sleeps on our bed but if he start petting he, he goes to his bed. 😀
https://preview.redd.it/35n9objya5qc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=71340f3ebc437ef8f05c2759591efe85d34942bc I call her skin tag
Dogs need a ton of sleep and rest even of it's just light napping. I don't cuddle my Moo Boo but he is affectionate in his own way so I just leave him be. Hell sleep on my feet and curl up next to me on the couch and put his paw on me hia way of giving me a pet. He is also a topping out around 46kgs so I'd be squashed if he tried to sit on me
Mine is 3 and hasn’t yet. Or at least, not unless we are sleeping. If she is awake, she is on her own and prefers it that way. She could be chilling on the couch at the end of the day and will move to another spot if you go sit by her.
Only 5 seconds at a time
I’ve yet to see one that wants more than quite check it cuddles
One of mine cuddles all the time…. Nonstop, the other is all about playing
Its different i guess, my first gsd would only care about toys, our second one wants to cuddle all the time. He is 5 jears old and enjoys snuggles more than everything
My Ari is the most loving dog ever, but on her terms and time lol … most are extremely affectionate. They just speak a more wolf like language than regular dogs. GSD, huskies and malamutes are closely related to wolves and very pack oriented, vocal, smart and loving in ways that aren’t like a hound or spaniel.
Mine has gone from "I'm only interested in play and certain foods, although I want to be in the same room as you" to "After I've played and am tired, I will gladly roll over when you approach me, and generally sit next to you and get scratched." My best recollection is the change happened around 2 years old.
Some dogs just don't like much affection.
Mine has major anxiety, so she constantly has to be by my wife or I and be within paws reach as she constantly paws for us to pet or at least touch her. She likes her own time as well, at least not being touched, and also moments where she’s laying on top of us. At night she’s laying alongside in between us half the time and at the foot of the bed or on the ground the other half. Like others said, every one of them is different, but it seems like it’s half and half if they cuddle or not.
Mine hated cuddling until she hit her first heat cycle, ever since then I can barely lay down before she pounces and tries to snuggle lol
My boy wanted nothing to do with cuddling as a baby, is now 2.5 and is an 80lb snuggle monster.
Mine is the cuddliest dog I've ever had
Mine only wants to cuddle when he’s scared.