Why doesn’t my sheltie like to be touched or snuggles

[kayla]

Yes she started sleeping with me at age 3 months or so cause I couldn’t handle it anymore! I wanted her to sleep in my bed as much as she wanted to lol the problem is the bed was very high and she was too scared to jump off it for an entire year so maybe she associates it as being trapped now ): now the bed is so high up she can’t jump up LOL it’s like the opposite but still bad so she can’t just come up to me n cuddle if she wants however if she sleeps in my bed now she’s not scared to jump off and sleep on her own she just can’t jump up again lol

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.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Did he hate the crate as a puppy though? Yuki HATED HATED HATED the crate! She just wanted to be with me

Nope Angus always liked his crate. He is into 'forts' also mainly as places to chew things without Spitfire stealing them

 

[Hanne]

I learned, that really helpded me with my problem pup, was that it's vital to let them come to you so contact is on their terms

After 30 years with Shepherd dogs - I had to admit that after getting Minnie.
I could well forget all that I had learned - could not be used on my little Minnie.

In the first week, Minnie taught me exactly what Ann writes
- she should come to me,
- Don't think I could reach out for her
- always reprimand very quietly and kindly
- She should always be with me, carried her up and down the stairs
- Everything was simply at her pace and always with rewards in my pocket
On that way, I got a Minnie as very quickly was safe in the caII,
quiet and calm I had earned her trust.

Today 4 years later she is a fantastic safe, confident lovable Sheltie.

 

[Roberta]

I think it just depends on the individual dog. Two of my boys (now 11 and 14) were never lap dogs. Another boy (who passed away at 10) was a sometimes lap dog. He would occasionally jump up next to me on the couch and rest his head on my leg. My girl (2 years old) is a regular snuggle bunny. She doesn't just sit next to you - she sits on you and demands attention.

All of them are very affectionate and love to be petted. I got them all from a reputable breeder at 8 - 10 weeks old. I think its just a case of different personalities.

 

[take4roll10]

Agree with everyone who said every dog is different. My girl was not a cuddle-y puppy. She wanted to be in the same room as me, but would sit or sleep no where me. It did make me a little sad. As she aged, she cuddled a lot more. It started when she was around a year old and had a very bad stomach infection. I was up with her all night. Since that moment, she started laying next to me on the couch and bed. I also noticed that she likes blankets. If I have a blanket over me on the couch, she is more likely to lay next to me.

 

[kayla]

Does Minnie now cuddle?

I know sheltie are sensitive but yuki never listens to me unless I use my “man voice” to get her to behave. Is this wrong?

After 30 years with Shepherd dogs - I had to admit that after getting Minnie.
I could well forget all that I had learned - could not be used on my little Minnie.

In the first week, Minnie taught me exactly what Ann writes
- she should come to me,
- Don't think I could reach out for her
- always reprimand very quietly and kindly
- She should always be with me, carried her up and down the stairs
- Everything was simply at her pace and always with rewards in my pocket
On that way, I got a Minnie as very quickly was safe in the caII,
quiet and calm I had earned her trust.

Today 4 years later she is a fantastic safe, confident lovable Sheltie.

 

[Hanne]

Minnie still doesn't care much about spending a long time on my lap to cuddle
She is also not close to me when we are on the sofa.

If I sit in my chair, she often comes and stands beside me, so I can cuddle her,
and she can stay there for a loooong time.
But she is very comfortable with me, is always close to me, and always like a "pet".

I know sheltie are sensitive but yuki never listens to me unless I use my “man voice” to get her to behave

A Sheltie actually wants to be obedient and wants to do whatever you want.

I think Yuki still doesn't have full confidence in you
It may take time, and especially if you send out different signals.

You got really bad advice to start with, but luckily you were so sensitive that you changed course.

Personally I would start as if you had just got Yuki home.
- Only focus on the positive and always with praise and reward,
- She must have a desire to come to you because you are her security
and not because you have a hard voice

If she something that you think is wrong
then divert her attention so that you have the opportunity to praise
- choose your matches with care --- so you both wins
****
Minnie is now 4 years old and I have to say that I only rarely raise my voice,
it is actually only if she does not want to stop barking when she thinks
she should attend when she can hear another dog barking.

I still give much praise and treats (her food) and we have a great sense of belonging.

 

[Chris]

Layla prefers to be where she can see me and the room. So she's mostly a foot or two from me. Sometimes in the early morning when she's up on the bed, she will come up right beside my face and snuggle in, but that's pretty rare. I sometimes wonder if some of it has to do with maturity and knowing their job -- to keep and eye on the sheep. You can't protect your sheep if your right on top of them or restrained in any way. So I'm ok with Layla's positioning.

 

[jomuir]

None of our shelties have been big on cuddling. They will lay nearby but never come lay on the sofa or in bed (the exception is thunder or fireworks when cuddling is done out of fear). A coworker has a sheltie who cuddles with her on the sofa but that hasn’t been our experience.

Meanwhile our mini doxie is glued to our bodies in bed and on the couch, she has a need for skin contact with us, the closer and snugglier the better.

Your pup may be one who never really snuggles but don’t think she doesn’t love you, she just doesn’t need that kind of contact. To encourage it you could try bribery with small bits of high value treats, but you may end up with her only coming close to you for food so it could backfire.

 

[Wendy C]

Cooper isn’t a cuddling dog, but has learnt the joy of a good belly rub and is quick to co-operate to assume the position. lol Compared to our first Sheltie many, many years ago he isn’t shy at all with people he doesn’t know which we are happy about.