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Do German Shepherds Like To Cuddle

What Are The Signs That Your Dog Doesnt Like You

Do German Shepherd Dogs like to Cuddle and kisses from owner

If a dog is afraid of you, they might cower or hide. Remember, a dog that doesnt like you might actually just be kind of scared of you and this fear can manifest itself in physical ways. If the dog is fearful, he may cower or crouch, pull back his ears, tuck his tail, hide, or tremble, Sueda told Insider.

Bad Human Habits Your German Shepherd Hates

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Your German Shepherd loves you more than anything, but did you know that a lot of the habits that we have with our dogs arent appreciated by our canine companions? Dogs and humans communicate in very different ways and sometimes our interactions can be unnerving for our German Shepherd Dogs.

If youre unknowingly making your dog anxious then they may show unwanted behaviour such as growling or even snapping. Make sure your dog is a happy pet by avoiding these bad habits which your German Shepherd hates.

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Does German Shepherds Like To Cuddle Exclusive

The incredibly loyal, smart, fortitude and endure breed of the dogs we know is the German Shepherd best known for being faithful, devoted, and watchful. But some GSD parent have question Does German Shepherds Like to Cuddle?

German Shepherds possess several characteristics that make them an excellent dog breed to own. They are remarkably brilliant if youâre searching for a dog who keeps an eye on the surroundings and guards.

Besides approaching you, German shepherds like to be connected to you bodily. The best way a GSD shows you affection is by cuddling. They express their love in the form of non-verbal ways as they can not speak.

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Why German Shepherds Are Not Good Pets

German Shepherds, like any large breed, are prone to canine hip dysplasia, a crippling and potentially fatal disease. Good GSD rescuers will also be aware of such problems, and whether the rescued dog youre considering has shown symptoms of or has been treated for any health issues while with the rescue.

Stress Reliever For Dogs

Is it even a good Saturday if you didnt start it with a ...

It also relieves your dogs stress when you hug them, aside from it strengthening your trust and bond. It works quite like us, humans.

If a dog trusts you, receiving a display of physical affection from you will help them to relax. Their body temperature and heart rate normalize easier if theyre in a relaxed state.

Dogs can develop anxiety-induced bad habits from experiences that cause them stress. They can let go of these habits better if they are with someone that helps them to relax.

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Common German Shepherd Behavioral Problems And Personality Traits

Over the years working as a dog trainer, Ive probably worked with as many German shepherd dogs as any other breed.

Most often, they are an incredibly loyal breed, are devoted to their owners, and have really sweet and fun personalities. And so, to those of you who love the breed and wouldnt consider anything but a German shepherd in the future, I understand!

Yet, some people are terrified of them and feel they are dangerous dogs to own.

To those of you that are wary of German shepherds, I understand where you are coming from, too! First off, they are very large dogs and can come off very intimidating.

Second, their instinct to protect their family or property is strong and can lead untrained German shepherds to becoming very protective, aggressive, and scary dogs.

The keyword here is untrained, as any untrained dogregardless of breedcan have the same problems.

Over the last decade I really feel like Ive come to understand German shepherds and have personally fallen in love with this breed. Ive also realized that theyre so misunderstood due to poorly trained German shepherds often ending up in the news and how they are portrayed on TV and in the media.

For this reason, I wanted to write todays post in hopes that, if you are someone who fears this breed, are looking for help and direction with your dog, or you know someone who is wary of German shepherds, then this honest truth about this lovely breed might change your mind.

They Are Initiating Play

If you tend to react to every one of their behaviors, German Shepherds may sit on you to simply get you to send them away and give them a chance to climb back and be sent away again a bit like kids do!

If youre laughing or showing signs of enjoying this back-and-forth game, youve succeeded in rewarding your German Shepherd with some playtime. Expect them to climb on you the next time you lie down in a similar position!

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Theyve Been Trained To Sleep Next To People

Perhaps you got the dog as a puppy, when it was small and cuddly and an irresistible sleeping companion. Or maybe you adopted it from a shelter, and its previous owners allowed it to sleep in their beds from day one.

Whatever the reason, if the dogs first impulse is to jump onto your bed, theres a good chance that its been conditioned to do so.

How Do You Know Your German Shepherd Loves You

What cuddle looks like between a German Shepherd Puppy and a Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy!

Common ways that they will show their love for you will include wagging their tails when you come home, bringing you things, looking to you for direction or making eye contact with you. There are actually many ways that a German Shepherd will show its love for you and I will show you 13 of them below.

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Why Do German Shepherds Lick Themselves

Have you ever seen German Shepherd behavior where your dog licks his mouth just after looking at someone? If yes, check the person for an angry face.

Researchers in animal behavior in the UK and Brazil have discovered that dogs will lick their mouths in response to angry human faces. So, dont think your dog likes your angry face if he licks his mouth. He is just trying to communicate with you!

But dogs will also lick themselves for medical reasons, especially pruritus. You should, therefore, seek the intervention of your dogs vet if you notice the first signs of excessive itching in your dog.

Some of the medical conditions that will cause your German Shepherd to lick his paws and other parts of his body include:

  • Allergies
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Sarcoptic mange and bacterial/fungal/parasite infections
  • Injury and arthritis pain
  • Some prescription drugs
  • Hormonal imbalance

Note, however, that dogs will often lick their paws as part of self-grooming, and those who are obsessive groomers may do so a bit exaggeratedly.

Do German Shepherds Like To Cuddle

In general, german shepherds like to cuddle, however, it always depends on the individual. Some dogs like lots of affection and to spend time with you. Other dogs perhaps, enjoy spending more time on their own and only come to you every so often.

Both are fine and dont inherently show theres anything wrong with your dog. Some just have more independent personalities while others are more owner and family-oriented.

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Why Are German Shepherds So Protective

Why German Shepherds are protective This is because they were required to work for long time periods alongside their owners while also being alert and protective of the sheep. These characteristics were further selected for in the early 1900s where they would gain widespread use as police and military dogs.

German Shepherd Dogs Are Known For Their Versatility

Do German Shepherds Like to Cuddle? 2  Embora Pets

If you need any job done, just ask your dog. GSD owners understand their dogs were developed as working dogs. In fact, the ideal German Shepherd has a body and gait suited to the hard work that is considered its primary purpose. This means your dog can excel at almost anything. From dog sports like rally, agility, scent work, therapy work, to service dog work, German Shepherds can do it all. The only thing holding your dog back is the time and energy you can commit to training. Its no wonder people always think your dog is a service or police dog.

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How Can I Make My German Shepherd Love Me More

If your dog doesnt have an intense bonding with you, try giving them some time to warm up towards you. You wont form a bond overnight, have patience and take little steps this will gradually increase your pets affection level.

Apart from that, provide GSDs with regular exercise, feed them right, show them love and avoid negative reinforcements. Negative reinforcements can make them have resentment towards you. Train your dog with positive reinforcements to make your German Shepherd affectionate towards you.

Why Does Your German Shepherd Lick You

The most obvious reason your GSD will lick you is to show affection and joy. When youve been away and your German Shepherd has been all alone, your arrival is a cause for jubilation, and your dog will want to tell you how much they love you and show their immense joy at your homecoming.

Your German Shepherd will also lick you to investigate you and give information. Since your dog cannot ask you with words how you are or what youve had for lunch, they will lick your face to detect the smell of what youve eaten. They will also lick you after their lunch to tell you they are grateful, kind of, lunch was good Mom, thanks!

If your visual expression tells your dog that something is amiss, your German Shepherd will lick you to calm and soothe. They will come to the couch where you are lying down and lick you to say they are sad youre unwell and want you to be up again.

But dogs will also lick you to seek attention. If you have ignored them or not given them a treat all morning because you are busy, your dog will lick your face to draw your attention.

But your German Shepherd does not just lick you. They will also lick themselves.

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Mistreated By A Previous Owner/person

Unfortunately, animal cruelty does exist. This is also a big reason why a German Shepherd may not be very affectionate.

If they were mistreated by a previous owner, or even by stranger, especially one that they trusted then this can lead to resistance and being hesitant to form a close bond with you.

Essentially, this is due to fear of the recurrence of their past mistreatment. This is common in dogs that have been adopted from a shelter.

Why Do German Shepherds Lay Down To Eat

Why Do German Shepherds Prefer To Sleep With Their Owners?

Some people will say fatigue, aging, pain, and injury are reasons for this German Shepherd behavior. While these are valid, there is one reason that seems to be a more logical explanation of why your GSD lays down to eat.

In their wild nature, before we domesticated them, dogs had to hunt their food and protect it from intruders. This meant that keeping sight of their prey from the hunting stage to when the prey was ready to eat was important. Hence, dogs lie down to eat so they can see who is approaching from the front while they enjoy the fruit of their labor.

Below is a photo of my German Shepherd displaying this dog behavior.

What is most interesting is that a dogs natural laying position while eating is better for his health.

Feeding your German Shepherd from his usual bowl can affect your dogs oral and spinal health. This is because eating involves not only a dogs teeth but also other bones and muscles.

Eating the unnatural way can cause misalignments in these bones and muscles and disrupt the bodys acidic pH, which explains the health risks to the spine and the tartar, gingivitis, and loose teeth.

Next time your German Shepherd eats lying down, just smile and say, Well, my dog is being natural today!

For a more in-depth article on this behavior, check out my article, 5 Reasons Why German Shepherds Lay Down to Eat.

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Most Common German Shepherd Behavioral Problems

Before we dive into the most common behavioral problems associated with German shepherds, I think its important to look at where the breed has actually come from.

Over the last century, German shepherds have been used for tracking, search and rescueespecially for the police and protection and guarding. So, its no surprise that a lot of the issues are in this exact area.

They have been intentionally bred for traits such as fierce loyalty, intelligence, and strength.

This leads to one of the first common problems for German shepherds, which revolves around aggression and the need to protect. Its very possible that an untrained German shepherd would be likely to bark or lunge at other dogs or people, especially on his own property.

Its not at all that this type of dog is being mean or nasty. In fact, from the dogs point of view, he believes hes just doing his job of protecting his family or territory.

Its a very, very common problem, and, at the end of the day, it is what the German shepherd has been bred to do a lot of the time.

The good newsthis behavior can be untrained. Or even better yet, if youre working with a German shepherd puppy or a young German shepherd, you can easily avoid this behavioral problem. And in case you are wondering, this does not automatically mean, that if you ever really do need help, that they wont rise to the occasion!

Once again, with some basic training and a good sturdy harness, this behavior can be easily prevented.

They Are Not In The Mood

Have you also experienced something like this?

Your dog would be all cuddly one day. Then they will avoid coming near you the next.

You wonder if you did something wrong.

But try not to think about it too much. Maybe they are just not in the mood.

Your German Shepherd will come to you on their own terms. Just enjoy every moment of it and reward them if they do.

Note: Belly rubs and cookies are very much accepted.

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Give Him Attention And Show Him Love

This is especially necessary for a German Shepherd you may have adopted from a shelter or rescue center.

He could shy away from cuddling you because of his former owners or bad experiences.

He could have been treated badly or neglected, and as result may find it hard to trust or love someone again.

In this case, you will need to be patient with your dog. Ensure you pet him a lot, feed him properly, and spend plenty of time with him.

Remember to exercise with him every day and engage in physical activity.

This will ensure that your German Shepherd does not become overly hyper or have excess energy which makes him restless.

Play with your German Shepherd a lot and let him form a friendship with you.

After a while, your German Shepherd should learn to trust you and want to cuddle and show affection to you more.

Do German Shepherds Like Affection

Do German Shepherds Like To Cuddle?  Embora Pets

So do German Shepherds like affection like many other dog breeds?

Most small breeds are very energetic and require the attention and love of their owners to stay happy and in good health. Without affection, many dog breeds can become sad and even act out.

German Shepherds like the majority of other dog breeds do indeed like affection. After all, they are very loyal dogs and enjoy the affection of their owner.

However, the amount of affection that a German Shepherds enjoys will greatly vary from one dog to the next.

Some German Shepherds may enjoy a lot of attention and affection, on the other hand, some may prefer to be left to do their own thing.

Keep in mind that the nature of German Shepherds means that they will usually be very friendly and enjoy the affection of their owners and family.

After living with a family for a while they will consider them part of the pact and therefore look out for and protect them.

They will typically enjoy cuddling and being played with by these people as they will have formed a close bond.

German Shepherds will most likely not be the type of dog that instantly becomes friendly with strangers.

They can sometimes act out aggressively towards strangers, if they feel the need to protect and they sense a threaten by strangers.

So, it naturally follows that German Shepherds will most likely not enjoy being snuggled by people they have just met, although this will vary between different dogs.

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Interested In Training Your German Shepherd The Right Way

If you havent trained your German Shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether its barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.

The training program I love and highly recommend is Brain Training For Dogs.

With Brain Training For Dogs youll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog wont listen, youll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, thats given proven results. Not to mention the fact, youll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.

So instead of worrying about whether theyre going to be well-behaved or not, youll only have to worry about how much fun youll have with them!

And in most cases its still going to be:

  • Cheaper than hiring a professional.
  • Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
  • And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.

Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your German Shepherd completely and never worry whether theyll be naughty or not. Instead, youll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOURE NOT.

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