Many people wonder if Newfoundlands like to cuddle, especially given their giant size. It can be intimidating to look at such a large dog breed! In this article, we’ll explore this question and provide you with the information you need to understand your furry friend’s cuddly behavior.
So, do Newfoundlands like to cuddle?
The answer is yes! Many Newfoundlands do like to cuddle and become attached to their family and owner. They tend to show their affection by nuzzling, laying, leaning, sitting on laps, licking hands, and more. Cuddle time can be increased with adequate affection, training, and attention.
However, this cuddly behavior largely depends on the individual dog and the owner’s approach. By taking the proper approach, you can encourage your Newfoundland to be more cuddly and snuggly. Bear in mind that inappropriate approaches can lead to several behavioral problems.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of cuddling with your Newfoundland, how to encourage cuddly behavior, and how to avoid behavioral problems. By following the right approach and taking the necessary precautions, you can ensure that your furry friend has a happy and healthy life filled with plenty of snuggles and cuddles. So, let’s dive into the world of Newfoundlands and cuddling!
How to tell if Newfoundlands like to cuddle?
Newfoundland is an especially loving and affectionate dog, as well as being sociable and calm. They are not excessively playful, although they love water.
Despite their size, when we think about their temperament, The Newfoundland is a more cuddly and snuggly type dog breed. Because they are gentle, trainable, sweet-tempered.
Being said they are lovable and cuddly is not sufficient for you, right? To prove that statement, we do wanna examine some of their behaviors.
Usually, Cuddly type Newfoundlands tend to show the following behaviors.
- Lean on you
- Curling up against you
- Nuzzling your legs and hands
- When the owner sits on the couch, these dogs also want to sit beside, sit on the owner.
- Try to lay on the owner
- Rubbing the owner’s legs as cats do
- Sleeping with the owner in the same bed.
- Lick your legs and hands
If you are able to make a good bond with your canine friend, your Newfoundland will be more affectionate. But in most cases, female Newfoundland dogs tend to be more independent in general.
This behavior can be shown even at a young age. But don’t worry. I’m gonna discuss more this before the end of the article.
If your doggo also shows at least some of the above behaviors, she/he is completely fine with cuddling and snuggling. But, have you ever thought why these dogs wanna cuddle with you.
It’s not only for general affection. I mean, there might have some underline reasons, and here are some common reasons.
- Cuddling provides affection
- It provides warmth
- To release the stress
Cuddling provides affection: Snuggling, hugging, cuddling is a primary way how dogs show affection and love.
It provides warmth: Normally, this sound may be obvious because they have a thick double coat. But usually, Newfoundland tends to cuddle or snuggle to get some extra warmth from you.
To release the stress: Stress can occur in both humans and dogs. So, cuddling is kind of a perfect stress reliever.
Recommended reading: 9 Reasons Why does my dog drool on walks. [Solutions too!]
What can make Newfoundlands refuse to cuddle?
While your Newfoundland became so affectionate, perhaps you will find that he/she mostly seems to be pretty aloof. You might think that this issue is because of their personality, or some kind of frustration or something else.
Some individuals are not looking for attention or cuddly. But they would like to lay in the rooms where the family members busy with.
I mean, some of the Newfoundlands would rather lay in the same room as a family member watching TV than cuddle with owners on the couch.
But what happens when you try to lay beside with him is they might get up and walk away from you. But when you arrive home after a few hours, they are so excited to see you. But after the warm welcome, they go back to their usual relaxed self.
So, let’s figure out what are the reasons to make your Newfoundland refuses to cuddle.
- Breed background
- Past experiences
- Seasonality
- Uncomfortable petting techniques
- Lack of physical and mental exercises
- Internal injury or bad health status
- Some traits of female Newfoundlands
- Because they are very young
Breed background
The breed background can be a significant reason why does your Newfoundland refuses to cuddle. They are capable, hardworking dogs. There have initially been used for,
- Pull nets for fishermen
- Haul wood from the forest.
It is written in their genes that they are hard-working dogs and it can be a reason. Because they had numerous amounts of works to do throughout the day.
Past experiences
If you found your canine friend from a rescue group, they might not have a good idea about behaving around people and interacting with them. In fact, without proper basic obedience training, it’s quite hard to communicate with them.
I wanna emphasize here that if your Newfoundland adopted one from a rescue group, they initially tend to show this kind of behavior, and it takes time and proper training to resolve. Let’s talk more about this in the next subtitle.
Seasonality
As we discussed earlier, Newfoundlands tend to less cuddle and snuggle as the summer arrives. This sound can be evident because you might think that they have a thick double coat, and they don’t wanna cuddle or snuggle with you even it’s winter.
But the fact is they do wanna snuggle with you to get some extra warmth from you. But during the summer, warmth is not a big deal. So, seasonality really matters.
Uncomfortable petting techniques
So, If you are a first-time canine owner, you might not have a good idea of how to pet a dog. So, the way you are petting your Newfoundland can be slightly annoying.
When you pet your canine friend if his/her enthusiasm and mannerisms are a little wired. So, there may be something wrong.
Most trainers and vets believe that petting or cuddling is not a really relaxing activity for many of the dogs. They define that as a method of stimulating.
But you do need to have a good idea of what places to touch what places to don’t. If you get it correctly, guess what, more cuddles, more hugs.
| Perfect spots to pet | Spot’s your Newfoundland don’t like to get touched |
|---|---|
| Under the chin | Paws |
| The base of the tail | Tail |
| On the back of the neck | Ears |
| Legs | |
| On the muzzle | |
| The top of the head |
Lack of physical and mental exercises
If your Newfoundland isn’t getting sufficient exercise (Physically and mentally) on a daily basis, they are more likely not to cuddle or snuggle with others. Because they need to mentally stimulate, and exercises can provide that.
Internal injury or bad health status
Due to poor health and internal injuries, they like to be left alone and don’t need to deal with others.
Some traits of female Newfoundlands
This trait is absolutely slightly unique to Newfoundlands. Mostly, Female dogs tend to be more independent than males. Usually, even at a young age, they just wanna going through a unique phase.
In fact, these female ones love to be around other people and family members. But the fact is they just wanna stay outside of arms’ reach.
But over time, with adequate training, they can become more affectionate. But the funny fact is, they overall enjoy the company but on their terms.
Because they are very young
If your Newfoundland is still very young, they are more likely to stay without cuddling or snuggling. It would be completely fine as they started to develop their adult behaviors. But all their needs and requirements need to be met.
Recommended reading: 11 Reasons Why does my dog drool in the crate [Solutions!]
How to increase cuddle time with your Newfoundlands?
As far as we know, many Newfoundlands out there don’t wanna cuddle or snuggle too much, even with family members. But, you can possibly do several things to increase this cuddle time and encourage them to interact with you.
So, here is the list of tactics.
- Increase the amount of time spent relaxing or sitting
- Play with him when you have free time
- take him a walk
- Adequate exercise
- Help him to adjust
- Snuggle him on his way
- Go for a hike
- Consult a veterinarian
- Do a small exercise
Increase the amount of time spent relaxing or sitting
This is a kind of a handy method you can easily try. Even though you are quite a busy person, it’s necessary to take some time and increase the amount of time spent relaxing or sitting with him/her.
If your dog resting on the couch or lying on the floor, you also can approach beside him and start cuddle. If he refuses to and tries to leave, gently grab him back by saying nice words.
In fact, you can easily encourage them to interact with you with the help of tasty puppy treats.
Play with him when you have free time
I think you have a fairly large backyard. If you can allocate some time to play several games with your canine friend, they will be so cuddly and snuggly over time. Because they can easily interact with you, and especially they are happy.
He is some games you can try with your canine friend,
- Play fetch
- Doggie Basketball
- Round Robin
- Simon Says
- Blanket Hurdles
- Hide and Seek
- Doggy Treat Hunt
- Tug of War
Recommended reading: Are dogs aware of heights? (Stop them jumping from heights)
Take him/her a walk
Talking to your Newfoundland for a walk in the morning or evening could strengthen the bond between you and your doggo.
Adequate exercise
If you are kind of a busy person, you do wanna allocate some time to give sufficient exercise to your doggo. Because it makes your canine friend mentally stimulated and physically stronger and healthier.
So, if you do that on a daily basis, your Newfoundland will start to cuddle with you. Excited?
Help him to adjust
If your doggo is a still new member of your house and just doesn’t wanna interact or cuddle with you, perhaps he may not get used to people, noises, and the surroundings. So, you need to do your best to provide much love, care, the attention he/she needs.
Snuggle him on his way
Not all dogs are the same in general. So, it’s necessary to figure out the way they would like to be petted. In fact, you do wanna examine his/her facial expressions and reactions as you approach different parts of his/her body.
If you are good with this, you will receive tons of hugs as you get down on the floor on your knees. So, will put his paws on your shoulders (I know it’s pretty much heavy! LOL) and his head right in there. And if you lay down on the floor, he will cuddle amazingly.
The fact I wanna emphasize here is that it’s all about making it rewarding to your Newfoundland and not pushing too much. But you wanna steadily encourage.
But, the best way to encourage your doggo really depends on what you gonna use for rewarding. I think the above-crafted table will be beneficial for this.
Go for a hike
This sound can be a little bit weird, but believe me, it works. According to my research, many owners called for this as “miracle cuddles.” Because your Newfoundland has to stick in the same tent with you guys, and perhaps, all he/she wanted to do is sleep and cuddle with you all the time.
Consult a Veterinarian
Let’s assume your Newfoundland used to cuddle all the time with you, and all of a sudden, he/she refuses to cuddle and snuggle. If so, there might have been some underline lousy health issues. So I recommend you consult a veterinarian ASAP!
Do a small exercise
There is a good exercise that you can give a shot at and see the results. So, I’m gonna explain it step by step.
- First, sit on the floor with legs out straight.
- Then flip your doggo so he/she can lay on their back between your legs with his/her head on your belly.
- So, give praise and tasty treats that your Newfoundland loves while they stay.
- If your doggo try to leave you by making so many struggles, let it go.
- Keep practice it on a daily basis, and eventually, your Newfoundland will be love to cuddle and snuggle with people.
I hope this helps.
Does the Newfoundlands cuddle more when they are a puppy, adult, or senior?
When we think about puppies and youngers, they love to cuddle and play around you all the time. But when it comes to adults, they are thriving and more robust. But it doesn’t make them less snuggly-type dogs.
When we consider senior Newfoundlands, they are prone to loads of health issues, so you need to give attention, care, love, affection. So, in this stage, they are quite a bit less cuddly. But still, you can enjoy his company.
Do all Newfoundlands like to cuddle and affectionate?
As we discussed earlier, each individual dog is different, and they have some unique traits. But, there are several other causes why this can happen. so, they are,
- The past behavior of the dog
- Genetics
- Age
- physiological problems such as stress, anxiety
- Distraction
- Weather
- Especially, the owner’s behavior
Things to be aware of
If you want to adopt a Newfoundland dog, several things you need to keep in mind. So, let’s figure out what they are!
Be careful as they play or cuddle with kids.
As I mentioned earlier, Newfoundlands extremely love to spend time with kids and cuddle, snuggle. But the fact you need always keep in mind is that they are Giants! Their small push can make your kid serve damage. So, keep in mind that.
Separation anxiety
You need to keep in mind that Newfoundlands tend to be prone to separation anxiety more quickly than other breeds. And they don’t like to the left alone for more than several hours.
Conclusion
Many people love this huge dog breed. So, most people are curious to know if Newfoundlands like to cuddle. This entire article is an in-depth guide that explains the point in detail. I hope this helps most of you. Have a nice day.
