Are Great Danes a Cuddy, Affectionate Breed?
One of the things that people want to know the most about dog breeds is whether they’re cuddly. Every breed has a slightly different personality, and this influences their affection level. Some dogs are bigger cuddlers than others.
Do Great Danes like to cuddle?
Great Danes take advantage of chances to get close to their owners. They have often been described as gentle giants.
Read on to learn more about this dog’s personality and what you can expect from how they’ll relate to you and your family. Affectionate dogs are excellent additions to families, especially those with children.
What Makes Great Danes Cuddy Dogs?
One thing that many people don’t realize is how affectionate Great Danes are as a breed. After all, big dogs are often seen as fierce protectors.
However, Dane’s affectionate nature directly relates to the protectiveness of family members.
The people that dogs live with are part of their “pack” and our furry friends demonstrate their respect for fellow pack members through displays of affection.
One of the ways these dogs like to show affection is by leaning against their family members in hopes of getting gentle pats. Putting a paw on your leg while you sit or cuddle up against you in bed is common for those big canines.
Although many question whether big dogs like hugs, there is no dispute when it comes to Great Danes.
These gentle giants not only tolerate hugs but will gladly seek them out. If you enjoy dogs who are great comforts when you’re sad, these pets fit the bill.
Are There Times You Shouldn’t Try to Cuddle With a Great Dane?
Although Great Danes are generally affectionate, you will want to show some appreciation for each dog’s distinct personality and need for personal space. You may want to think twice about hugging a friend’s dog, for example.
Understanding a dog’s body language is crucial. Some signs that your dog may not feel like being affectionate include:
- Submissive behavior like hanging the head and tucking in the tail
- Shaking when you approach
- Curling the upper lip to show teeth or growling
- Physically pulling away or snapping
Sometimes, dogs have times that they aren’t in a sociable mood, just as we do. One of the best things you can do is give your dog the space he or she needs. In most cases, the standoffishness will be something that eventually passes.
There are several things that contribute to individual dog behavior. These factors include:
- Treatment by former owners and caregivers
- Whether they were raised as a family or as guard dogs
- Which breeding lines the dog comes from
Can Your Great Dane’s Cuddling Be a Problem Because of the Large Size?
Great Danes seem to go through life being unaware of their large size. Having a giant-sized dog that likes to get on your lap can be very amusing at first. However, you might eventually find the dog getting on your lap a bit of an inconvenience sometimes.
Another thing to remember is that big dogs being cuddly can be a problem for the oldest and youngest members of your home.
An older or disabled household member with balance issues might end up falling if the dog gets up against them.
Although dogs don’t engage in this behavior with malice, they don’t understand they can injure the person they are showing affection toward.
Younger children can also get knocked over easily when interacting with these dogs. Another thing to be concerned about when children interact with these dogs is teasing behavior that may trigger the dog’s prey drive or cause annoyance.
Training goes a long way in eliminating demanding behavior. Rather than allow your dog to cuddle on the couch or bed, you may opt to only allow cuddling if you’re sitting on the floor. There is far less of a risk of injury when you choose this option.
You can praise your dog when he or she respects your space and waits for you to invite them over to you for affection. With that being the case, your dog will understand the need to respect your space, without feeling punished.
Does Cuddling With Your Great Dane Help Your Relationship with Your Dog?
Cuddling with your Great Dane helps increase the strength of your relationship with your dog.
One of the things that cuddling with your dog accomplishes is releasing oxytocin, a hormone known to increase empathy and trust. Because these feelings are so important, they are crucial in building trust between you and the dog.
The more a dog has the chance to cuddle with its family, the greater the overall trust level. When all the family members have a chance to cuddle with the dog, they are increasing the chances of building a stronger bond.
When a dog lives in a family setting, it’s important for the dog to get along with and respect everyone.
Even if Dane has a stronger relationship with some family members than others, they do their best to accept every family member.
Cuddling With Your Great Dane Can Be Perfect for Your Mental Health
There is a reason dogs are usually the therapy animals of choice. A dog as affectionate as most Great Danes are with their families can make a difference in stress reduction.
Many of us have stressful lives today, with our jobs being one of the biggest stressors. When you’ve had a bad day at work, some cuddle time with your dog might be what you need to get back into a better frame of mind.
One thing many people don’t realize is that Great Danes often get separation anxiety resulting from being left alone.
When these dogs get a lot of attention, they have an assurance that they haven’t been abandoned. Cuddle time should be an important routine.
Dogs that suffer from severe separation anxiety are often difficult for their families to manage.
When dogs have separation anxiety, they might become destructive or bark and howl loud enough to bother the neighbors. Cuddle time prevents a lot of this behavior.
Great Danes Require a Lot of Social Interaction
Great Danes are a breed requiring a lot of social interaction to thrive in family settings. If these dogs feel they are being ignored or left alone too much, they will make sure you know all about it.
Touch is an important part of the social interaction that these dogs need. when you touch your dog frequently, this is a sign of acceptance showing your dog that you care. Allowing your dog time to snuggle with you helps reinforce that interaction.
Showing your dog more affection helps keep him or her more well-adjusted. The better a dog adjusts to everything, the fewer overall problems that you will have in your house. Another way that being well-adjusted benefits dogs is their being easier to train.
One of the ways that Great Danes train more easily when they’ve adjusted is by being less dependent on treats.
Although there is nothing wrong with dog treats in and of themselves, many owners prefer their dogs to not depend on food rewards.
Being Cuddy With Others Can Overcome Fears
Many people are afraid of big dogs like Great Danes or digs in general because of bad experiences.
Getting someone in one of these situations to overcome their fears can be difficult. However, this is not necessarily the case with fear due to misinformation.
Some people are afraid of Great Danes or similar breeds because of their size and threatening-sounding bark.
Although these dogs are imposing-looking, most have never been bred as attack dogs. Danes will protect their homes and families from perceived threats by barking. However, they won’t usually show hostility toward anyone who is not a threat.
Allowing friendly, well-socialized Great Danes to interact with new people is a perfect way for people to discover how gentle these dogs can be.
When introducing these dogs to unfamiliar children, care should be taken to make avoid the child teasing the dog.
Great Danes Are Devoted Protectors When Needed
Great Danes have strong protective tendencies and the bonding that comes with cuddling helps reinforce the protective instincts.
When a dog has a strong attachment level, he or she will be more inclined to protect the person that they have a bond with.
Allowing plenty of affection between your dog and the more vulnerable family members, like the elderly and young children, will encourage the dog to become more protective. Even if these dogs do not guard, they will still want to protect their own.
Great Danes like to cuddle, and they do so for reasons that show how strongly they bond with their families.
Allowing your dog to cuddle in ways that respect everyone’s space is an excellent way to help promote a strong bond.
If you like the idea of having a dog that enjoys showing affection, you will not go wrong by choosing a Great Dane. These dogs usually love to cuddle with everyone.
