Are Toy Poodles More Cuddly Than Standard Poodles?
Although standard poodles can of course be affectionate with their owners, it makes sense that toy poodles are naturally more cuddly than their larger cousins. The answer lies in their history…
- Standard poodles were originally bred in Europe during the 15th century as hunting dogs and water dogs, helping their owners retrieve wild game on land and in water. Standard poodles were also known for developing strong bonds with their owners and were considered great companions.
- Toy poodles, however, were bred much later throughout the mid 20th century in America. They were developed purely to act as tiny companion dogs for people who lived in the cities. Due to the fact that toy poodles were bred to be more like lapdogs than working dogs, it’s no wonder they have developed to be an extremely affectionate breed. Just like all small lap dogs are.
- Miniature poodles fit somewhere along the middle and were frequently used as companion dogs to the french nobility throughout the 18th century. The common theme seems to be as the poodle breed progressed and different breed variations were developed, they were used more as companions and lapdogs rather than working dogs like the standard poodle.
- So does this mean that standard poodles are not cuddly? Certainly not. And despite primarily being used for working purposes, they are still capable of giving and receiving plenty of cuddles.
Other Ways That Your Poodle Shows Affection
Giving and receiving cuddles is just one show of affection. Even if your poodle isn’t a cuddler, it doesn’t mean she isn’t showing you affection in other ways.
Other ways your poodle shows affection:
- Making frequent eye contact with you
- Choosing to play with you (bringing her toys to you)
- Physical contact with you (leaning up against you)
- Showing you attention in general
- Getting excited when you arrive home
- Licking you when she gets the chance
- Being very attentive to your every move and command
There are many different signs of love and affection that your poodle is showing you on a daily basis, besides just cuddling.
Why Doesn’t My Poodle Like To Cuddle?
If your poodle isn’t very cuddly, you’re likely wondering why and if there’s anything you can do about it.
Some poodles prefer to cuddle on their own terms
Perhaps your poodle does like cuddling, but only when she wants to. This is quite common among standard poodles who sometimes have a strong independent and stubborn streak in them.
If she likes to test your authority, and push your buttons, she may only decide to cuddle when she feels like it.
The way your poodle has been raised
You have no doubt done an amazing job raising your poodle! But it’s known that if we don’t familiarize our dogs enough with our physical touch, then they can grow to become apprehensive when we try to cuddle, touch or put too many hands on them at once.
Emotional issues are extremely common in rescue dogs too. Dogs are incredibly sensitive animals and traumatic pasts can potentially change their mental state for the rest of their lives.
The age of your poodle
Age also has quite a big impact on your poodle’s willingness/ability to show affection and cuddles.
Puppies are nearly always too hyper and have not yet matured enough to understand what a cuddle is. A puppy will pull away from most cuddles and see it as nothing more than an attempt to play.
Seniors on the other hand can go either way. Some poodles will get more cuddly as they age, and others will actually shy away from the affection.
Some poodles are just less cuddly!
Sometimes, there isn’t any special reason other than their natural temperament and personality. And that’s okay!
It helps to remember that it’s also normal for dogs not to be cuddly. Some just aren’t!
As long as there are not obvious behavioral issues at play as well then not being very affectionate doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an issue.
Can You Make Your Poodle More Cuddly?
Many owners would like to know if you can make your poodle more cuddly, and it’s a great question.
Unfortunately, you can’t force or make your poodle be more cuddly, but there are a couple of things you can try to encourage your poodle to be more cuddly.
Don’t cuddle your poodle if she doesn’t want it
If you’ve realized your poodle pulls away from you every time you try to cuddle her, then you’ll need to stop attempting cuddles in the first place.
By constantly putting her in a situation she doesn’t like, you are only reinforcing to her just how much she dislikes it… So with every attempted cuddle, it’s reminding her she doesn’t like them.
Of course, continue to show your poodle plenty of love and never stop giving her your best “good girl” voice. Just try to avoid smothering her if she doesn’t want it. This will instantly improve the way she feels about cuddles, and it may even lead to her giving you some off her own accord.
Increase physical contact slowly
It will help to increase physical contact in general, from petting, stroking, belly rubs, brushing, and random touching.
After a few weeks or even months of an increased level of physical contact, your poodle will no doubt be more comfortable with cuddles and snuggles.
And remember to never push it too far. Even the most affectionate dogs in the world rarely enjoy complete smothering!
Poodle doesn’t like to cuddle all of a sudden
If your poodle has always been a cuddler, and they’re suddenly shying away from it, it’s important to figure out why.
The reason could be for a variety of reasons from anxiety to pain, to less obvious health conditions.
But don’t panic. You can start trying to figure it out at home yourself.
Watch your poodle’s behavior and consider these questions:
- Are they having a hard time getting up onto furniture?
- Do they get upset when you pick them up?
- Do they seem painful anywhere?
And think about things that have happened recently:
- Did they get dropped, or have anything else scary happen whilst in someone’s arms?
- Could they have been roughly handled by an inexperienced adult, or maybe a child?
- Did you have any visitors who aren’t gentle with dogs?
- Were they yelled at recently, or could have they had a bad experience with you?
If you can’t narrow down a specific event that may have scared them away from handling, it’s probably time to make a vet appointment to rule out anything else like an injury or illness.
Related Questions
Do Standard Poodles like to cuddle?
Standard poodles are the least likely to cuddle of the three poodle sizes. This doesn’t make them any less cuddly, however. In fact, standard poodles are treated much more like dogs, and much less like accessories or stuffed animals, so they can be surprisingly cuddly without even trying. It’s still important to make cuddles a positive and voluntary activity, to reduce any anxiety they might feel about it.
Do Miniature Poodles like to cuddle?
There’s no guarantee that a miniature poodle will like cuddles. You can still stack the odds in your favor by asking for temperament history from the breeder, who can help you choose a puppy that favors human contact. It’s also important to handle them early in life so they get accustomed to it.
Do Toy Poodles like to cuddle?
Toy poodles are a lap dog, but there’s no guarantee they’ll love close cuddles. Breeders might be able to provide temperament history, which can help you pick a puppy that favors human contact. Giving them positive cuddle exposure early in life can help them get accustomed to it.
Final Thoughts
Whether your poodle is cuddly or not, remember that there are many ways she’s likely showing you her love. Please also keep in mind that some poodles will just be more cuddly than others, and there’s nothing wrong with that!
