Do English Setters Like To Cuddle? Why?
English Setters are a friendly, cuddly dog breed most of the time. Their temperament is gentle and sweet, and they love children. Often parents will find them close by, at the ready for a warm hug and some playtime. If not, they will be back before you blink, ready for some attention soon!
Are English Setters Cuddly?
Yes, English Setters like to cuddle. Their temperament and personality are that of a friendly, loveable family dog. English Setters are a friendly dog breed that loves to be with their loving family, cuddling and having fun.
English Setters are a medium-sized dog breed. Their size might confuse them as cuddle dogs, but English Setters are very well-mannered and good-natured dogs, and their temperament is not that of an aggressive dog.
English Setters love to cuddle with their family, and in some cases, they might enjoy a few snuggles with the new person that entered the house for a visit. Dogs are individual regardless of breed, and they shouldn’t be compared one to the other.
Almost all English Setters will have a pleasant, happy-go-lucky personality. They bond strongly with their loving family and sometimes form close bonds with one person in that family.
Due to their size, English Setters might display their love and affection differently than other smaller dogs. English Setters are a very gentle dog breed; they will cuddle gently and lovingly just as they do almost everything else.
The English Setters personality is a friend to almost everyone, even other dogs. They love children and have a very easygoing personality. English Setters are known as bird dogs, but today they are often found in households with children and other pets. They adjust easily to different home environments, and parents shouldn’t be surprised to find them cuddled next to the housecat.
The English Setter’s personality is peaceful, and even they have a mild temperament and calm nature. English Setters are great family dogs, and most will enjoy cuddling with the children in the family. The breed thrives best on close companionship with the family or at least one person in the family, and this is due to their historical background as bird dogs.
In history, they worked alongside hunters to hunt and retrieve waterfowl. During that time, they spent much time with the hunting party and bonded closely with the hunter. This close connection allowed them to form a close connection and respond accordingly during the hunt.
Even though many English Setters are not bird dogs anymore, they still carry this trait. It’s ingrained in who they are as a dog. Without that strong connection to their human, they can feel lost, confused, and detached. This can affect their behavior and overall happiness.
Some English Setters might not be as cuddly as others if they have been through trauma before entering their new loving family. If this is the case, time must be given for them to let go of that pain, trust again and form close bonds.
How do I help my rescue English Setter become more cuddle?
The best way to help your rescue English Setter become more cuddling is to be patient with them. Rescue dogs sometimes come from homes where they were neglected or even abused, and it takes time for the English Setter to let go of the mistreatment and learn they deserve love.
If you have such a dog, it is helpful to contact their veterinarian and discuss ways to help them recover from this abuse and neglect. Most often, it’s a matter of patience, time, and the right home environment.
The best way to move forward, working with their veterinarian, is to formulate a plan for creating the right home environment where the English Setter feels safe and loved. This can include having a special spot for them to hide away or retreat during scary moments.
The best place is often a dog crate or quiet room where they are all alone. Make this area comfortable with toys, treats, and some cozy bedding or your clothing. Allow the English Setter to access this area at all times of the day or night.
Once you rescue an English Setter like this, you must be prepared for any setbacks and the unpredictable. Since rescues don’t often know the whole story of the English Setters’ past life, it can be hard for them to explain everything that might come up.
Before the English Setter enters your home, all family members must understand the situation. They must be instructed on how best to behave around the English Setter, learn what is and isn’t acceptable behavior and what to do if the dog becomes fearful.
With a lot of patience and time, many rescue animals, including English Setters, learn to trust again and welcome all those wonderful cuddles and hugs. Some may never fully recover from such pain but having a loving family to support and be with them makes all the difference.
My English Setter doesn’t like to cuddle; now what?
If you find that your English Setter doesn’t like to cuddle and they are not a rescue, it could simply be who they are as a dog. Each dog, just like humans, have its nature and temperament. Most of this is linked to their breeding, but in some cases, breeding is not the primary driving force in behavior.
If your English Setter doesn’t like to cuddle and it bothers you, a little investigation might help. For instance, writing in a journal for a few days about your dog’s activities can reveal a lot.
You can check with them if there are multiple people in your household and see what they think. It could be possible that the English Setter has formed a close bond with someone else in the family. Even the most loveable and sociable dog often bonds with one family member.
Should this be the case, you can still foster a healthy bond with your English Setter and share cuddles. If no close bond is formed with anyone else and your English Setter has always been this way, you can schedule cuddle time each day.
Scheduling cuddle time might seem ridiculous, but it can be helpful for you and your dog to have a specific time where you show each other attention and have quality time for bonding. Perhaps your English Setter doesn’t know how to cuddle and needs a little help.
Cuddling, like other behaviors, starts in the litter with the littermates and mother. If for some reason, the mother wasn’t around her puppies as much, or she wasn’t playful and cuddling with them, they might not know what to do.
Making a point to devote time in the day to fostering a healthy relationship with your English Setter is no different than setting time aside for a child or other loved one. You can encourage hugs while playing games and sharing treats during this time.
Positive energy and responsiveness will teach the English Setter how to cuddle. With repeated moments like this, your English Setter might surprise you one day and come looking for some cuddles.
Whatever the case, many issues with affection are linked to the dog’s health. When their life is as it should be, meaning their home environment is happy and they are well cared for the English Setter will be affectionate and cuddle.
At any time, if the home life or anything in it is amiss, any dog, regardless of breed, is cautious. A happy home with lots of love, good quality food and water, playtime, a comfortable bed, and caring people make everything right in every dog’s world.
