5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean

Jan 13, 2026 | Tips and Tricks

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  Do you have a dog who loves to snuggle, or one who gives you a minute or two of attention and then walks away?  Do you think Dogs Snuggle With their Alpha?  This article, based on research and from www.paradepets.com, on the 5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean, was so fun and interesting that I had to share it with you.  Jake was my cuddler; the one who loved snuggling on the couch while rolled up in warm blankets from the dryer, sleeping on my pillow, back legs thrown over my hip while sleeping, sleeping on my feet while Maggie lets me hug her, and then she’s done.  She loves sleeping in bed with us, but gets hot fast and moves around.  She likes attention, but on her terms.  She loves being with us; always watching and listening to where we are, but a snuggle bunny she is not.  That’s ok, we still love her anyway :-).
 
5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean | www.twoadorablelabs.com
Do Dogs Snuggle with Their Alpha?
 
While dogs snuggle up with both their pack members (other dogs and your family members), they also snuggle with their pet owners. That means if you’re part of your pup’s pack, they’ll cuddle with you as a sense of security and protection. This behavior also helps strengthen the bond between them and the owner through shared comfort and companionship.  Bonding: Dogs often snuggle or seek proximity with the human they have the strongest bond with, their primary caregiver, viewing them as their leader and source of comfort.
 
5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean | www.twoadorablelabs.com
5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean
 
 
1. The Foot Warmer
 
Dogs that use your feet as their preferred point of contact may do so for various reasons. Given their evolutionary past, it makes sense that dogs instinctively seek members of their social group to sleep with, as this helped foster cohesion and security by allowing them to watch over one another.
 
Fast-forward to modern times, and we may notice that our domesticated dogs retain several instincts, and sleeping in close contact with their pet parents is a continuation of this ancient instinct.
 
Most dogs, after all, are eager to be near their owners. Interestingly, studies have found that dogs form a childlike bond with us. Just as human infants and their parents develop a “secure base effect,” dogs do too, feeling safe and secure around their pet parents.
 
While this trait is endearing, dogs may sometimes develop dysfunctional attachments to their owners, leading to overly clingy “Velcro dog” behaviors such as following their owners from room to room and sleeping by their pet parent’s feet, which allows them to “keep tabs” on their whereabouts.
 
But again, every dog is different, and therefore, some dogs may sleep on their pet parent’s feet as a way to assume a protective role (guarding him/her as a precious resource), or even for simpler reasons such as seeking warmth, using a soft area to rest the head, or being attracted to our scent.
 
 
 
2. The Nose/Ears Nuzzler
 
Does your dog love to nuzzle and cuddle by your nose or ears? This form of cuddling can be quite persistent, and it may cause some dogs to become particularly obsessed with it, but what triggers this behavior, though? As with some other forms of cuddling, there may be several driving forces behind it.
 
Nuzzling, licking, and nibbling are natural, species-specific behaviors in dogs, but they can also be used as “appeasement gestures,” basically ways to communicate that they mean no harm. Some dogs may be, by nature, overly appeasing, which can lead to excessive licking or nibbling.
 
In some cases, dogs may also do this for attention, attracted by certain smells, or as a form of social grooming. “These behaviors are done by individuals closely associated with each other.”
 
5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean | www.twoadorablelabs.com
3. The Polite Leaner
 
Does your dog love to lean on you like the Leaning Tower of Pisa? If so, you may perceive the behavior as pushy, or maybe you may have assumed that your dog was acting out of dominance.  Fortunately, the whole dog dominance myth has been debunked, so there is no need to worry about your leaner dog taking over the household and establishing himself as the “alpha.”
 
Instead, dogs who cuddle this way are often attempting to communicate their bond with us. It’s almost as if they were saying something along the lines of, “I trust you, and I feel calmer just by touching you.”   Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Sagi Denenberg, in an article for Reader’s Digest, claims that when dogs are leaning, they are using it as an affiliative behavior meant to forge social and emotional bonds.  He further claims that dogs don’t hug, kiss or pet as these are human ways of showing affection. Instead, dogs lean or huddle, which is another form of cuddling.
 
5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean | www.twoadorablelabs.com
4. The Head Rester
 
Another way dogs can cuddle is by placing their head on your lap and staring adoringly at you. Whether their head rest lasts a few seconds or several minutes, consider that it’s a deliberate act and quite a trusting and affectionate gesture.
 
Many dogs will place their head on a person’s lap and then stare at you intently as if they are expecting something. What is that “something?” In many cases, the dog is expecting some form of attention, whether sweet talk or petting.
 
 
 
5. The Drive-By Cuddler
 
The Drive-By Cuddler is the canine equivalent of a quick wink and a smile. It’s quite brief yet playful, with the dog walking by, brushing against your leg, or bumping against you as if to say, “Hey, I notice you!” But then, they’re gone, off to focus on something else.
 
These dogs may be more independent and low-maintenance, showing their affection without becoming overly needy. In a nutshell, these dogs have mastered the delicate balance between saying “I love you” and “I’m also okay being my own dog for a while.”
 
These dogs do not necessarily need constant contact to feel secure. Their drive-by brushes and bumps are the canine equivalent of a healthy attachment style. Their fleeting gestures are a reminder that love doesn’t always need to be constant, excessive, or smothering.
5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean | www.twoadorablelabs.com
If you are looking for more pet-related content, check out my older blogs here:
I’m Bobbi Jo, a lab-lover who took my passion for animals and dogs and turned it into something bigger.  When I adopted Jake and Maggie, my love for them became the driving force behind Two Adorable Labs, and my blog was born.  My hope is to not only share them with the world, but to help educate others on the importance of animal health and well-being.

Two Adorable Labs has become a collection of all that I love.  I’ll send one post each week on things that bring me joy on animal health, home decor, and food recipes for humans and our furry friends.  I hope you enjoy these posts and much as I do creating them!

5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean | www.twoadorablelabs.com
5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean | www.twoadorablelabs.com
5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean | www.twoadorablelabs.com
5 Different Dog Cuddling Styles and What They Mean | www.twoadorablelabs.com

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