Puppy never comes to be petted?

[hannahrobiha]

Hello all,

Our puppy seems very happy and eager to be petted by other people and my partner but never by myself. She also always sits at least a few cm away from when called - does anyone know what this means?

She always follows me everywhere but simply just does not come up to me in the same excited manner she does to my partner when I enter the room or call her..

 

[4PawsandClaws.co.uk]

How old and what breed and how long have you had her? I suspect if she is still a puppy she may just be taking her time bonding with you. However, if you are the more dominant she may see you as more of a pack leader and dogs are a little more reserved around the alpha male and female. I suspect this will change as she grows up if she is still a puppy and especially if you have not had her that long she may just be trying to find her "pecking order".

 

[hannahrobiha]

4pawsandclaws,

We have had her since 8 weeks, she is 17 now and is happy to play, for me to walk her etc, she just never does her wriggly little run up to me to be petted like she does other people which makes me kind of worry she doesn't like me all that much or think anything of me...

 

[gypsysmum]

Dogs pick up on mood etc. Was she bred by a man? That would make her more comfortable around men (I am assuming your partner is male?)

If you are stressed, or anxious or unwell in any way a dog can sense it and avoid contact. Sometimes it is a memory of being trodden on or something like that??

All you can do is be as patient as possible and feed her, play with her. train her, using modern reward based methods, and wait for her to bond with you.

My new rescue is the same with me. It is upsetting isn't it?

 

[hannahrobiha]

It sounds silly gypsymum but it is. It's kind of like having a child that you do everything for but that never gives you a hug back..

Nearly all dogs like my partner though (yes he is male) even ones that their owners go on to say 'oh he/she is usually horrible to other people'. I think he just has a way about him that dogs like, and that I dont.

I don't think it helps that I am a little stressed at the moment, but always try to make our encounters as fun as possible. I just thought because I do everything with the dogs (they are more my pets that my partners) she would develop a very close bond with me like our other dog.

Meh, guess I will just have to spend more time with her which is never a bad thing. She's such a sweetie as you can see by the picture below!

Dogs pick up on mood etc. Was she bred by a man? That would make her more comfortable around men (I am assuming your partner is male?)

If you are stressed, or anxious or unwell in any way a dog can sense it and avoid contact. Sometimes it is a memory of being trodden on or something like that??

All you can do is be as patient as possible and feed her, play with her. train her, using modern reward based methods, and wait for her to bond with you.

My new rescue is the same with me. It is upsetting isn't it?

 

[hannahrobiha]

Forgot to add the picture!

 

[4PawsandClaws.co.uk]

Where is the picture? Haha

Well she is still a baby and learning all the time, I am sure she will start to form a closer relationship with you as she grows. Just make you spend a lot of one to one time with her and you actively participate in all her "upbringing" I.e walking, training, housetraining etc.