Hi everyone,

I'm quite concerned about my 17wk old Cav, Whilst sitting on our laps for his loved cuddles, if we lift him to kiss his head etc... he growls at us, we've tried to be firm by saying a firm NO! but he still continues to do this :( he hasn't attempted to snap yet, but i'd hate it if he did to a child.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

Thank YoU

Michelle

Maybe he is sensitive around the head area or where you are applying pressure when lifiting him and that is why he growls, he's warning you.
Maybe a quick call to the vet to ask, sometimes you don't need to physically take them.

Like people, dogs have different ideas of what is their personal space and how they feel about having it invaded - it sounds as if this pup is feeling particularly threatened - and having his people suddenly start saying 'No!' when he expresses his discomfort isn't helpping - perhaps he'd be happier if he wasn't pulled about so much?

He may be worried about being lifted to your face area....but it is difficult to tell without actually seeing.

Lindsay

Thank You to everyone's replies :)

I tried leaving Harvey on the floor and approach him for cuddles etc... he didn't growl one bit, so it obviously isn't that he's feeling threatened or having his space invaded... i've never known a puppy who actually loves to be cuddled so much :)

Digger i appreciate your opinion, as to what you thought was right. I don't recall asking for personal opinions, i was kindly asking for advice. It's individuals like you, that constantly jump on people on these boards for asking an innocent question, most of the innocent posters are asking for advice not asking for posters to tear a strip off them or two, I may not appear an expert bringing my puppy up- giving that it is a full time and challenging time, but certainly isn't the lack of trying I love my pet dearly and do not take lightly to your callous comments! 'perhaps he'd be happier if he wasn't pulled about so much?' i'm a grown woman, not an immature child and i certainly do not pull my pet around. So please in the future, refrain from comments like these, or at least think before you type.

Just had a thought When you put "pick him up" how you do pick him up ? My cavaliers prefer to jump on to my knee to being picked up & when they were little I used to scoop them up. They do love t touch massage & the youngest one grunts with pleasure :D

Is he definitely growling & not grunting a favourite noise of some cavaliers :D

Hi MoonMaiden,

We normally scoop him, just under his front legs/chest area. Will try to pick him a different way in the future.

He's growing quicky, so don't think it will be long before he can jump up onto our knees :)

We've noticed he has 2 different types of growls, one is a playful hoarse/grunt and the other is definitely a proper growl.

You're right Cavaliers certainly love their little pleasures :) :)

I would try picking him up by one hand under his back legs & the other to support his chest so that he is in an almost sitting position. When I pick up my boys to put them on the table at shows & put my left hand & arm over the dog & hold him with my hand under his chest a bit naughty as I support his legs against my hip which is bad for my back lol

They are one of the smartest little dogs around & mine are definitely very clever & naughty but I love them to bits. Our first one used to go into his crate on a night & take stolen biscuits etc in there & hold the door shut with his claws whilst grunting in delight :D at the big dogs flustration

hello :) i have a 12 week old cavalier, they're SO lovely aren't they! ruby definitely loves her cuddles too - her favourite place to sit is on my lap - its really hard not to give in to her requests to sit there all the time!

anyway - sorry - meant to write advice, not tell you abou my pup! i just wanted to see if you had had any joy with supporting your pup under the back legs/bum area. i really really notice that although ruby loves being carried around in general, she's VERY uncomfy if her rear end is unsupported. i just cup her rear legs usually. i think it hurts her insides/ribcage? maybe that's it?

also i notice that our ruby gets sleepy on our laps and she can be a little bit more grouchy when she wants to go to sleep. she loves contact but doesn't like being 'fussed' around if trying to sleep (& only saying that cos WE do tend to fuss her, want her to give us attention sometimes!) - maybe if she's comfy on your lap, she's just asking you to let her enjoy it & rest? you know your pup best though.

hopes she's still enjoying her cuddles and you're having lots of fun! :)

I wasn't giving a 'personal opinion' I was offering advice - as a Puppy School tutor I realise that many different things can make a puppy react in this way - I was simply suggesting what is very often the cause of behaviour like this. Dogs don't transfer feelings from one geographical area to another, so just because you say he's happy when you approach when he's on the floor, doesn't mean he will accept it when he's in your lap. He may even still be giving you signals as you approach him on the floor that he's not happy - would you be aware of these? In the same way training in one place (say in the garden) doesn't always automatically transfer to the park, or the training hall, which is something puppy owners often don't realise. Whatever is going on, and where ever it is, behaviour like this almost always means something is happening that the dog doesn't like - it's our job to find out what this is, and wether it's something we need to adjust in our behaviour, or something we need to address with what might be called 'behavioural training'....

it seems that the obvious problem may be that he is sensetive around the areas that you pick him up which he dislikes, try the vet. how about leaving him on the floor and approch him in and kiss and cuddle him, this may determin if he is growling at you to stay out of his space, or if he is tender.

Hi Cavalier lover,
i have 2 cavies, my new addition is 14 weeks and sometimes when we love her up or pick her up she growls(not showing teeth or anything) just little growls, then they just stop or she carries on...i still cuddle her even whe she is doing it...''saying RRRR whats the matter ...ha ha
i think it is just a puppy thing
my older boy has never done this !!
i wouldn't worry to much
take care xxx

Hi Michelle

When you say he is already on your lap and then he growls when you try to raise him up towards your face, how do you approach him?

If he is facing towards you and you reach towards him from in front of his face your hands could appear to be very big and threatening to him. try to reach towards him with your hands coming from below his line of vision, maybe around the chin/neck area and once you've made contact move your hands around to a comfortable place and lift him from there. Remember to praise him when he allows you to touch him.

There are many dogs that are hand-shy even though they have never had a raised against them in anger - its just how hands appear from certain angles.

Hi everyone,

He's totally different when we pick him up from the floor, we always support his bum end and he'll rest his side onto our chest. We've already tried picking him up a different way when he comes to sit on our laps.... so hopefully we'll see a difference :)

He doesn't ever show his teeth, it's just a little Grrrrrr to let us know.

Thanks everyone

Michelle