6 Reasons Whippets Like To Cuddle + 6 Reasons They Don’t

Pawscessories is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Some whippets really like a good cuddle but you’re finding your pup isn’t at all interested in cuddling. Or something’s recently changed and now they want nothing to do with cuddling when they used to be a cuddle monster.

What gives?

Do Whippets Like To Cuddle:

Whippets are very affectionate dogs that enjoy cuddling. They tend to scare easier and get cold more easily than most breeds so cuddling helps warm them up as well as makes them feel safe. Other reasons they like cuddling are because your scent soothes them and it’s become a habit.

In this post you’ll discover:

6 real reasons why whippets like to cuddle
6 reasons why whippets don’t like to cuddle
3 reasons why cuddling is beneficial for both you and your whippet (You’ll be shocked by reason #1!)
And much, much more

Let’s jump right in.

Table of Contents

Top 6 Reasons Whippets Like Cuddling

1) They’ve Grown Up Cuddling

Ever since your whippet was a young pup you’ve cuddled with them for as long as they’d let you.

Which means they’ve grown up cuddling and if they didn’t love it at first, they sure do enjoy it now.

It’s something they’ve gotten used to and now thoroughly enjoy.

Cuddle time with you is likely something they look forward to because it means they get quality 1-on-1 time with a bunch of belly rubs, head pats and kisses.

Time spent cuddling with you is simply better than time spent lying by themselves.

It could also have become a habit.

For months or even years when you’ve come home from work and settled in on the couch, they’ve joined you for a cuddle.

And now it’s part of their daily routine.

2) They Feel Happier When Close To You

Researchers have found that when a dog and their owner have physical contact it makes the dog feel good. In the most literal sense of the word feel.

When you cuddle with your whippet it releases oxytocin as well as dopamine in their body.

Oxytocin is a natural chemical that releases in their body when they are in physical contact with you. It makes them have increased feelings of love and trust.

And dopamine is the pleasure hormone and the more your pup has of it in their body the better they feel.

So a major reason why whippets like to cuddle is because of how good it makes them feel to be close to you.

3) Time Apart From You Is Hard

When you’re gone all day at work it’s hard on your pup.

They’d much rather you be at home with them.

But of course that’s not realistic because who would pay for all their treats and toys then!

This means when you get home they want to spend as much time being close to you as possible.

Your whippet has had enough alone time during the day and wants to cuddle with you now that you’re home again.

Also, dogs don’t have the best understanding of time and how much has gone by since you left. This makes them miss you regardless of if it’s been 15 minutes or several hours.

But one thing your whippet is sure of is they’d like to cuddle with you now that you’re home again.

4) Your Scent Soothes Them

The scent of a loved one can really help soothe a dog that’s feeling anxious or sad.

When you brought your whippet home for the first time you may have been given a blanket that their mother and brothers/sisters laid on where they were born.

The reason why is because the familiar scent of their mother and siblings can help give them a sense of comfort as they get used to their new home.

But now that their love for you has grown so strong it’s your scent that gives them this feeling of comfort and security.

So when they cuddle with you, outside of enjoying the physical contact, they also enjoy your scent as it makes them feel at home.

5) Safety

Because your whippet likely sees you as the alpha of your family/pack, when they cuddle with you it makes them feel safe.

When you’re home and cuddling with them they’re able to put their guard down and relax.

They know that as long as you’re here and relaxing there’s nothing for them to worry about either.

Which allows them to put their mind at ease and enjoy the moment.

If your whippet feels safe when cuddled up next to you it’s definitely one of the reasons why they love cuddling.

6) Warmth

Your pup doesn’t have a super thick fur coat and is likely very lean with hardly any body fat.

This combo makes it more challenging for them to stay warm.

So another reason whippets like to cuddle is because body heat is the best heat.

Lying beside you or on top of you helps them warm up.

Much quicker than if they were to be lying on the couch by themselves.

6 Reasons Why Your Whippet May Not Want To Cuddle

1) They Like Their Space

Just like people, all dogs are unique.

Which means, even though most dogs really enjoy closeness and cuddling with their owners, some simply don’t.

They prefer having their own space and being more independent.

It’s nothing against you, your whippet might simply not enjoy cuddling very much because they like their personal space.

2) It’s Not What They’re Used To

If you adopted your whippet from a shelter later in their life they may not have gotten used to cuddling as a puppy.

Which makes them uninterested in cuddling now.

It could also be that you didn’t spend much time cuddling with your whippet when they were a pup.

Which again, means they never got used to cuddling and aren’t interested in being super close to someone because of it.

A lot of your pups behavior is dependent on how they spent their puppy years.

Of course it doesn’t mean they can’t change. It just might take a while for them to get used to something they didn’t experience much as a young pup.

3) Not Feeling Well

When your whippet isn’t feeling 100% it’s totally normal for them not to want to cuddle.

This could be from a physical injury like a cut or scrape, a stomach problem or an underlying health issue.

If your pup isn’t feeling well they’ll likely want their space and not to be touched.

You’ve probably experienced this when you haven’t felt 100% in the past.

When you aren’t feeling well it’s normal to want a bit of space and time to recover to get back to normal.

Which is why it’s best to give your pup their space if you know they haven’t been feeling well recently.

It’s also not a bad idea to take them to the vet if you think there might be something serious going on.

4) Too Much Pent Up Energy

If your pup was in the middle of burning off some of their excess energy the last thing they’ll want to do is sit still and cuddle.

When a whippet has too much pent up energy they’ll be completely uninterested in cuddling.

They’d rather go for a run, play some fetch or get you to chase them around the house.

Anything that involves moving is what they’re interested in when they have a bunch of energy.

So if you tried cuddling with your whippet when they appear to have a bunch of built up energy it’s not unusual for them to run off to do something else.

5) Negative Experiences

Previous negative experiences with people when it comes to being close and cuddling can definitely be a reason why your whippet doesn’t enjoy it.

If unfortunately your pup had one or many negative experiences being physically close and trusting someone it can affect all future situations with being close.

While it’s not impossible for them to trust you after having been through a negative experience, it just may take some time.

When you think about it, cuddling is a high trust activity. They have to let their guard down and know you’re not going to hurt them.

So if someone broke their trust in the past it’ll make them much less interested in cuddling from there on out.

But with some love and patience it’s definitely possible to help your whippet enjoy cuddling again.

6) Their Age

Some things that your whippet really enjoyed as a puppy may not be super interesting to them as they get older.

Cuddling unfortunately might be one of those things.

When they were a young pup they could lie in any position and feel completely comfortable because they were young and flexible.

But as your pup gets older their ability to get comfortable is a little more difficult.

Which means they have to be more particular with how they choose to lie down without any pain or discomfort.

Also, their tolerance for being overly warm is much lower as they get older.

Which simply means cuddling may not be as enjoyable of an experience for your whippet now that they’re getting older.

3 Reasons Cuddling Is Beneficial For You & Your Whippet

1) Scientifically Proven To Help Mental Health

Many people underestimate how beneficial it is for both you and your whippet when you cuddle.

Mostly because it’s difficult to wrap your head around how simply cuddling can be such a good thing for both you and your pup.

While increased levels of oxytocin is one of the benefits we mentioned earlier, there are much more.

Such as:

Less anxiety
Overall improved mood
Reduced cortisol levels (stress hormone)
Lowered heart rate
Lowered blood pressure
Not as easily angered

And the list goes on.

Which is why making cuddling time with your whippet a priority, is a really good idea.

2) Quality Time Strengthens Your Bond

When life gets busy, which it inevitably does, it can be easy to forget about quality time with your pup.

Things come up in your social life as well as with work and your pup might not see you as much as they’d like.

Which is why making time to cuddle with your whippet can help strengthen your bond.

Spending time with you is one of their simple pleasures in life and when you have the time to do it I’m sure you really enjoy it as well.

Nothing makes up for quality 1-on-1 time when it comes to bonding.

3) Helps You Be Present

One thing that’s becoming more and more difficult to do is be present and in the moment.

With all the apps on our phones and it being so easy to get in contact with you, it’s challenging to be totally present.

And cuddling with your whippet can help with that.

Making time for some snuggles can take your mind off of all the things going on in your world and put you right in the moment of enjoying time with your care-free pup.

Which helps you remember that the little things in life are truly what’s important :-).

Other posts you might find interesting:

Can Whippets Be Service Dogs? 5 Ways They Can & Can’t

Why Do Whippets Yawn So Much? The Truth + Reasons & Tips

7 Alarming Reasons Whippets Eat Poop + Tips To Stop It