I’m feeling a little bit less anxious about integrating my puppy into our house. It comes and goes. Thanks for all your nice replies. I work from home, and I try to work in my study. I’d really like Arthur to come and settle down with me. And I think he wants to! But, he really loves to sit on the sofa with us, and to snuggle. I think he wants to sit ON me while I’m working. Which is not really practical, or possible. I’ve made him a blanket/bed area in the study room, and I’ve been encouraging him to settle there, but it would be great to have some suggestions about how I can make him comfortable near me, but not sitting on my lap. I’m thinking of putting his blanket over my feet, so he can come and sit ON them. And letting him snuggle with me at other times of the day when it is practical and possible. Any other ideas that might help?
Sounds like a sweetheart! I guess he will get too big to snuggle on your lap soon and may realise a bed more comfortable? How about a large cuddly toy to snuggle up to , just keep an eye for chewing on the toy !
Joy used to be like that too when he was little. I figured that being on the lap is the best option for puppies who're too young but just touching you in any way is good enough. Like if I sit on a chair while working, he will snuggle close to my feet and fall asleep. In a couple of months, Joy was even content with just touching a paw or his nose to the chair or bed or couch on which I was sitting. He needs those occasional pets and cuddles when he wakes up though!
He is really sweet! It’s a shame in a way to discourage the snuggling, but it’s not practical! I like the toy idea. I’ll give that a go!
You could put one of your own jumpers on the toy at first so it smells right. For maximum effect you could even stick a hot water bottle up the jumper!
That’s what I want to achieve! Snuggling on my feet! Maybe it just needs some more time for him to get a bit more independent...
I think it sounds lovely and you should enjoy it while it lasts. There's a thread in the behaviour section of this forum on how to teach your puppy to be alone which might be useful for you.
It IS lovely, and I do enjoy it. You are right, one day it might not be there and then I will miss it. I think I figured out some of the problem - he settled on the floor at my parents in law. Their house is warmer than ours. I think the floor is too cold for him! Little snuggle ball that likes to be warm!
Sounds like you know what is causing him to be cuddly. If you are trying to work then set up his bed at your feet so he is close to you and not lying on the cold floor. My pup will always lie at our feet it we are eating or at the table. Once we are on the sofa she will either choose her bed that is at our feet or the hall. Think it depends if the TV bothers her or if she is hot/cold
I too work from home, my solution was to put another chair next to mine with a pillow from my bed on it. She loved it and now she expects it! Had to get her her own chair.....
that is exactly what he wants! Unfortunately, my office is in the dining room and I don’t want him to sit on the chairs here. I’m keen to stick to my boundaries! I think we had a breakthrough though - I’ve moved his blanket under the table, and got him a thicker one and he’s just come and sat in it and snuggled on my feet. Which is very nice and practically perfect! I hope he keeps doing this .
