My friend just got a purebred german shepherd puppy at 12 weeks old, its a girl and absolutely beautiful. The only problem is she is really a frisky little girl as play but when you try to reach for her she bucks and plays around you but you can't touch her. Its almost like shes fearful of you picking her up or holding her. she will come to you and jump and play with you but in her own circle. When I do get ahold of her while giving her a treat she screams like I am killing her..lol! I try to calm her down and stroke her back for awhile. Then I let her go and shes frisky bucking around me and playing with me but still will not let me touch her, I can pet her on the head but she will not get close to where I can get my hands on her to hold her. I do try when I am sitting on the ground so she is not intimidated by me. My friend has had her for a week and I thought she would change, shes the same with her too. I have helped her try to leash train her and she just pulls and bucks to get away. She has never been on a leash before. I was needing some advice on how to leash train her when she is so nervous about us touching her. But all in all she wags her tail and does not tuck it in like she is shy, she just doesn't want to be grabbed or touched as to pick her up or cuddle with her. I appreciate your advice on this. My friend is frustrated and wants to be able to walk her and cuddle with her when quiet time comes in the evening.

My dog does not like to "cuddle" or to be picked up ever and she is half GSD. I have found that a lot of dogs don't like to be. I would say no off leash time and work on groundwork. She sounds a little naughty, as to be expected for a pup IMO

If you want cuddle time.......get a stuffed toy.

Give some thought to the idea that this may not be a dog your friend is going to want to live with for the, oh let's say, the next ten to 12 years.
And if you think the dog is demanding now just give it another 6 months or a year.

So have your friend think about the requirements this dog is going to need (yes NEED!) for the coming years (that is as in 24/7 for YEARS) with or without any cuddle time.

Want assured cuddle time?
Get a stuffed toy.

She has had the pup one week. To even think that walking calmly on a leash at this point is premature, imho. She is a baby!!

My dog, while extremely friendly and affectionate, is NOT the type to cuddle - ever. Some dogs are, some are not. However, at twelve weeks, with only being in the home for one week, your friend has no idea yet what personality her dog will have as an adult.

I'd suggest having her read a lot about Marker training. There is a free ebook on this site and tons of info - including a DVD she can order. It is a wonderful training method.

Right now, I'd suggest your friend be thinking about simply having fun, bonding, crate training, house breaking and getting this puppy tired out. She may not be getting enough exercise...

Cuddling is lowwwww on the list of priorities.

Marker training. Marker training. Marker training.

Welcome to Leerburg!

Just want to chime in on this and re-iterate what Barbara, Elizabeth and Randy said- Some don't DON'T like to cuddle.

I know pup's are cute, and sometimes you just want to pick them up and squeeze them! But really, there is no need to hold a puppy, especially a 12 week old GSD.

Not to mention a brand-new-to-the-home dog (any age) ....

This is a baby, BTW. The leash expectation sounds a little crazily over-ambitious.


"Right now, I'd suggest your friend be thinking about simply having fun, bonding, crate training, house breaking and getting this puppy tired out. She may not be getting enough exercise...

Cuddling is lowwwww on the list of priorities. "

What she said.

You've already got your hands full with your own 12 week old puppy.

Tell your friend to get on over here, too.:smile:

I have an almost 19 week old GSD pup, and all he wanted to do for the first couple weeks was play - NOT CUDDLE! When I did have to carry him up and down stairs, I had to be like a ninja, because he would scream bloody murder, and try to rip my face off.
Now he trusts me, we are more bonded, and he will sleep with his head on my knee, or lay beside me. It takes time. The pup is full of energy, and doesn't know who you are.

My pups not loving at all. But with patience your friend will come to really enjoy other qualities, like an incredible desire to learn and a focus and concentration silly puppies just don't have. It's a different sort of dog than she may have expected, but might be her best dog ever after a few months.

I have three GSDs and only my most recent addition is a cuddler...and only with me, not anyone else.

I also got him at 12 weeks old and honestly, when you get a pup at this age, you are behind already. Lots of things can be accomplished between 8 weeks and 12 weeks and unless you have an excellent breeder, it is likely that these things haven't happened to the extent that you would have personally done.

SO -

This sounds like it might be a bigger problem. How much do you think the pup was handled before she got it?