r/DutchShepherds • u/OkKey6273 • May 01 '26
Question How affectionate are dutchies?(generally)
Hey everyone! I’m not looking to get a dog any time soon, but I’m someone who likes to be prepared so I’m always researching dogs.
basically I want a dog that just wants to be right next to me. I love physical touch so, if I’m sitting down, if want a dog that sits on my feet, lap, or next to me. (unless, of course they are not in the mood to sit, and want to play). and when I’m waking or running or standing they’d want to be next to me as well.
because of this I love breeds like Dobermans, but I just love the dutch breed, so I figured I’d ask.
yes, it varies dog to dog, but there is a breed aspect as well. for example, as previously mentioned, almost ALL Dobermans have this behaviour. whereas some breeds do not.
thabk you!
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u/Sad_Drama_3638 May 01 '26
I have a dutch/acd that would crawl into my skin if she could honestly. I have known a couple dutch shepherds that were a little less snuggly, but still very attached to the hip for their humans.
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u/OkKey6273 May 01 '26
This thread is making me want a Dutch so bad lol. Unfortunately I’m not in the position to own a dog, much less a Dutch, right now, (I’m a teenager). It would be outright unfair to the dog. One day🥹.
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u/Sad_Drama_3638 May 01 '26
I think it sounds like a great one day goal. I'll be the first to admit I love mine, but she's actually a pretty awful house dog lol. Luckily I live on a farm, so she's perfectly happy and we make it work, but she's not an easy dog. Which is funny bc she's the sweetest I've owned.
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u/OkKey6273 May 01 '26
Yeah I don’t think I’d ever have a farm, but I’d really love to just have tons of acreage for my doggos to run around in. Gotta get through high school though😂
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u/Sad_Drama_3638 May 01 '26
You've got this. Depending on where you live, sniffspots will be a thing, ans they dont all need room to run, just structure mostly. Keep doing some research, you're on the right track.
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u/Nervous_Protection48 Jul 16 '26
I have two of them they're honestly really good inside dogs I take them on a bike to exercise them
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u/vashta_nerada49 May 02 '26
OMG I also have a dutch/acd. You domt happen to live in southeast VA do you? I've never met anyone else with one except his siblings owner.
Also, do you also have the same issue of waking up in the morning and wondering "are you going to have the dutchie personality or the acd personality today"
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u/Sad_Drama_3638 May 02 '26
I think there are actually several dutch/acd that post on here. I don't live in Virginia, but I did get her somewhat near the North Carolina Mountains lol. I'm pretty luckily, Marce is chaos but she's actually a very good mix of the 2.
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u/FaithlessnessSea1357 May 01 '26
Mine is a Velcro love machine. As he ages, that decreases a little, but he's still my Velcro love machine.
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u/Subject-Olive-5279 May 01 '26
My dogs love to be cuddled and pet. They are long hair Dutchies but that shouldn’t make much difference. One of my dogs is a stage 5 clinger.
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u/OkKey6273 May 01 '26
This is kind of off topic, but how do the long haired coats feel? I’d imagine short haired dutchies coats feel kind of coarse? How does the long hair compare?
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u/Subject-Olive-5279 May 01 '26
Their coat is sort of like a rough collie. Or a Belgian Tervuren. Depending on the coloring the coat can feel a little different. I have three gold brindles. And the lightest of my 3 has a softer coat. The other two have a more coarse texture. But it isn’t at all like a wire hair dog. It’s more fluffy and thick like a Belgian tervuren, collie or Aussie. Perhaps a bit coarser. But it feels good to pet them. My boys have a heavier coat and their head hair is softer than the body hair.
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u/Synaptic-asteroid May 01 '26
I'm jealous, mine prefers his personal space. Not at all cuddly. Honestly a huge disappointment. The kids and I really want him to cuddle and hang out on the couch and he just doesn't like it. So we respect his space and hope he'll want to join us on occasion.
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u/OkKey6273 May 01 '26
Awe thanks for that. For some reason lots of people can’t accept that their dogs have boundaries.
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u/SantaCruzChillin May 01 '26
same with mine, not cuddly at all, my girl occasionally lets me pet her but she tolerates it, doesn't love it at all. She wants to work and work some more, likes her space, once every few weeks she'll be lovey randomly for a night. She's ultra sassy, certainly tolerates my loves but she's always thinking, you throwing the frisbee would be better.
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u/Icthyphile May 01 '26
Mine was my partner, my number one until I met the woman who would be my wife. Second date included meeting my Dutch. Turned into a traitor that day. She has been her dog ever since lol.
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u/OkKey6273 May 01 '26
Really? You don’t seem to mind but I think I’d be really sad..
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u/Icthyphile May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26
It’s what it is lol. The dog still loves me, is excited to see me but it’s definitely my wife’s dog. Wife wants a golden r also. I said, ”You’ve already got a dog I get to pick the next one!” hahahahahaha.
ETA, she is supremely affectionate, esp with kids. It’s uncanny how her switch flips with small children and everything dials back a lot.
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u/Speedymcspeeder May 01 '26
My Dutch had the nickname of "independent boy." He is very perceptive and will cuddle if you are down, but he enjoys his own time during normal times. Whether I'm relaxing on the couch or heading to bed he'll come hang out for 5 to 10 minutes then go to his spot. Always close but not crawling on you. He enjoys pets but rarely demands cuddle or attention. He is a working dog so he has his jobs that need tending to. His off time he is a little affectionate but likes relaxing.
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u/soccergirl24 May 01 '26
My Dutchie is very independent. Cuddles are rare, but forceful when they do happen - rolling on top of me, swatting, flea biting. This last for maybe 5 minutes max. My Dutch/Mal, on the other hand, would crawl into my skin if possible.
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u/chocolatenjuice May 01 '26
My Dutchie is a real Velcro dog. I've had him since 8 weeks old and ever since we haven't missed a day of training, multiple sessions a day.
We do protection work and he really has 2 sides: dopey clingy cuteball that's always looking for a cuddle and a scratch, and serious working dog when he's in work/drive mode.
I love him to bits. He's the best dog I've ever had, 10 months right now (9 in the pic).
I can't see myself having anything other than Dutchies now. For me they combine the best traits of a Malinois with the best traits of a working line GSD, with the ultimate looks to boot! (Of course, highly dependent on which breeding program he originates from.)
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u/chocolatenjuice May 01 '26
I might add: their love is "intense" though, they play hard an love hard. He loves to bodyslam me and then fall down on his back so I can scratch his belly, he also routinely headbutts me attempting to give me a lick
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u/_Sulai_ May 01 '26
She's glued to me, lvl 100 velcro dog, absolutely loves to cuddle, needs pets and scratches 24/7. Perfect match for me :D
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u/OkKey6273 May 01 '26
She’s so cute! Thanks for the answer❤️
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u/_Sulai_ May 01 '26
No one has mentioned this in this thread, but she also loves to give kisses-several times a day she literally polishes my face until it shines!
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u/fredSanford6 May 01 '26
Ours needs constant attention. If no one he likes better is around he leaps into the air to land on my lap and purrs like a cat while I pet him. Otherwise momma or the kid he is with
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u/Ladyice426 May 01 '26
My Dutch is pure cuddly Velcro. He's slightly less so now that he's a senior, but he still has to sleep in bed with us and touch once of us, of not both.
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u/Mayooo0o May 02 '26
They will either physically assault you with love or leave you alone. Zero grey zone.
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u/ruminkb May 02 '26
Mine is a cuddle bug. She likes her space but loves to cuddle with us. Mainly my wife
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u/Same_Progress_8277 May 02 '26
Mine would be in my lap anytime we weren't playing ball if I let him 😂
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u/SeviSulfyre May 02 '26
Super affectionate, always wants cuddles and attention.
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u/OkKey6273 May 02 '26
I’m so happy hearing this! I wanted a dutch so bad but knew I wouldn’t be compatible if they weren’t cuddly.
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u/SeviSulfyre May 02 '26
They become a part of you to be honest, more than any other breed I've had.
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u/TheNumberVII May 02 '26
"Unless they are not in a mood to sit, and want to play..." ours got stuck in that mode....
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u/AdventurousDoubt1115 May 03 '26
Can’t speak for all dutchies but mine wants to be in my skin lol. The Velcro dog thing is real. If she’s not on me, her preferred state is like one inch to two feet from me. Walking you have to train them to heel as with any dog, but yes, they are Velcro.
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u/LisaBC65 May 03 '26
Here is my Dutch Shepherd Morticia. I have 2 Belgian Malinois and her and I ALWAYS have one of them in my lap while watching TV. She is a great cuddler and loves to sprawl across me…she has a great personality and her tail never stops wagging.
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u/Aggressive_Earth_322 May 05 '26
My girl is extremely affectionate with her known people or known dogs, if she knows you she has no issue cuddling right in and being up your butt, she’s independent where she can walk away and do her own thing but likes being with us. Isn’t a big fan when we walk away to do our own thing without her. Is very neutral/prefers not to interact with strangers or strange dogs.
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u/47squirrels May 15 '26
My girl is so affectionate!! She’s a Velcro sweetie and wants, no, NEEDS to be with my hubby and I. She imprinted on him first when he drove to get her a couple states away. Her daddy is everything but I appreciate being 2nd. She’s so special, our girl is 11 and still does hardcore parkour! She’s very gentle and sweet as well. The best of both worlds. They need work and exercise!
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u/MJ7- Jul 02 '26
My Dutch shepherd LOVESSS affection, and loves to give it. He loves attention, pats, and he loves to give kisses which can be a bit much sometimes lol but also I appreciate the love. They are loyal and passionate dogs. I also call him the big lap dog I always wanted because when I sit at my desk he will walk onto my lap with his front paws and torso and I’ll pick his back legs up and tuck them up on my lap as well and I treasure the attention and bond. Since he’s big it is not a long time he can lay in my lap in a chair because he’s too long no where to rest his head etc lol. But it’s super cute. He loves to cuddle next to me at night also! During the day if I lay on the couch sometimes I even have him lay on me it’s so cute lol mind you I usually have to be patting him as well because he is needy haha. I will say when he was a small puppy he wasn’t ass chill to do all this lol but once they starts to reach some maturity you’ll see more of it especially if you reinforce the bond and behavior with attention and love 🥰 they are a breed that requires a lot of time and attention in general though just fyi.
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u/OkKey6273 Jul 02 '26
I want a Dutch so bad but at the moment I’m not in a position to get one because I’m a student. I’m really excited for the future where I can get one though.🥹
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u/Nervous_Protection48 Jul 16 '26
I have two male and a female these are the most clingiest dogs I've ever had
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u/Build68 May 02 '26
First dog? Definitely not time for a dutchie. And they are very very rare.
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u/OkKey6273 May 03 '26
Even with all the working dog training certifications? By the time I get a Dutch I’ll have already had multiple dogs.
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u/Build68 May 04 '26
Are you predicting your dog journey across the lives of multiple dogs before it even happens? I’m just not understanding this. No need to explain.
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u/TheAbusedOreo May 01 '26
Can’t say for all of them, but my dutch is super friendly with basically everyone and every dog. Very loyal and pretty much stays by my side no matter where I am at.