Basically, affection is defined as showing love towards someone or something. Dog owners can show affection by petting, hugging, stroking, playing, or kissing them. On the other hand, dogs can also show their love by spending time with you or snuggling, giving out kisses, or being happy to see you.
So, it could be wise to select a breed that is naturally inclined to good behavior and relatively easy to raise relationship if you’re looking for your first dog or simply don’t have faith in your ability to train one developing skills. Many of the breeds on this list are Affectionate, calm, loving, devoted, and unlikely to chew up your furniture.
We all love the dogs so much, all breeds are lovely, loyal, and adorable. But, some are stubborn and it is a plus when the dogs are well-behaved and adorable. Apart from well-behaved dogs, there are some breeds that require an alpha to train them and make them behave. Let’s see all of them make you choose a lovely and affectionate dog.
The Top 15 Most Affectionate Dog Breeds
The following is a list of the top 15 affectionate dog breeds. We compare the traits and provide you with a comprehensive list of them. So, let’s get the party started.
1. White Swiss Shepherd Dog
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 years
- Colors: White
- Traits: Attentive, aloof, and lively
- Height: 55–61 cm
- Weight: 25–35 kg
2. Maltese
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 15 years
- Colors: White
- Traits: Playful, docile, easy-going, lively, and intelligent
- Height: 21–25 cm
- Weight: 3–4 kg
The Maltese are a friendly and sociable breed of small dogs. This dog was raised as a companion, and because of its laid-back personality, it makes for an exciting and enjoyable pet. It is not only well-trained, but it also has a strong desire to win people over. Any good canine manners can be quickly learned by it. It will make your college experience memorable because you won’t get bored having it with you on campus.
3. Pomeranian
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 16 years
- Height: 20 cm
- Weight: 1.9 – 3.5 kg
- Traits: Playful, extroverted, friendly, sociable, intelligent, and active
- Colors: White, black, red, blue, cream, grey-shaded, tan, orange, and brown
In many ways, Pomeranians are the best small dog breed for college students. This tiny dog has a big personality and can brighten up your college experience. Separation anxiety does not affect Pormenians or Poms. As a result, you shouldn’t be concerned when you leave them in your dorm room for a long time each day.
4. Dogo Argentino
Breed Overview:
- Age: 10 – 15 years
- Colors: White
- Height: 60–65 cm
- Traits: Friendly, affectionate, cheerful, loyal, protective, and tolerant
- Weight: 35–40 kg
Dogo Argentinos are another large dog that is good for work and service. They were first developed as big-game hunting dogs. They are therefore highly intelligent and adept at obeying orders. Additionally, they are playful and protective of their family. They are therefore effective search and rescue dogs and service dogs. However, given how powerful they are, families with young children will need to exercise caution.
5. American Staffordshire Terrier
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 16 years
- Traits: Tenacious, friendly, devoted, attentive, loyal, and courageous
- Height: 43–46 cm
- Weight: 18–25 kg
- Colors: Black, white, brindle, fawn, sable, brown, and blue
Good-natured Terrific family pets are American Staffordshire terriers. Due to their medium size, they won’t require very large spaces but can run and play for a longer period of time than smaller breeds. Since they are intelligent and enjoy a challenge, they are ideal for owners who enjoy being active and take their dogs on hikes and moderately challenging runs.
6. Irish Wolfhound
Breed Overview:
- Age: 6 – 10 years
- Traits: Sweet-tempered, thoughtful, dignified, patient, loyal, and generous
- Colors: Black, white, brindle, fawn, grey, and red
- Weight: 120-155 lbs
Irish wolfhounds, one of the largest dog breeds in the world, can reach a height of 34 inches. They would resemble a breed straight out of “Game of Thrones” rather than a real person if not for their sweet face and demeanor. Fortunately, they behave themselves and are usually reserved and quiet. They are also unlikely to cause trouble inside the house, which is a huge relief given the amount of harm they could do. They are, in essence, like enormous teddy bears that are eager to give and receive love.
7. Bichon Frise
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 15 years
- Weight: 6–7 kg
- Colors: White, White & apricot, white & cream, white & buff
- Traits: Playful, cheerful, feisty, affectionate, sensitive, gentle
- Height: 23–30 cm
The Bichon Frise is a happy and jovial breed of dog that you can get. This adorable little dog is content to be wherever you are. The Bichon Frise is one of the best breeds to have with you at school because it outperforms all of its rivals in obedience training. You can enjoy spending time with it while also introducing it to a number of new things.
8. Pekingese
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 15 years
- Weight: 3.2 – 6.4 kg
- Height: 15 – 23 cm
- Traits: Opinionated, stubborn, aggressive, intelligent, affectionate, and good-natured
- Colors: Black, white, fawn, cream, black & tan, fawn brindle, and grey
The Pekingese is a renowned small dog breed for being exceptional and well-behaved. However, due to its stubborn nature, training can be challenging. This dog breed’s independent nature can be tapped into with a few tasty treats and persistence. It gains good dog manners thanks to this.
9. Giant Schnauzer
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 15 years
- Height: 60–65 cm
- Traits: Powerful, strong-willed, intelligent, kind, loyal, and dominant
- Weight: 25–34 kg
- Colors: Black
Due to their small size and inherent cuteness, miniature schnauzers frequently garner more attention, but giant schnauzers are a devoted and well-mannered breed. Many people have them as guard dogs since they are not very keen on strangers. However, once you’ve gained their love, you’ll have it forever, and they’ll likely follow you around the house. They are therefore excellent companions and ideal family dogs.
10. Bolognese
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 14 years
- Colors: White
- Traits: Serious, docile, enterprising, reserved, and loyal
- Height: 25–28 cm
- Weight: 5–4 kg
These little fluffy white dogs are so adorable. They are incredibly amiable and enjoy interacting with both people and dogs. Bring them to a dog park and observe how they interact with all the other canines. Since they weigh less than 10 pounds and enjoy being included, they can be carried with ease and frequently prefer to do so. They naturally get along well with children.
11. Skye Terrier
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 15 years
- Traits: Friendly, intelligent, loyal, Fearless, gay, and good-tempered
- Weight: 16–18 kg
- Colors: Black, light grey, fawn, dark grey, and blue
- Height: 24–25 cm
12. Australian Cattle Dog
Breed Overview:
- Age: 13 – 15 years
- Traits: Cautious, energetic, loyal, obedient, protective, and brave
- Height: 46–51 cm
- Colors: Blue, and red
- Weight: 15–16 kg
Australian cattle dogs are extremely intelligent, just like shepherd dogs, and thrive when given a task. They are frequently used to herd cattle because they make excellent working dogs. When properly trained, they are very capable of comprehending instructions and expectations. Additionally, they are renowned for being amiable and playful.
13. Chiweenie
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12 – 20 years
- Weight: 1.8–4.1 kg
- Colors: White, and grey
- Height: 15–30 cm
- Temperament: Devoted, lively, aggressive, alert, quick, and courageous
Little and affectionate Chiweenies make the ideal lap dog. They are generally well-behaved and will be content to nap on your lap while you work on the computer. It’s important to note that they are extremely jittery and love to bark at strangers, so they typically don’t get along with young children. But Chiweenies will win your heart if you don’t have young children and want a small dog that doesn’t require a lot of space.
14. Doberman
Breed Overview:
- Age: 10 – 13 years
- Height: 66–72 cm
- Colors: Black, white, fawn, black & rust, red & rust
- Traits: Intelligent, energetic, alert, loyal, fearless, confident, and obedient
- Weight: 40–45 kg
Dobermans have long been unfairly demonized by the media. They are frequently portrayed as vicious and dangerous dogs. However, this is not exactly the case. Despite being bred as guard dogs and being extremely strong, they are also intelligent and typically only attack when given orders. They are very well-behaved because they understand and follow instructions so well.
15. Huntaway
Breed Overview:
- Age: 12-14 years
- Height: 56–66 cm
- Weight: 25–40 kg
- Colors: Commonly black and tan, and triColors
- Traits: Friendly, intelligent, energetic, active, vocal, and trainable
In New Zealand, huntaway was developed in the late 19th century to serve as shepherd dogs. However, even if you don’t have any sheep that need to be herded, you’ll still find this breed to be gentle and sweet-tempered. They need to be active, so they make excellent pets for households with children or those who enjoy taking trips into nature.
What Dog Breed is Most Cuddly?
There are a lot of dog breeds that could be considered “cuddly” – it really depends on what you’re looking for in a cuddly dog. If you want a small dog that will sit on your lap and snuggle, then breeds like the Chihuahua or the Yorkshire Terrier might be good choices. If you’re looking for a bigger cuddly dog, then breeds like the Golden Retriever or the Labrador Retriever might be better suited for you.
Ultimately, it really comes down to personal preference when choosing the most cuddly dog breed for you.
Least Affectionate Dog Breeds
When it comes to showing affection, some dogs just don’t have the gene. Whether it’s because they were bred for a specific purpose or they’re just naturally independent, there are certain dog breeds that are less affectionate than others. If you’re looking for a cuddle buddy, you might want to steer clear of these least affectionate dog breeds.
Afghan Hounds are one of the least affectionate dog breeds. They were originally bred in Afghanistan to hunt large game, so they have a strong prey drive and independent streak. Afghans are aloof and reserved around strangers, and they prefer to spend their time alone or with other dogs rather than people.
Australian Cattle Dogs are another breed that isn’t big on displays of affection. These herding dogs were bred to work all day long in harsh conditions, so they’re not really looking for a lot of love and attention from their owners. ACDs can be loyal and protective of their family, but they’re not going to be your lapdog anytime soon.
If you’re looking for an Affenpinscher, don’t expect too many kisses and cuddles. These small terriers were originally bred in Germany to hunt vermin like rats and mice, so they tend to be suspicious of strangers. Affenpinschers can make great companions if properly socialized, but they’re not going to be your best friend right away.
Greyhounds are yet another breed that isn’t known for being overly affectionate. These sighthounds were bred for hunting purposes and can reach speeds up to 45 miles per hour! Greyhounds like to run and chase things, so they often don’t have much patience for sitting still and being petted – they’d much rather be off exploring or running around outside.
How Do I Make My Dog More Cuddly?
Cuddling is a great way to bond with your dog and show them affection. Here are a few tips to help make your dog more cuddly:
1. Get them used to being touched all over their body – start by petting them gently all over, including their paws and belly. If they seem uncomfortable at any point, stop and try again later.
2. Try offering treats during cuddling sessions – this will help create a positive association with being close to you.
3. Make sure you have plenty of time for cuddles – don’t force it if your dog doesn’t seem in the mood. Try setting aside some regular times each day (e.g. before bedtime) for cuddles, so they know when to expect it.
Final Thoughts
Since many of these are among the most intelligent and sociable dog breeds, they will try their best to win your approval and strive to please their human parents. Dogs that are trained to obey are frequently calm, easy to train, and polite around people and other dogs.
Additionally, they don’t become overly excited, which helps keep them from acting out. Because they are some of the calmest dog breeds and some of the best dogs for kids, don’t be surprised if you recognize some of the dogs. The best-behaved dog breeds will likely blend in effortlessly and make wonderful lifelong companions You won’t need to use a firm hand to prevent them from acting destructively because they are good-natured, happy, and eager to please.