Your son should take the dog to a canine good citizenship class- google it there is a kennel club in silver spring that offers classes. This will help your son establish dominance and provide bonding time. Your son needs to be the handler in the class not you.

You are surprised that people here are "judgey"? Are you new here?

I'm wondering if perhaps your son might have done something to the dog when you weren't looking, like a smack or something? Just a thought.

Anonymous wrote:Rehouse the dog. Seriously. If the dog doesn’t work for all family members then it’s not a fit.

I disagree. The op didn't say the poodle was aggressive towards her son. They said it wasn't cuddly to her son. If it was a question of being aggressive of course you re-home the dog but, not for not giving enough love. Six months really isn't long enough. My dog loves me the most because I feed and take care of her and am with her all day.

Just keeping having your son feed and walk but, no reason to re-home.

We got a new puppy over the summer, and he is wonderful, but he definitely treats us all differently.

He loves up to my DH and me the most as we do the most with him. He adores all three kids, but he treats my 16 year old differently than the 12 year old and the littlest (7) he treats almost like a littermate because he detects she’s the small one. He plays more nippy and silly and roughhouse with her but luckily she showed him early who was boss.

He has routines where he will cuddle with the older two, but he definitely is not having it sometimes when they want to cuddle and he wants to play and chase. So he’ll avoid them or not cuddle when they want to. And some breeds are just more aloof than others.

He was a little unsure at first with the youngest but they do have things they can do together they mutually enjoy. Tug of war with a toy is a big one. You just need to find that thing. In the cold weather coming he may be more appreciative of a warm body and a blanket.

Talk to your pediatrician about rehoming your son.

Get some yummy treats and have your son give them t the dog.

People saying to give the dog away are insane.

I have a poodle as well. Interestingly, he has not bonded with my son either. He’s completely bonded to my husband, my daughter and me though. The difference is, my daughter took the dog to training class, to dog parks, plays with him, and so on and so forth. My son does hardly anything with him except sleeps with him at night. I was hoping that sleeping with him at night would bond them closer but it has not worked. He certainly loves my son, when we come home he greets him enthusiastically. It’s just as family members go, he’s the least favored

The training class is a good idea. Poodles do tend to have favorites, so it's possible that he might always be more bonded to other family members than to your son. Hopefully they can develop a good relationship though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have interpreted the dog's behavior as meaning the dog doesn't like your son. I don't see that here.

I agree.

The dog isn't cuddly. OK, so is your son sad about this? Are you seriously getting rid of a dog that doesn't cuddle up to one family member?
A dog that is potty-trained, doesn't bark like crazy, doesn't bite, doesn't have serious medical complaints and isn't completely hyper?

Previous posters recommending a re-homing are crazy. There is no guarantee the dog will find another home, and a risk he will be euthanized.

Crazy. It's just been 6 months. Your son is maturing into teenage-hood. The dog is adjusting to his new environment. The relationship may change.

Clearly you should get a new son.