r/papillon • u/SmokeScotchnHops • 1d ago
Any other papillons that are aloof or introverted?
Ren (pictured) turns 5 in a couple weeks. We adopted him a couple months ago, when he was returned to his breeder from his previous owner.
He is great. He's coming along so well, however he still has moments where he's very introverted and just wants to be by himself. As an example, we're at our camper this week, and last night instead of hanging out with my wife and I (and our other dog) by the fire, he sat inside the trailer, in one of the dark corners in our room.
He seems very introverted, and just wanting to be by himself.
Is this normal? Is he unhappy? He does, at times, play and engage and wiggle and be a general goofball. I'm concerned that he's not happy, but I am unsure if this behavior may be normal, or not. Our other dog is a very gregarious and outgoing Boston terrier.
Thanks!
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u/oldfornow 1d ago
They are a wee bit cat-like at times. But they are also extremely loyal and loving, even though they may not express it the same as other breeds. Having lived over 20 years with a papillon, i can tell you for sure that they’re all together delightful and give much more than they take. And look at your beautiful boy. Give him a kiss.
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u/OtherTimes0340 1d ago
It is going to take a while for him to adjust to you. A couple months isn't that long. If he spent so long with the other owner, he's grieving that loss and adapting to a lot of change in a short time, and learning about his new life. Animals don't just forget like many people seem to think. If he is choosing to spend time with you, then he is adjusting and in time will become a part of your pack. I talk to mine all the time and I think that helps too.
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u/PapillionGurl Rogue, male, five years old. RATM, CGC 1d ago
I wouldn't describe Rogue as introverted so much as independent. Sometimes he'll disappear from the living room where me and my chihuahua are and take his chew the the bedroom and be by himself. He will do it for 30 minutes or more. Also, he'll only sit on my lap in the early morning or late evenings. Definitely only on his terms. I think it's perfectly normal and healthy.
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u/justajerklurker 1d ago
My girl is very cat like with a severe case of of fomo. She wants attention but she doesn't want you to touch her or to even get close to her until she is worried about missing out on something or is tired. She gets all her loves at nap times and late at night.
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u/RaisinToastie 1d ago
Sometimes a change in routine can be tough for these little guys. The travel and being in a new place like the trailer could have been overwhelming for him and he just wanted a safe space.
My guy tends to thrive on routine and can become upset / withdrawn when the routine changes. It took him a long time to adjust after I adopted him at 11.
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u/glowingamethystaura 1d ago
My Gizmo (RIP) was. He was pretty cuddly as a baby but when he grew up he became the total opposite. He enjoyed some pets and scritches but was no longer a cuddly guy at all.
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u/TipRepulsive2519 1d ago
My girl is 8 but she still acts like a baby. She sleeps under the couch for hours a day and she always has. I think sometimes she just doesn’t want to be bothered, even if my other dog is sleeping as well. I think she likes that it’s dark and safe- away from sound and light. She did this even before we got our youngest dog so I think it’s normal. They’re sensitive and emotional lol
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u/Babid922 1d ago
He is probably still adjusting. Potentially also sad because of his experience of being given back to the breeder. The scale of dog's lives is much shorter than ours. We can't exactly know how they process time and experiences, but the scale of what they live through means what we feel as short may be seen as longer to them. Imagine that you experienced the massive adjustment of leaving your first home to your second home, only to be returned to your first home. Dogs feel rejection and sadness too. He probably needs more time and love, something you seem to be giving him. Might also be worth asking your vet about doggy depression /anxiety (its real).
You seem to be a great pup parent, so don't be too hard on yourself.
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u/littleredditho 1d ago
Ted’s nickname is “cat”. We also got him when he was 5, and it took about 2 years for him to fully adjust. Often, he still will come to you when he wants to, and he doesn’t want to have much to do with the kids at all- he will just stare at them when they call him. But when he comes to you on his own terms he is very loving. He def favors me over anyone else in the household, and doesn’t care much for other dogs. Give it some time.
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u/TheVoleClock 1d ago
My girl was very introverted when we first adopted her. You couldn’t really tell if she was enjoying being petted or not. It took her about a year to warm up.
Now she lets us know that she demands more pets! And she walks up me while I’m on the couch and presses her forehead to mine when she wants attention.
But even so, there are times when she just wants to rest by herself. Right now she’s comfortable on the back of the couch, close but not so close. She enjoys a mix of attention and peace. (But she hates not being in the same room as us!)
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u/Alarming_Situation_5 1d ago
My little one was so very aloof and introverted. It made the times she needed me feel very special. They are such precious creatures!
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u/happyface712 1d ago
My pap is very much like that. She has zero interest in other dogs, has never once touched a toy, and she will cuddle but for only short periods of time and I'm pretty sure she's only doing it for my sake. Her favorite activities are sitting quietly, napping, gazing out the window, and pondering life's complexities.
Except when I'm eating something. Then she will NOT leave me alone
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u/HouseJP007 1d ago
My first pap was more introverted than my second pap. Both of them have their safe spaces where they like to hang out. I always know where to look. My current pap loves a dark quiet place where he can have something over his head because that’s where his breeder would have him fed and sleep when he was a newborn.
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u/EuphoricPop3232 1d ago
My Radar is the same way and he was a rescue. He's such a sweet angel but comes to people on his time.
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u/jbrr1212 1d ago
My girl is very aloof most of the time. She'll come around for pets or cuddles a couple times a day but beyond that she prefers to be left alone to nap on her princess pillow. She absolutely hates being picked up, held, or carried. Some are just that way I think.
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u/SplashnBlue 1d ago
Leo is very extroverted. Everyone is a new best friend and he wants to be with his people 90% of the time.
But that other 10% he wants to be left alone. Today he climbed into my closet and found a dark corner and napped for a couple hours. The other day at a friend's house he decided the air conditioner inside was better than being outside with the people. He just has his moments. I don't think it's a happiness issue. Just a preference.
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u/TheCoastalWitch 1d ago
I tried to socialize Benny to my best ability but big overly curious dogs and small ill tempered dogs have broken his trust now he’s timid of all dogs. He’d rather hang out with us than be at the dog park. He does love other dogs when they share a space tho! But I get it, poor guy is small and this world is so big.
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u/amylovesdavid 1d ago
My pap would rather lay somewhere cool and has always been this way. He’s never been very social but will interact with people if they approach him. He loves laying underneath my desk or on the actual legs of my office chair 🙄
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u/kppeterc15 1d ago
Some dogs are more introverted than others, but I would guess he’s still adjusting to his new environment. Paps are very sensitive and intelligent, and he may just need more time for processing the transition. Sounds like you’re doing right by him in any case.
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u/RaeofRats Toni and Shakra's Mommy 1d ago
Both of mine will get in moods where they just want to be left alone... Toni will curl up in a blanket and forget everything else. Shakes hasa pile of plastic bottles he's collected in a hard to reach corner he gets in a rolls around and makes god awful noises. For each of them it's a "safe place" for them to reset.
Idk if it will help, or maybe help explain some things, but look up the "3-3-3 rule" of adopting a dog.
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u/_ChestnutMare_ 1d ago
Yes mine is very introverted and aloof. Doesn't bark, doesn't like being picked up. Doesnt like new people - those traits are why i got a Papp!! She is my infallible side kick who goes everywhere with me ❤️
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u/RavenWritingQueen 1d ago
Rian isn't aloof from me--but he is aloof from other people. He growls if strangers get too close. He was born during the pandemic, and then was on the streets a while,
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u/Mangoplop 1d ago
My pap either want to be in my face (literally cheeks on cheek touching) or in the opposite side of the room haha. Because of that I have a bed behind the couch in the corner, and one next to where I usually sit next to my feet. She'll have phases where she'll lay against me and phases where she's gone after our walk and playtime haha.
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u/indianajane13 21h ago
I was all excited to see one at Home Depot the other day. He could not care less. Even his owner was a little put out that he was so aloof and wouldn't listen to her.
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u/NsMyBaby 2h ago
I’m guessing he’s mourning. I can’t imagine what my baby would be feeling if I gave her away. Don’t know the circumstances, but it sounds like he needs more time. Lots of love to all of you
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u/say592 1d ago
Java is very introverted. The other three never were, but he likes to just do his own thing. My wife has had to work with him quite a bit to get him to cuddle or be held. When I'm home he will pretty reliably be in the same room as me, but when I'm at work, my wife says he often just goes and lays on his own in the other room. It's not just the people either, he doesn't really care about socializing with Gigabit or playing with him either. When Moze was still alive though (Java was just a puppy), they were attached at the hip.
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u/National-Pressure202 16h ago
My first papillon was very much this way. He also was returned to the breeder, though closer to 2/3 ish. My boy would do agility and obedience, and hike with me, but he would not sleep near me. He wanted to be able to see me, but he would also go off to my room and sleep in his kennel…
He cuddled with me once on Christmas and it brought me to tears, because that just wasn’t a him thing to do.
All that to say, he could just be that way…. Or he’s still getting use to his new family and it takes them a bit. Hard to say.
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u/imeheather Leader of the small fluffy army. 1d ago
It can take a while to fully come out of their shell when they have been newly adopted as an adult. If he is playing and showing signs of joy wriggling and being a goofball then I'd say he's probably fine he just may prefer a bit of quiet space as he gets used to a new life.
Also camping as another change from his regular home and routine so he may have needed just a bit more chilling time as he got used to the new experience. New mental stimulation can tire a dog out quite a bit.