Recently, Smudge has taken to giving me cuddles (he always has been a very affectionate wee dog) - but its the way he does it that is quite unusual - he puts his front paws on my shoulders, as in one on each shoulder, as though he really is trying to cuddle me.

His wee tail goes like mad too, bless him.

I have known one other dog do this (oddly enough, he was a Jack Russell too), but was wondering if this was something really uncommon.

My male does this. Jumps up on my knee and wraps his paws round my neck.
He is a Jack too.

Maybe a Jack trait then?

One of my cats does this too. If I say the word cuddles, he will jump up and will rest his paws either side of my neck and will nuzzle my neck. If I say 'kiss kiss', he will bring his nose to mine. He jumps up often without me asking too and if he is being very affectionate he will purr in my ear and try to wash my hair!

I think if you have an affectionate bond with an animal, they will show you that they love you in a way they know you will understand.

Oh and an elderly friend of my parents was quite small (about 5ft 2) and had a great dane. she would come and put her paws on his shoulders, would rest her chin on his shoulder and they would embrace and sometimes dance across the room. It was funny but endearing to watch.

Also, don't forget Christian the Lion (see youtube) who would run and jump up for cuddles with his owners - this'll break your heart if you've never seen it before.

aw im so jealous!!
That sounds so cute

He is a really affectionate wee dog in general, but tends to vary how he shows his affection depending on who it is - Mrs C gets the 'I'm going to snuggle up and sleep on you' routine, whereas I get the cuddles and the 'come play' routine (front legs down, bum in the air, and sort of very quietly barking or sometimes sneezing at me as if to ask me to play).

Hi

We have two Labs and they love putting their paws on your shoulder and giving you a hug as well as a facial whether you want one or not

Yes it is my jack russel does it all the time

My parents have a Beagle who loves to stand on his hind legs and nuzzle into my neck and face when he wants a cuddle, also my cat has recently taken to strongly nuzzling my ear when I pick him up - he does it with such vigour at times that it's as if he's trying to rub my ear from my head .

I don't want to pour cold water over these lovely displays of affection from our cats & dogs but be careful of being anthropomorphic in interpreting this behaviour.

Dogs want to lick around our faces & put their heads close to us as a form of food-soliciting behaviour. It's a left over puppy behaviour as domestic dogs tend to be neotenised versions of their wild counterparts. Wild canids tend to lick around the adults faces to try to get them to regurgitate food. But please don't bring up your supper for your dog if it does that!! They are not doing it literally to ask for food as it's just a leftover behaviour that's still biologically hard-wired. I suppose interpreting it as a form of affection is not too far from what they are doing.

With cats the rubbing, nosing, licking etc around our heads is a scent exchange ~ a form of bonding to develop a shared communal scent.

It's all lovely though for us!!

My JRT does this too - he continues doing it even though it has never resulted in regurgitation on my part.

He is a charmer.

I know a cavalier who does this, he's a real little softie.
If he's been in the river, when he comes home he's wrapped in a towel, and is usually asleep before he's dry.

My Westie does this too. He'll suddenly jump up on the couch and pin me back like the OP's doggie does and lick the face off me. I love it I ask him for kisses and he always obliges it drives the OH mad cos he can't understand how I can let a dog lick my face considering the other things they like licking!

this is fun when you're on the toilet trying to ignore the border collie sat wagging it's tail in front of you

he'll climb you if you don't pat him on the head

Booo!!! Noooo!!!~ It's cuddles, end of!!!!! ( my wee mutt does this too... very cute! Mind you, he also yips at my OH to burp at him, and then sniffs the burp...not so cute!)

Doogieboogie ~ it's fine if you like to think of the behaviour as "cuddles"! I have no problem with that. I just wanted to point out why dogs & cats do this.

My friend's brother taught her dog to lick someone's face if they sneezed (to catch the snot!). Not nice but quite funny!!

Oh is that what it is? My cat likes to lie across my neck in the morning, on her back, purring and paddling her paws in the air. It was fine when she was a kitten but now she's 9 months old and getting quite big, I'm quite often woken up by starting to choke as she cuts off my air supply!