The title of "snugglehound" is bestowed on dogs whose ability to cuddle, snuggle and affectionately nap on or adjacent to his human(s) is exceptional. Although other breeds can be snugglehounds, hound dogs of all kinds truly set the standard in this area because they have the seeming ability to become boneless when sleeping, giving the human being snuggled (also known as the snugglee) the impression of being next to a warm chenille blanket.

In order to become a certified snugglehound, a dog should show some or all of these traits:

• The ability to do a lean-in drape (pictured below) where the dog is able to arrange his or her body so that there is absolutely no space between it and an extended expanse of a human's body.

• An expression of blissful abandon while sleeping (many snugglehounds will blissfully snore).

• A pronounced love of soft things and warm places (many a snugglehound will run outside in the morning to go potty, then race back in to snuggle in its bed - still others will need to be dragged out since they would prefer to remain in a warm bed).

• Advanced snugglehounds will snuggle visitors to the home, including petsitters, extended family members and near-perfect strangers.

• Advanced snugglehounds have also mastered "self-snuggling sleep" which means that they will curl up into tiny balls while napping. Some dogs will do a perfect oval with their legs tucked in, while others, such as the dog pictured below at right, will leave their legs out, in a position that resembles a high-diver in mid-dive tuck. Both self-snuggles are equally acceptable.

Related terms: Snugglicity, Cuddlicity, Cuddlehound