10/26/2026
Cuddling puppies isn't dog training.
I beg to differ.
In the working dog work there is a mentality among many that these dogs either need to be working, or kenneled. That allowing them to be apart if your family, sleep in your bed, and learn good manners is going to destroy their drive.
That is 100% not the case. Drive can be focused in a working puppy, but it can't be created. They have it or they don't. It's there or it isn't. What the dog needs to learn from a young age is that there is a balance to this drive. Keeping them confined and only letting them out to work creats often times a highly anxious dog who doesn't know how to function outside or work or kennel. Simply existing in a home environment is stressful for those dogs, and why would we want that? What kind of life is that. What happens when that dog has to retire? Do we just keep them locked in a kennel? Euthanize them because they can't function in a household? What kind if ending is that for a dog who has served their community, and lived to please their handler? It isn't, and it's not fair to the dogs.
All of our pups from day one are taught balance. They are working machines and there isn't a one dog here that I have certified that I wouldn't trust to bring one of my own loved ones home. Same with the ones I've raised and placed with other handlers as young adults.
Some dogs are higher octane than others, but all my successful working dogs never lacked the drive to get the job done, while also being beloved family members at the end of the day.
We get up, we do drive focusing work, hunting work, other working training concepts all depending on that dog and what level its at. We take them out and socialize them in busy public places atleast a few times per week, we work obedience, but along with all if that, we just let them dog. Which includes bonding through things like cuddling, having them nap next to me while I do things, spending time just being a puppy, going on sniff at stroll hikes, taking them swimming, going on random adventures, ect and letting them hang out in the house on the couch, bed, or wherever their heart desires.
I think the letting them nap next to or with you even if it is on the floor on a dog bed, cuddle with you, going on rides to get a pup cup, going on "just because" adventures, and generally loving on them between all the other things builds a stronger bond with that dog and humans. It makes them want to work for you, and creates a more mentally balanced dog. A dog that can handle downtime in their handlers home, and enjoy it.
My dogs have all been raised like this, and when it's time to work, it is all business, but they are the most loving group of working dogs. When it's down time, they curl up in the couch next to you, sleep in the bed, and can safely be left alone in the house without fear or them having a come apart because nothing is happening.
I see so many working handlers put so much pressure on their young dogs to work at the same level as a fully matured, certified, adult working dog. Take your time, that first year is about exploration, having fun, and learning about life, it's not a race to see which dog can certify the fastest. I've seen handlers push puppies like that, and at first they look great, but as they age, problems pop up.
Let your puppy be a puppy, let them dog. Same with your adult working dogs, let them dog. Let them be apart of your family. Take them on outings for pup cups, to the beach just to have fun, on a hike, on vacation with you, and remember cuddling them isn't going to kill their desire to work.
These dogs will go on to put themselves in harms way to help other people, it's just the nature of a working dog. You will walk through hell together on some deployments, see thing that break you, and that dog will be there to comfort you when no one else can understand what you've just been through together.
Give these dogs the respect and life the deserve. Cuddle that puppy, buy them the pup cup, take them to brunch with you, let them be your family as well as your partner. They are willing to give their all for you, including their life in some case, the least you can do is make sure they are living a full and happy life.
