Are You Helping That Young Dog Too Much?
36m | Aug 19, 2026Are you helping your young dog too much?
In this episode of Thoughts of a Dog Man, we talk about something that can be easy to overlook when training a young dog: sometimes the best thing you can do is step in—and sometimes the best thing you can do is get out of the way.
We get into the difference between teaching a dog and doing the work for him, why a little struggle can actually help build problem-solving ability, and how constantly directing a young dog can create one that starts waiting on you for every decision.
I also talk about knowing when help is actually needed, recognizing when your help may have become a crutch, and why different dogs need varying amounts of support depending on their confidence, maturity, and personality.
One question I think every handler should ask from time to time is:
Did the dog actually learn it… or did I just make it happen?
Especially with young tree dogs, the goal isn’t to manufacture every success. The goal is to help them understand the job, build confidence, and eventually be able to go do it without needing us to walk them through every step.
Hopefully this episode gives you something to think about the next time you’re working with a young dog.
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What’s one situation where you’ve learned to step back and let your dog figure it out?
