07/23/2026
Bravo! Is anyone still doing this? Just say NO to PASS the PUPPY!
We need to have a talk about "Pass The Puppy."
You know the one.
You're at your puppy school and then the trainer says "Ok everyone, pass your puppy over to the next person”.
All done to let them get used to being handled by strangers.
Everyone has a few laughs.
The puppies start to squirm and wriggle.
Some just freeze.
Some pups may even growl and nip.
Many desperately try to climb and clamber back to their person.
It’s often touted as being "good for them". But for so many puppies, it's nothing more than flooding and at a particularly vulnerable and impressionable time.
Here's why I don't do it, and why I think we need to be much more careful about which puppy schools we choose.
1. It takes away their choice. Everything we do at puppy school should be about helping a puppy feel safe around all the new things around them, not forcing them to tolerate being touched and restrained by a circle of strangers. If a puppy can't say "no thanks" or move away, we are NOT building confidence.
We're teaching them that their communication really doesn't matter.
That’s not a lesson we want them to learn.
2. We want puppies to learn that people are safe and predictable. Pass the puppy teaches that strangers and people will grab you, hold you when you're uncomfortable, and your person won't help.
3. You just can't read 6 puppies at once that are wriggling, squirming and scrambling over a person. In a circle of 6-8 people (or more if families are present) all passing those puppies around, who is watching the body language? That lip lick, whale eye, tucked tail, or freeze . By the time someone notices, the puppy has already been overwhelmed and then they’re just passed on again.
4. It really doesn’t create calm handling skills.
A room full of over-excited, slightly stressed puppies being handed around like a pass the parcel game, doesn't create calm, confident dogs. It creates a bit of a circus. Puppies learn best when they are kept under threshold, not when theyre in the middle of a “hot potato” game.
5. It's outdated. We used to think socialisation simply meant exposure to as much as possible, as fast as possible (after all that window is closing, quick, quick quick!). We now know socialisation is about the quality of experiences, not quantity. One positive, choice filled interaction where a puppy chooses to approach is worth far more than ten forced cuddles.
So what does a good puppy school do instead?
Keeps classes small, so someone is actually watching your puppy.
Responding when they see an issue (and actually responding at the start of that issue, not waiting for escalation), even better doing everything they can to reduce the possibility of an issue.
Teaches YOU to read your puppy and advocate for them
Lets puppies observe first, and engage by choice.
Never makes you feel guilty for saying "my puppy isn't comfortable with that".
That should be praised! That’s so good you recognised that in your puppy!
A great puppy school may also ask you to leave for the sake of your pups emotional wellbeing. Some puppies can become completely overwhelmed, esp if they have very limited exposure before coming to class.
We have a loose floor circle in some classes, but we discuss body language communication skills and all of our puppies choose what they would like to do, and we respect that.
Some may investigate a person.
Some may just observe while being beside their human.
All of this builds confidence.
Passing your puppy around the room isn't a harmless tradition.
Its certainly not a rite of passage either.
It's a bit of a red flag for how socialisation as a whole is being understood.
If your puppy school still does pass the puppy, it's okay to ask why.
And it's absolutely okay to find one that does better.
