Picking up/holding puppy

[Racerider]

Any views on this ? My DH loves picking up our 9 week beagle to cuddle and she sleeps on him in the evenings. I wonder if this is encouraging her to jump on my legs when he isn't around as she finds it harder to settle independently. I think she should lie near us but not on us.

Is there a reason why he shouldn't be holding her too much or doesn't it matter at this stage?

I think it rather depends on what you want from the relationship with your dog. If you want your dog to be really independent then obviously cuddling it is going to mess with that. On the other hand she's still a tiny baby and the close physical contact very well might help her to feel nice and secure and settle more quickly. How is she settling at night?

As far as jumping on your legs, that's something else. You need to start teaching her an off command.

Also if you're going to take her out and about in order to socialise her before she can go on the ground, you're going to have to carry her.

My dog was super independent from the word go and at that age would take herself off to her bed in the evening and leave me on my own. It did mean she slept through the night from the very first night, but I would love to have had the odd cuddle.

Thankfully she's much more cuddly now she's older.

Your DH sounds lovely btw:).