The Responsibility of Raising a Young and Impressionable Sub

I’m dusting this piece off from the archives, originally written for the print magazine many years ago. At the time, I was reflecting on the lessons learned from training Duckie, a boy who entered my service at just 19 years old and eventually became my owned property. He was raw, eager, and unshaped—a blank canvas upon which I could instill the discipline and devotion required of a proper submissive. Now, I focus my efforts on training mature men, those who have proven themselves in their careers and bring a wealth of experience to my feet. But there is still a certain appeal to taking in a younger sub, molding him before societal masculinity sets too deeply into his bones.

Training a young sub is not simply a matter of teaching protocol or obedience. It is a responsibility, a process of raising him into his proper role, ensuring he does not fall into weakness or complacency. Many Dommes will receive young men pledging their devotion, but without the skills, mindset, or discipline to truly serve. That is why, over the years, I have taken on the task of shaping them, sometimes on behalf of other Dommes, ensuring that when they are handed over, they are not just boys pretending at submission, but properly broken-in men worthy of ownership.

The First Six Months: Setting the Foundation

The most crucial period in a young sub’s training is the first six months. This is where his world is dismantled and rebuilt. This is where habits form. The worst mistake a Domme can make is allowing a young sub too much comfort in avoidance. If he has an opportunity to avoid an experience, he will internalize that avoidance as permission. Everything must be possible. Everything must be explored. He must be exposed to every lesson in the spectrum of service, obedience, endurance, and devotion.

With Duckie, I ensured that his training was relentless. His body was conditioned for discipline, his mind for submission. He was placed in every scenario possible—domestic servitude, public humiliation, pain endurance, erotic denial—so that he learned early on that hesitation and resistance were not options. The more he experienced in those first months, the more he understood that his will was secondary to mine. If a young sub can be made to understand this quickly, he will never need to question it again.

Navigating Immaturity: Discipline and Humiliation

A younger sub is immature by nature. He lacks the life experience to understand his place without guidance. Immaturity can manifest in resistance, self-importance, or simple carelessness. It is the Domme’s responsibility to recognize these behaviors and correct them swiftly and harshly when necessary.

Discipline must be severe enough to be instructive. A young man has a defiant streak that must be broken, and that takes a firm hand. One of the most effective methods I employed with Duckie was corporal punishment on an escalating scale. If a single slap did not correct him, the next time it was a cane. If that did not work, restraint and prolonged punishment followed. He learned quickly that disrespect or defiance had consequences far beyond what he had ever imagined.

But sometimes, a young sub’s misbehavior stems not from defiance, but from childishness. In those cases, humiliation is often the best corrective tool. If he pouts like a spoiled boy, treat him like one. Dress him accordingly. Deny him the dignity of a man. Force him to kneel, strip him of his pride, make him earn it back. There is no greater motivator for a young male than the stripping away of his fragile masculinity. Duckie learned very early that acting like a brat meant being treated like one, and nothing was more humbling than being reminded of his inferiority in front of others.

The Importance of Structure and Routine

A young sub thrives on structure. He must be given clear expectations, rules, and rituals to follow without deviation. There is no room for laxity or negotiation. He should wake knowing exactly what is required of him that day, and he should go to sleep knowing he has fulfilled his duty. This creates security, certainty, and the firm foundation of submission.

When training younger subs, I establish non-negotiable routines. Morning rituals, positions, affirmations, exercise, and assigned reading—all of these reinforce obedience. He must be given orders not just for when he is in my presence, but for his time alone as well. Even his thoughts must be conditioned, his desires reshaped to align with service. Duckie, like all young subs, initially resisted structure, thinking himself an independent man. Within weeks, he was not only following his routine but craving it, his mind reoriented to seek direction rather than autonomy.

The Domme’s Responsibility

Taking on a younger sub is not for every Domme. It requires patience, strictness, and the willingness to be unwavering in control. It is a commitment not just to the present, but to the future of the sub. He will only become what he is shaped to be. If he is allowed to be lazy, weak, or hesitant, that is what he will remain. If he is forged through discipline, structure, and unwavering authority, he will become a masterpiece of submission.

For those considering training a young and impressionable sub, know this: you are not simply accepting a submissive, you are raising one. He will be your responsibility, and the care you put into his training will determine whether he becomes something exceptional or remains just another unformed boy playing at service. Take the time, be relentless, and shape him into something worthy of ownership.