noun
rearing from infancy; raising from a young age
Focuses on the act of raising a person or animal from a very young age, often implying a long-term, formative relationship.
彼は子飼いの弟子に秘伝をすべて伝えた。
He passed on all the secret techniques to his disciple, whom he had raised from a young age.
子飼いの犬は飼い主によく懐く。
A dog raised from puppyhood becomes very attached to its owner.
noun
training from an early age; grooming from childhood
Emphasizes systematic training or education of a subordinate, apprentice, or protégé from an early stage, often in a professional or organizational context.
あの政治家は子飼いの秘書を次期候補に据えた。
That politician positioned his long-time aide, whom he had groomed from early on, as the next candidate.
社長は子飼いの社員を新部門の責任者
The president appointed an employee he had trained from the beginning as the head of the new division.
Compound of 子 (child) and 飼い (raising, keeping), the continuative form of 飼う (to raise, to keep). The literal meaning is 'child-raising', extended to the figurative sense of training a person from a young age.