Inside the Puppy Pen- Day 37

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yhyoMAzprM

Today we played the box game, and it is one of those simple looking activities that actually does a lot of heavy lifting behind the scenes.

The box game can be done with a shallow box or a shallow pan. Today, we used a metal aluminum pan. The point is not the object itself. The point is that it is something new.

At first, most puppies simply sniff it, touch it with their nose, or paw at it. Sometimes they will place one paw in, sometimes two. That first session is usually very basic interaction, and that is exactly what we want. Every single interaction gets rewarded.

What this teaches them is how to learn. There is a reward happening, and the puppy has to figure out why they are getting it and how to make it happen again. They start experimenting, offering behaviors, and thinking through their choices. This is one of the very first building blocks of training.

At the same time, they are exploring a new object and learning that unfamiliar things are safe, rewarding, and even fun. We are not asking for a specific behavior yet. We are teaching the concept that engagement leads to good things.

It looks like a simple game, but it is laying the foundation for confidence, problem solving, and a puppy who understands how training works long before formal cues are ever introduced.