What I look for in a Pup 4: Curiousity

Human pup play is not for everybody, but how do you know it is for you? One trait above all helps find out - curiosity. Without it a person will never try a new thing, and pup play will be out of reach.

When I meet a prospective pup, I look to his attitude towards wearing a pup hood. A good pup will want to give it a go and engage in the novelty of a wearing a hood for the first time. Reluctance and uncertainty is ok, and to be expected in most people. But a pup needs to embrace his curiosity and be brave and want to see what wearing that hood is like.

If he has worn a pup hood before I still look to his attitude. Does he show a desire for experience and knowledge? If a guy is quick to put the hood on and acts like there is nothing to learn and he knows it all, well, overconfidence can blind a person to learning  new things.

Everyone experiences curiosity, but a pup has to translate that trait into action. Elsewhere I talked about how an open mind is essential for a Trainer. A pup needs it too. He has to show some openness to what is the novel and inventive fantasy play that is puphood. I look to the prospective pup to be prepared to explore the feelings and values of pup training too, because he will need that willingness to understand himself better as he learns and grows. 

Trooper Bravo in his hood for the first time

There are elements of pup training that can be uncomfortable, such as discipline and toilet training. a pups curiosity will help him try the new. And it is by seeking new and exciting experiences that help a pup go forward into puphood and be simulated at a higher level. It becomes more than just a new fun thing to do and actually a rewarding passionate activity. A good pup has a willingness to endure the risk of pain, rejection, and bondage so he can obtain the benefits from learning from those new activities. 

Training is not academic. It is about building a pup into a confident and proud being. Those feelings of competence and self control come from how a pup embraces and engages with the new challenges in training. Playing at first builds familiarity, which then becomes competence, which then becomes prowess. The end result is that feeling accomplished at pup play means you will want to do it more often.

Anxiety inhibits a persons curiosity and it makes any exploration of interpersonal relationships more difficult. An anxious pup does not learn well, which is why I devote time to discussing it elsewhere. Many pups will ask if it's ok to ask a question. I like questions. They show a healthy curiosity, and a healthy pup mind.