Learning is the the key to Mastery
So you want to teach a person to be a human pup?
How do you go about it?
Adapting a person to human pup behaviours takes time and is best achieved in steps. In fact, any significant change in peoples behaviour is done in stages no matter what the change is. You, the Trainer, need to begin with the right outlook, an understanding of what you are actually doing. This is a human being before you who wants to adopt pup behaviours and play. Their human mind is not going to disappear no matter how strong the will of the pup, and you will be working with the pups human self as much as their evolving pup persona. Keep that in mind at all times, no matter how much fun the fantasy play is.
At the beginning, many people who encounter human pup play haven't given it any thought. It is all new to them. The idea of being a human pup hasn't even entered their minds, and they begin pup training with a sensible apprehension and wariness. This blank but cautious slate is ideal for the a Trainer to imprint on. But it's not always the case you meet a complete newbie to the scene. The already experienced pup can come laden with previous training experience that may actually be counter to what you want your pup to learn. So it is best to try and approach each pup as a new pup, and start from the very beginning no matter how experienced they are. It not only leads to all pups in your pack being equally versed in your vision of puphood, it also helps establish commonality that pups in your pack con relate to each other over. Treat all your pups equally in training to begin with and you will find pack cohesion a lot easier.
It can happen that someone will greet pup play with a "sure, I can give that a go" attitude. They embrace the hood and collar with a sense of adventure. This seems ok on the surface, but it can actually be a problem. In a real sense this person could be in denial of having any difficulties ahead in training, avoiding the future path of learning ahead by simply having fun in the present. These people often don't actually become pups, and will just enjoy the pup play as a fetish scene without truly entering pupspace. Of course it is good to enjoy the play, and to have a sense of adventure. However, you as a Trainer need to clearly see the difference between enjoying the moment of play and fun, and avoiding actually learning. It will be clear to you if you look for it.
Once a pup starts thinking about puphood, when they begin to contemplate what is involved in pup training, they will probably feel overwhelmed or confused by the long path ahead. This is actually appropriate, and some kind reassurance and statement of your commitment to the pup is necessary. You can explain how the road ahead is taken in little steps, reduced to manageable stages that you will guide the pup through each one. It will no longer be intimidating.
In order to take your pup on all these small steps in learning it is a good idea to identify your overall end point goal. Ask the pup through a series of probing and personal questions what they are looking for in puphood, what they really want from the experience. It may be the pup will have no clear idea regarding pup hood. But you will discover what they want if you widen the criteria to their sexual expression, their desires in life in general. Discovering what your pup wants to experience and seeks is very important.
At this very early time you are bonding and imprinting with your pup, and as a Trainer you need to show confidence to ask anything of them. A new pup responds to this with trust. An experienced player of the fetish scene who is there to just have fun will become very obvious. The former you develop a rapport with by kindness and firm confidence. The latter you can play with and send on their merry way, as they will ultimately be more trouble than they are worth as they project their vision of puphood onto you and try to usurp your role as Trainer.
A good potential pup discusses his ultimate goal with his Owner and Trainer. You, as the Trainer, put together a plan of action to get you to that goal. At this stage you prepare for the learning ahead. Gather all your resources. Purchase the gear that will be needed. Your pup will invest in his own gear as well, but you need to show you are equally committed and invested by purchasing materials too. Read the training exercises and determine how you want to introduce them in what sequence to your new pup. Prepare a timetable of the months ahead., with clear times marked out of your availability for training sessions. This allows you to lead a normal life in addition to being a Trainer, which your pup must learn to respect. Finally, make resolutions with your pup to achieve some goals within a time frame.
- discuss the path ahead, learn all you can from pup
- set a goal with pup, make action plan to get there
- gather resources and learn
- purchase gear
- prepare for training, make a timetable
- set resolutions within the time frame
Of course it is the action, the activities and exercises of pup training where the majority of the work happens. Collar lesson by lesson, the plan you formulated to train your human to puphood is acted upon. You pay attention as deeply now as you have already, watching your pup carefully. Mastering an activity is not simply doing it once and correctly. A pup needs to be able to maintain that new skill or mental outlook in the face of the unexpected. The pup needs to be a pup when problems arise, and not fall out of pupspace every time there's a hiccup. As pups learn the skills you begin to challenge them with tricky situations and test their capacity to be a pup. This helps ensure they actually learn the skill or outlook well.
If a pup can't do the action when it's tough the pup is likely to slide back to an earlier stage, one of apprehension and uncertainty. It is very normal and natural to do just that. Humans bounce around the various stages of pup training, never mastering every activity every time. Your job as a Trainer will not be over quickly, and you can see how vital your role is for the pup. Some pups go from thinking about a pup activity to actively doing it without any preparation or training. That doesn't mean the pup is skilled. You must still teach them and push their envelope of experience It is very easy for a pup to reach a plateau at a skill, actually give up developing. This is when the pup begins the slide backward to the very beginning again. So long as your pup focuses on the goal, and keeps trying, they are likely to succeed. Eventually the changes to their behaviour become a habit, so much so that relapses are less likely to happen and further training isn't necessary. You will have a skilled and confident pup in your hands.