Calls to Dinner: Enchanted’s take on Barrier Challenges

When puppies reach 4 weeks old, we begin what we call our “calls to dinner.” These events are barrier challenges for the puppies - which teach them a number of skills and behaviors to help them function in human society. We do this call to dinner for many reasons... yes it’s cute, but it also helps to develop brain cells and neurological connections. Additionally, it teaches problem-solving skills, how to overcome a new and unusual item and environment, how to deal with stress, and how to gain confidence.

Additionally, teaching them how to deal with the frustration that may rise from learning to solve these challenges will help the puppies to navigate feelings of frustration later on in their lives.

We situate these barrier challenges around their dinner time, because presenting the puppies with food helps to drive them through the challenge, but also because of the positive association that it creates.

It’s our job to allow the puppy to problem solve, and to not interfere with that process. Therefore, it may take a dog multiple attempts to figure out the call to dinner, with our encouragement This is ok! We are setting the puppies up to not just memorize these commands, but to think through problems and solve them because that is when the learning happens. Have you ever seen the wheels spinning in a puppy brain? It's amazing! Smarter pups are better, happier pups!

For more information about us, check out our Proven Puppy Program, Puppy Play Room and Play Yard, and our Early Training Program!