How To Get Cam In A Box

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  As most of you know, I just love a good box!  (Photos of me embracing my inner kit-cat can be viewed at this link, for a review.)  BUT ... Cam just isn't a fan of boxing like I am.  So how did we get her into the box for yesterday's photo?  I'm going to show you how we did it!

First, understand that if Cammie doesn't want to do something, she isn't going to do it.  No cajoling, no bribes, it's just not going to work.  Could Mom force her?  Well, probably, but Mom doesn't do that.  She redirects, tries another way, lets Cam approach things the way she wants to.  Time and patience.  That way, Cam does it on her own and it builds her confidence.  It might take longer, but it's worth it in the long run.

So, anyway ... I noticed Mom had these really cool big pieces of cardboard.  I sat down to see what she was going to do with them and ...

"Hey!  How cool is this?!?!  We built our own box!!!"

It was really cool - but I worried about the whole "house of cards" scenario. Mom must have read my mind; shortly after all the cardboard somehow fell over, I saw her doing this:

"Duct tape?!!?  Brilliant!"

Sometimes I think Mom is almost as smart as a Siberian.  ALMOST.  Before I knew it, this is what we had:

"Awesome box, Mom!  Cam, there's PLENTY of room in here for two!"
"Umm... is Maggie getting treats?"

Mom was forthcoming with some treats - even tossed some in the box, hoping Cam would jump on in - but it was a no-go.  Even with me not in the box.  Hmm.  Time for one of those "work-arounds", Mom!

Mom didn't put duct tape hinges on one of the corners of the box, so she opened it up!  We could just walk right in that way!  Awesome!

"You want me to do what?!?"
"Want me to give her a shove, Mom?"

Mom didn't think me giving her a push was a good idea.  I have no idea why not, but Mom was holding treats, so I opted to listen to her.

"I COULD go in there, I guess ..."
"Your choice, Cam.  No pressure."
"You can do it, Cam!  It's FUN; I promise!"

We waited to see what she'd do, and before we knew it ... LOOK!!!

"Oh, great Balto.  I'm sort of in the box!"
"YAY!  Look at you, Cam!!!"

Mom gave her lots of treats for sitting in the open-sided box like that!  Once she relaxed a bit (Cam, not Mom), Mom said I could move on in.

"Hey!  Have any of those treats left, Mom?"
"Do you?"

Mom DID still have treats!  So as Cam moved in closer to have one ...

"I think I know where this is going, Mom.  Clev-er!"
"Where what is going?  The treats?"

See, by that time, Cam was nice and relaxed about the cardboard and was focused on the treats.  While we were chewing, Mom snuck around to the open side, and closed it on up!  We turned around and ...

"AWESOME!"
"Oh, my!  Look at me -- I'm boxing!!!"

And THAT is how we got Cam to box with me! Is that great or what?!!? I've been wanting her to box with me forEVER!!!!!  You'll be seeing more pix of us boxing together in future posts!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher