The Cutest Holiday Trick: Teach Your Dog To Unwrap Gifts

Before you jump into training, you’ll need to gather a few simple supplies. The key here is safety first! We want to make sure everything your dog interacts with is non-toxic and won’t pose a choking hazard.

• Dog-Safe Wrapping Paper: Avoid paper with glitter, foil, or lots of toxic ink. Simple kraft paper, butcher paper, or even newspaper works perfectly.
• A Cardboard Box: Find a small box that is easy for your dog to handle. An old shoebox or a small shipping box is ideal.
• High-Value Treats: Use extra-special treats that your dog absolutely loves. Small pieces of cooked chicken, cheese, or their favorite smelly training treats will work wonders for motivation.
• A Dog-Safe Gift: The grand prize! Choose a new toy or a long-lasting chew that will be exciting for your dog to discover inside the box.
• Patience and Holiday Cheer: The most important tools in your kit! Keep training sessions short, fun, and always end on a positive note.

This trick is best taught in small, easy-to-digest steps. Remember to praise your dog enthusiastically for any effort they make! We’ll use a technique called ‘shaping,’ which involves rewarding small behaviors that lead up to the final goal.

1. Step 1: Introduce the Paper: Start by just placing a piece of wrapping paper on the floor. When your dog sniffs, touches, or interacts with it in any way, praise them and give them a treat. We want them to build a positive association with the paper. If they are scared of the crinkling sound, start with softer paper like tissue paper.
2. Step 2: Hide the Treat: Once they’re comfortable with the paper, place a treat on the floor and loosely cover it with the paper. Encourage them to nudge or paw at the paper to get the treat. They’ll quickly learn that interacting with the paper reveals a reward!
3. Step 3: Introduce the Box: Now, put a few treats inside the cardboard box but leave the lid open. Let them get comfortable taking treats from the box. Next, close the lid but don’t seal it. Reward them for nudging the box open to get the treats inside.
4. Step 4: Combine Paper and Box: Loosely wrap the box with your dog-safe paper. You don’t even need tape for the first few tries; just fold the paper over. Place it on the floor and encourage your dog to investigate. The moment they start tearing or ripping the paper, praise them like they just won the lottery and help them get the treats inside. Repeat this, gradually wrapping the box a little more securely each time.
5. Step 5: Add a Verbal Cue: Once your dog is reliably tearing the paper off the box, you can add a verbal cue. As they start to tear, say a fun word like, “Unwrap!” or “Open it!” in an excited tone. With repetition, they will associate the word with the action.

Expert Tip: Keep training sessions short and sweet—no more than 5-10 minutes at a time. This prevents your dog from getting frustrated or bored and keeps the game exciting.

While this trick is incredibly cute, your dog’s safety is the top priority. Unwrapping should always be a supervised activity. Here are some key do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.

The Nice List (Do’s):

• Supervise, Supervise, Supervise: Never leave your dog unattended with a wrapped gift. You need to be there to make sure they are only tearing the paper and not eating it.
• Use Dog-Safe Materials: Stick to plain paper and cardboard.
• Choose Appropriate Gifts: Ensure the gift inside is durable, size-appropriate, and doesn’t have small parts that can be chewed off and swallowed.
• Remove Debris Immediately: As your dog tears off pieces of paper, pick them up and throw them away to prevent ingestion.

The Naughty List (Don’ts):

• No Ribbons, Bows, or String: These are extremely dangerous and can cause serious intestinal blockages if swallowed. They are a major no-go.
• Avoid Tape: Try to wrap the gift by folding the paper cleverly. If you must use tape, use as little as possible and try to remove it before your dog gets to that section.
• Don’t Use Human Food Gifts: Unless you are 100% certain it’s dog-safe (like a plain sweet potato chew), avoid wrapping up human treats that could be toxic, like chocolate or anything with xylitol.

Sometimes, our furry students don’t follow the lesson plan perfectly. Don’t worry! Here’s how to handle a few common hiccups.

My dog is scared of the crinkling paper!

This is very common. Go back a step and use a softer material like a towel or tissue paper first. Reward any interaction and slowly work your way up to crinklier paper, making the experience positive with lots of treats and praise.

My dog just wants to eat the paper!

This is why supervision is key. If your dog tries to eat the paper, immediately use a cue like “Leave it.” Offer a high-value treat in exchange for them dropping the paper. This teaches them that the real reward comes from inside the box, not from eating the packaging.

My dog loses interest quickly.

Your treats might not be exciting enough! Up the ante with something extra delicious. Also, keep your energy high and your training sessions short. Always end before they get bored, so they’re excited for the next session.