Treat on the Nose a.k.a Patience!

With some practice and a lot of patience, you can teach your dog the treat on nose trick.

Let’s teach your dog a trick that reinforces patience with food! Try the following steps to train the Treat-On-The-Nose trick! Brush up on your sit-stay before you attempt this trick. Your dog has to sit perfectly still to hold the treat! This trick requires a lot of patience on both parts. Be prepared to stay calm and not get frustrated. Remember this is something fun for you and your dog, not a requirement!

1. Start with a sit-stay directly in front of you while you sit in a chair. Their head should be slightly resting on your lap.
2. Put one hand under the dog’s head and raise its nose until it is level to the floor.
3. Place the treat slowly and gently on the flattest part of their nose.
4. While you rest their muzzle in your hand, alternate praise with the phrase “Hold It!” in your command tone.
5. After a few seconds, release him, praise him, and let him flip the treat off his nose and eat it.*
6. Repeat this process five to ten times per day for several days.
7. As your dog begins to hold their own head steady, begin to remove your hands slowly from their muzzle to let them do it alone.

*Some dogs will drop the treat on the floor and pick it up. Others will flip it into the air and catch it. If you want the flip method and your dog is a “dropper”, immediately command them to “leave it” if they drop it. Let them take it if they flip it. With consistency, this will condition the dog to flip it. If they do not catch it on the first flip, praise the effort with “good dog!” so that they do not give up. When they do catch it, praise vigorously! Have fun!