How To Teach Your Dog To Balance A Treat On His Nose

Here’s a cool trick to teach your dog – how to balance a dog treat on your dog’s nose. It is not a common trick we would think of teaching our dog.

We train him to shake his paw, heel, jump, sit, and hug.  Add this balancing trick with a treat to his bag of tricks for the fun of it and amuse your family and friends.

Though you may not think this trick does not come as naturally as fetching, jumping and barking on command, it is quite easy to do. It’s best to teach dogs at a young age – during their first year. But older ones can get it too.

Certainly, it is never too late to teach older dogs new tricks.  Most have more focus than pups, as they have gone through the process of learning.

Teaching balance to your dog with treat on nose can be quite difficult especially when your dog is not that disciplined. Here are some tips you can follow on how to train dog to balance treat on nose:

Things to Remember Before Training your Dog Balance Treat on Nose Trick

In order to get a delicious and scrumptious surprise on his nose, it’s going to be a challenge. It will take a lot of behavior training to make sure he doesn’t devour the reward in a quick moment when it’s balanced on his nose.

Dogs that are young and responsive may be ready to adapt to the new routine within a few days or weeks. If the dog is older and less eager to learn than when he was younger, it might take many weeks.

Teaching him tricks like this may seem to be just a bit of fun at first, but it may keep his mind active and productive, and make it simpler to teach him to sit or not bark at strangers.

Steps on Teaching Balance to Your Dog with Treat on Nose

Some dogs learn faster than others. They differ in personality, attention span, and patience.  The key is to be persistent and lavish with praise for any progress, no matter how small.   Whatever the age, train your dog with patience, diligence, and lots of praise.

Here is how to teach your dog to balance treat on nose:

1. Sit or lay down with your dog if you need to.

The first step is to get the dog acclimated to handling. Get ready with your treats, get your dog settled on a rug in a ‘sit’ or ‘down,’ and then extend out your hand to touch your dog’s muzzle. By indicating “yes” or “clicking,” you may give your dog a treat.

Once your dog learns that manipulating her muzzle will result in a reward, she’ll even look forward to it! A few days or perhaps a few weeks might be required for this work to be completed. Instead of rushing, take your dog’s speed into consideration.

While most dogs like to do this sitting, others prefer to do it lying down. Find out what your dog enjoys so that you may make things as easy as possible for him.

2. Introduce the object.

Make sure your dog can see the jackpot reward by placing it on a small table in front of him or her.

Place the object on their noses for a brief period of time while keeping your finger on their nose. Then bring your dog the reward goodie she’d been drooling over the entire time.

3. Make sure you have your dog’s full attention

Sometimes a dog can be so playful that he may fail to see a lesson is being taught.  When he ignores you, make him listen, focus, and relax.

4. Put his favorite dog treat on the flat portion of his muzzle.

Most dogs would resist and just grab the treat. Just keep putting it back.

5. Show approval when he is able to balance it by saying “Ok.”

Do this with enthusiasm to express that he did the right thing. This communicates that he did what he was expected to do.

6. Keep it short and sweet!

Keeping the item on the dog’s nose for just a few milliseconds at a time is crucial in the beginning stages since your dog may find it difficult to tolerate this.

You should encourage the dog to maintain her grip on the item for extended lengths of time without using your hand to support her nose.

Repetitions should be kept at no more than three at a time. If you’re experiencing trouble, go back a step or two. When individuals ask for much, too soon, they are making the most typical error.

It’s important to remember that to the dog, a single second might seem like a lifetime. Short and simple is the way to go!

To begin with, you should generally refrain from requesting anything greater than 0.25 seconds. Honestly, it was a lot to cover in such little time. After that, you may go up to 0.5 and then 0.75 seconds.

Before you can ask your dog to hold a position for more than a split second, you’ll probably need a few sessions with her.

As soon as the dog grasps the trick, you may continue training her to balance for a long time. Normally, you’ll just need 5-10 seconds to wow your mates and take a pic.

7. Give him another treat for following Steps 1-4.

The longer he is able to keep the treat on his nose before you say “Ok,” the more he understands the lesson.

8. Repeat the training.

Practice several times and in different places, increasing the time the treat stays on his nose. Let him get used to it. It is best to keep practicing at least three times a day until he gets accustomed to it.

Keep doing it for several weeks until he has learned it. It takes three weeks for humans to ingrain a habit. So remember to be patient to encourage him at his own pace.

9. Be patient.

Don’t lose your temper when he seems bored and uninterested. It will be best to schedule the lesson at another time when he is more receptive. Don’t get upset nor lose heart. Pet him and tell him he did well.

But keep going at it. This trick teaches your dog how to balance. In time, he will learn to balance other things on his nose. And you can move on with other tricks.

Some tricks come naturally to most dogs like fetching, sitting, jumping, and barking on command. Teaching them to be patient with their favorite treat can be a challenge at the start, but it pays off with practice and patience.

10. Do not punish your dog.

Let your dog feel you deserve his respect. Do not bark out orders and get angry. Be calm, confident, and decisive in handling him. When praising your dog, remember to communicate warmth. Use a happy, ensuring tone. And smile.

Some people resort to using childish voices. There is no need to be silly about it. Just communicate that you are pleased. As it is with humans when communicating, the shorter the better, the simpler the better. So do not talk too much to avoid confusion.

11. Always praise and reward your dog.

The more clearly you communicate your encouragement, the faster your dog will understand and grasp the lesson. Keep in mind that dogs live in the moment. So reward your dog immediately as he deserves.

Give him rewards that he will appreciate. It should be meaningful to him; otherwise, he will lose interest. It delights him to make you happy, and your praise and rewards will make him happy too.

12. Create regular sessions.

Good timing is also important when teaching your dog. Time his lessons after a nice walk which should put him in the mood. This is true, particularly for excitable, restless dogs.

Tame his energy so he will not be distracted. Once he has calmed down, he will be more attentive and interested in learning.

So it is best to have regular lessons.  Teach them new tricks continuously to avoid being repetitive. Factor in play with rest daily with loads of love.

You do not have to be an expert

You do not have to be a dog trainer to teach your dog new tricks. There are many apps that teach about this. It does not require an expert.

Your dog knows and adores you. It is a matter of knowing him and communicating with him, making time for lessons, and being optimistic about it.

Dogs give us a sense of purpose. With their own personalities that have won our hearts, they can make the days seem brighter and warmer.

It’s not enough to play around with them. Their well-being matters. This can be cultivated by caring for them and teaching them tricks with love and patience.

Good Objects to Use for the Balance Training

Your finger should be able to hold an item in the air. A simple task will be simple for you and your dog. A wonderful way to get started is with stuffed animals or other little things that won’t roll about.

A lot of people start off with a snack. Consider rewarding your dog with something BETTER if you want her to balance a treat on her nose; otherwise, she can decide to skip the intermediate and eat the reward whenever she wants.

When your dog is able to consistently execute this action with their toys, you may choose to purchase some dog goodie on the nose trick.

Command to Use for this Trick

When you say, “stay,” your dog should not move an inch when you give the order. Creating a new cue, such as “hold it,” may be more convenient for both you and your dog.

Your release cue is something you should never lose sight of! Say “ok” to your dog to let her understand she can move again. You don’t want her to come out of the closet without your consent; you need her to stay until you tell her to.

Things to Consider for Dog Balancing Treat on Nose

This technique can be difficult for dogs to learn. Stop if your dog is showing any signs of stress. Tricks are meant to be fun for you and your partner! Don’t be concerned if you need a break. Return to the trick after a few weeks of inactivity.

In some cases, it’s best to put off dealing with issues like these until later. The fact that your dog can’t now accomplish something doesn’t mean she can’t in the future.

While you’re waiting, try teaching them something else. Always keep in mind that the primary objective is to have a good time!

Final Thoughts

Some dogs will drop the treat on the floor and then retrieve it. Others will grab it after flipping it into the air. If you wish to use the flip approach and your dog is a “dropper,” tell them to “leave it” right away if they drop it.

If they flip it, let them have it. This will condition the dog to flip it if done consistently. If they don’t catch it on the first try, praise them for their effort with “excellent dog!” to encourage them to keep trying. When they do catch it, give them lots of praise!

What is your experience training your dog with treat on nose? Share it with us by commenting down below!