Teach Your Dog to Cover Their Nose in 2 Easy Steps! Rachel Long

Want to learn some fun tricks to teach your dog that are a bit different than the classic “sit, stay, roll-over?” Don’t know where to start? “Cover” is a super cute trick where your dog learns to put their paw over their nose! This is one of those fun dog tricks brimming with cuteness you can use in any context you want! Maybe your pup smelled something unpleasant? Or they are looking ashamed? However your dog chooses to show off their new trick, we know they’ll look adorable doing it. Plus it’s among some of the easiest unique tricks to teach your dog!

Prepare to Teach

Your dog will learn funny dog tricks best if they already know how how to respond to simple commands for a reward. So, if you haven’t mastered the basic obedience commands, you will want to brush up on those before starting with some cute dog tricks to teach your puppy! It is always a good idea to begin with things your dog already knows to get them in the right mindset for learning. Make sure that they are in a good mood, and appear playful and willing. Read your dog's body language-- is their tail wagging? Do they seem eager to train? If so, grab some treats or their favorite toy along with some tape and you’re ready to get started!

Create the Behavior

There are plenty of ways dogs can learn new tricks. Some tricks are easy to teach because you can do something to directly encourage the dog behavior you want to achieve. If you want a dog to put their paw on their nose, you just have to put something on their nose that they will want to remove. I like to use a piece of tape, just be sure it isn’t too sticky! Alternatively, you can teach your dog to “target” an object like a Post-It or piece of tape and then have them target that object when it is on their nose. Using target training will help for dogs who don’t mind something on their nose and make no effort to remove it! It will be easiest for your dog if they are laying down when you teach this trick.

Place the tape on your dog’s nose, and then say your selected command such as the word “cover.” When your dog goes to scrape off the tape, immediately follow with praise and reward. Each time they go to scrape off the tape, shower them with praise and rewards, and be sure to say your command slightly before they pick up their paw.

Your dog's reward can be anything from tasty dog food to enthusiastic belly rubs. Whichever one you chose, what your dog is rewarded by during their dog training will become positive attention that will reinforce their new trick. Both young puppies and senior dogs take to new tricks more easily when they have possible reasons, like treats and tummy rubs, for doing it so it's very important that dog owners reward their pooch during training.

Your dog's reward can be anything from tasty dog food to enthusiastic belly rubs. Whichever one you chose, what your dog is rewarded by during their dog training will become positive attention that will reinforce their new trick. Both young puppies and senior dogs take to new tricks more easily when they have possible reasons, like treats and tummy rubs, for doing it so it's very important that dog owners reward their pooch during training.

Establish the Cue

After doing the trick several times over the course of several short sessions (around 5 minutes), you can attempt the trick without your prop. Without placing the tape, say your command and if your dog goes to reach for their nose immediately praise enthusiastically and reward big! You will want to do this even if they don’t touch their nose completely; reward the effort. Try again, and don’t be afraid to go back to the tape if they seem to get confused. The last thing you want is for your dog to become frustrated!

With practice, your dog will get better at associating your cue with the action. You will stop giving rewards for the efforts that don’t follow through, but you will never want to stop with the praise! Teaching your dog new tricks should always be fun, so always end your sessions before things get frustrating for either you or your dog. Dog lovers should always look for yelps of happiness, not frustration. Simple dog tricks for training also help your dog learn how to follow all sorts of commands. Now that you’ve figured this one out, you’re ready to start on some more cute tricks to teach dogs!

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