How to Train Your Dog to Cover His Nose

Start out with your pooch in a ‘down’ position. Encourage him to be calm and get his attention, perhaps with a few warm up commands. After your dog is sufficiently ready for training, place a small sticker or Post-it note on his nose.

Watch your dog carefully. When he inevitably lowers his nose or raises a paw to swipe the annoying object away, immediately treat and praise. This will demonstrate for your pooch that putting a paws on his nose will result in a treat.

Repeat step two numerous times, replacing the sticker if necessary. You should start to see your dog readily covering his nose with his paws. Once this is happening, add in a cue word such as “shy” or “ashamed.” You should say the cue word as you are placing the sticker on your dog’s nose.

Once your dog has repeated this many times with the cue word, it’s time to remove the sticker. Keep your dog in a ‘down’ position and give the command only. If your dog doesn’t offer up the behavior after a moment, repeat the command. If after repeating the command 2-3 times your dog doesn’t perform the trick, go back to step 3 for additional reinforcement.

Once your dog is covering his nose reliably, start to delay your reward, forcing your dog to either repeat the behavior or hold his paws over his nose for greater lengths of time to earn the treat. Repeat this in multiple surrounding and remember to work slowly for the best results.

Once your dog is covering his nose reliably, start to delay your reward, forcing your dog to either repeat the behavior or hold his paws over his nose for greater lengths of time to earn the treat. Repeat this in multiple surrounding and remember to work slowly for the best results.

Once your dog has figured out that it pays to be nosy, add in the cue word. “Ashamed” or “shy” or “hide” are good ideas for commands for this behavior. You should say the keyword when you hide the treat to help your dog make the connection. Repeat multiple times.

Once your dog is going to the cushion or pillow on cue, it’s time to remove the treat bribe or “lure.” Say the command only, without hiding a treat. If your dog goes to investigate the pillow as if there may be something under it, immediately treat and praise. Your dog should begin progressing quickly once he understands that placing his head under the cushion and covering his nose still gets him food and goodies.

Once your dog is covering his nose on command, start increasing the amount of time before giving up the treats. Add in a release word at the same time you give the treat and slowly increase the amount of time your dog keeps their nose covered before giving the release word and treat.

Once your pet is performing reliably, it’s time to change things up. Start out by alternating the pillows with other similar objects. Place a newspaper on the floor or on top of a low table. Hide treats and work up to removing the lure for these. Before you know it, your dog will reliably be able to cover his nose with whichever object you direct him to.

Start out with your dog in a down position on the floor in front of you. You may want to sit in front of your dog. Place a wad of tape or other fixed item to the end of a stick. Place it in front of your dog near their paws. Attempt to get your dog to play with the “target.” When your dog touches their paws to the item, immediately treat and praise.

After you have repeated the touch, praise and treat routine multiple times, your dog should start touching the target regularly. When this happens, start adding in a command word such as “touch.”

Move the target further away from your dog and repeat the touch command. Raise the target in the air, to the left and to the right of your dog. Train your dog to touch the target wherever it may be.

Once your dog is following the target reliably, begin touching it to his nose exclusively. When your dog covers his nose, immediately treat and praise. Repeat numerous times so he is used to touching his paw to his face.

Start fading out the ‘touch’ cue when your dog covers his nose with his paws. Touch the target to his nose and say nothing. After some repetition, start adding in another cue word appropriate for this specific touch behavior such as “shy“ or “shame”.

After you have solidly reinforced the cue word with touching the nose and covering the nose, remove target and give the command only. If your dog doesn’t immediately cover his nose don’t worry. Simply go back a step or two.

Repeat the ‘shame’ or ‘shy’ command multiple times in lots of different settings. The idea is to get your dog to perform on command no matter where he may happen to be. While playing in the backyard or when out on a walk are both great times to reinforce the command with plenty of surrounding distractions.