Now, on to the reason I joined this list. I have a question for you
all.

I want to teach my dog, Jackson, how to balance a treat on his nose
until I give him a cue that he can eat it.


How it's going so far...

1. I tell him to sit.

2. I say "Head down" and put my thumb on his head, just behind the
moist part of the nose and press down just so that I can get his head
level (so the treat will stay on it). Once the head is level, I ease
up on the pressure, but still maintain contact with the fur.

3. I put the treat on his nose.

4. When I take my hand away, I also say "Okay" and he eats the treat.


The thing is that I don't want to have to always have my hand there.

I guess I could try to teach him to hold his head level first (without
my thumb there), and then put the treat on his nose. That way, since
my thumb wouldn't be there, I might be able to help him understand
that the cue for eating is my words and not the motion of my
"restraining thumb".

I'd love suggestions.



Pooch is a 2.25 year old lab.