Buddy does target with his nose for one specific trick, "Buddy wants ICE"
buddy LOVES ice cubes, just loves 'em.
He has zero problem from eating ice, (i'd been advised by others that eating ice can cause bloat? Not sure if that is true or not, but, Buddy is fine with ice, and i never much have Buddy do any running or anything if he's just eaten, not sure if that helps or not.) And i set up a small lil dish of crushed ice, so i can see how much ice he gets total.
I made a little sign "Buddy wants ICE"
and slipped it into a magnetic photo frame. I attached it down low on our fridge.
I rubbed meat on it, to make him sniff at it.
Soon as he did, i clicked, but gave him ICE not a "treat". Intrigqued by this, he continued on his own, pushing his nose onto the sign, getting clicked, but getting ICE instead of treat.
It did not take him long to learn, "If i push my nose onto this lil sign, i get a piece of ICE!!! Then Buddy learned the word, 'ICE', too, so if i asked, "Buddy, do you want ICE?" he'd happily run over and touch the sign with his nose, very cute to see.
To him, ice is quite delicious, go figure. I was hoping HE'D ask for ice on his own, but, nope, he never did, only if i asked him if he wanted ice.
It was a longgggg time before Buddy ever spontaneously asked for ICE on his own,
without being asked, "Buddy, do you want ICE?"
but, finally he did. He watched us making two ice teas, and saw the ice cubes, waiting..hoping we'd drop one...and THEN, he ran over and pushed his nose onto the ICE sign, and was given big praise + some ice cubes. (well, technically, it is partially crushed ice, not ice cube).
but THAT was FIRST TIME he ever asked for ICE on his own, YAY!! Now he does 'ask' for ice whenever he wants some.