Hand signals for dog commands
Then, make sure you reward your dog for responding well to them. Stay Consistent and Use RewardsĪs you begin training and keep moving through it, make sure you stay consistent with the words you use for the verbal command and the hand signal associated with the command. As your dog makes the association between the desired action, the verbal command, and the hand signal, you can start using only the verbal command, only the hand signal, and both to continue to strengthen the association. When you are starting to train your dog to respond to hand signals, it’s a good idea to pair the hand signals with verbal commands. You want to pick something specific, so your dog can recognize a specific action and then associate it with a specific desired reaction.īecause consistency matters so much in training effectively, you want to make sure your hand signals won’t be confused with any other hand movements people may use when talking expressively with each other or interacting normally with your dog. When you are thinking about training your dog to respond to hand signals, it’s important that you choose unique hand signals and stick to them. Here are some tips for training your dog to respond to hand signals: 1. Consistency, rewards, and praise will go a long way in getting your dog to listen to you and helping your dog associate the hand signals with the desired action. Training your dog to respond to hand signals is similar to training your dog to respond to basic commands. How to Train Your Dog to Respond to Hand Signals A common hand signal for “stay” is simply to hold your hand out in front of you, palm facing your dog. It can help make things easier when you are at home with your dog and safer while you are out in public with them. “Stay” is another useful, popular, and meaningful command for your dog to learn. It’s usually a good idea to avoid patting your chest with your hand as this is a signal often used by everyone to invite a dog up or to encourage them to jump up. Pairing a verbal “come” command with a hand signal, and making sure your dog learns to respond to the nonverbal hand signal, can be a big help.Ī common hand signal for this command is to hold your hand open at your side and then bring it up diagonally to touch your shoulder. This is a useful command, especially if your dog is off-leash. A common hand signal that is paired with “lie down” is holding your pointer finger out in front of you at chest level and sweeping downward diagonally. The “down” or “lie down” command can be a great way to calm your dog and help them settle down. A popular option for this hand signal is to hold out your hand at chest level, palm up, and then move your hand up. “Sit” is a basic command every dog should know, so successfully pairing it with a hand signal can help make your life a little easier moving forward.
Establishing this hand signal lets your dog know that it is time to pay attention because another hand signal command is coming. Oftentimes, the hand signal for this is something like pointing one finger towards your eye, but could be another hand signal that you do not plan to use for something else.
This makes a hand signal for “watch me” or “look at me” valuable. When you make the shift to nonverbal cues, you need to make sure your dog knows when to pay attention to you. Watch Me or Look at MeĪlthough dogs tend to respond best to commands that are verbal and paired with a hand signal, you do want to train them to respond to the hand signal by itself as well. Here are a few useful hand signals to pair with valuable basic commands to get you started: 1. If you are diligent, persistent, and consistent, you can teach your dog to respond to hand signals for almost anything. 5 Useful Hand Signals You Can Teach Your Dog
In addition, dogs who suffer from hearing loss can benefit greatly from learning hand signals. Plus, starting to associated hand signals with verbal commands when your dog is younger can help them continue to respond well to commands as they age. They also tend to help increase a dog’s response to a command when paired with a verbal command. Hand signals can be a great way to communicate better with your dog. Here are are some useful hand signals you can teach your dog: Why are Hand Signals for Dogs Effective for Training? Aside from these benefits, teaching your dog to respond to hand signals is also a handy and helpful tool to communicate with them. Ongoing training is a great fit for any dog and is a particularly good fit for working dogs who are happiest when they have a defined role in the family and a useful job to keep them occupied. Learning new things and ongoing training can keep your dog mentally engaged and also give them a job to do.