Dog Training Hand Signals

Posted by Puppy Trainer on September 27th, 2009 filed in Dogs

Besides using verbal commands while obedience training your dog, you should also learn the dog training hand signals. So, as long as a dog that has learned hand signals can see you, he will listen to your commands-even when he cannot hear you. Hunting dogs  and agility dogs are controlled in this manner by their handlers during training and competitions. Just by using the appropriate hand signal, the handlers command their dog to do the right action.

You can teach your dog the hand signals right along with the regular obedience training lessons. You can learn the signals using any good dog training program or at a dog training class. You can even make up your own particular hand signals-just make sure to pick one for each exercise and use it consistently.

In nature dogs pay a lot of attention to body language, so the hand signal training is easily understood by your dog. If your dog’s obedience training is just getting started, be sure to include the hand signals as part of the training. Even for a dog that has been obedience trained only with verbal commands, the hand signals will help you over distances, so add them to your training now. Get started by using the hand signals to teach the basic steps-sit, down and stay. Most courses start the obedience training withe these basic steps, so it makes good sense to begin here. Once he has mastered these three hand signals, he is going to be ready for learning the rest during the teaching of the rest of his obedience training.

• To teach the hand signal for sit, bend your arm upwards from the elbow to head level in a quick movement while at the same time saying sit. Always repeat the hand signal each time you command your dog to sit-this will reinforce and associate the hand signal with the need to sit.
• To teach the hand signal for the down  position you should hold  your arm out straight from the shoulder and then lower your hand with the  palm facing down towards the floor. Do this at the same moment you command your dog down. Your dog should learn to follow your hand’s movement towards the floor right into the down position.
• Copy the policeman’s hand sign to stay, and hold your arm straight out, with your palm facing your dog. You need to do this at the same moment you command your dog to stay.

If you aren’t using hand signals in addition to your verbal commands when training your dog, get started now. It is a good feeling to be able to signal  your dog over a long distance and still have him respond appropriately.

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