Hand signals for dogs

Hi everyone,

I am looking to train my dog using hand signals and would love some advice. If at all anyone can share effective hand signals for dogs and tips on how to teach them? Any guidance on which signals work best and how to reinforce them would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Take it slow. Do the gesture and say the command together. When the dog does it, give a reward. Keep rewarding until the dog gets it right 10 out of 10 times. Then, start rewarding every other time. Make sure everyone who spends time with the dog knows the signals to help reinforce them.

Practice commands every day. Reward known commands with simple treats like kibble and use better treats for new or difficult commands.

Don’t get frustrated. Negative energy can hurt training. Don’t repeat the command over and over. Do it once (gesture and word), wait ten seconds, then try again. For commands like “paw,” you might need to tap their paw first, then show where you want them to place it. Watch YouTube videos for more tips. Consistency and linking words with gestures are key.

Eventually, you can use just hand gestures for all tricks and commands. This might take three months of daily training but it’s worth it.

IMPORTANT: Training starts over when you go outside. Begin at home, where there are few distractions. Then move to a quiet outdoor area. Finally, train in more distracting places. The “Attention!” command works well to regain focus: point at your face, show a high-value treat, and reward after 3 seconds of eye contact.

Train in five or ten-minute sessions and reward with playtime afterward. Use a hula hoop or a marked area to separate playtime from training time.

Hi Sully!

Training your dog with hand signals is a fantastic way to enhance communication and can be especially useful in situations where verbal commands might not be ideal. Here are some hand signals that have proven to be effective for many dog owners, along with tips on how to teach them:

Hand Signals:

  • Sit: Raise your hand with your palm facing up, starting at your dog’s nose level and moving your hand slightly upwards.
  • Down: With your palm facing towards you, move your hand straight down towards the floor.
  • Stay: Extend your arm straight in front of you, palm facing outward, as if signaling ‘stop’.
  • Come: Start with your arm extended out to the side, palm up, and then bring it in towards your chest.
  • Heel: Place your hand on your hip or use a gentle sweeping motion at your side to signal your dog to walk close to you.

Teaching Tips:

  • Begin training sessions in a quiet area to minimize distractions.
  • Make sure you have your dog’s attention before you start using the hand signals.
  • Consistency is crucial; use the same signal for each command every time.
  • Initially, pair the hand signals with verbal commands until your dog starts to associate them.
  • Use positive reinforcement such as treats, praise, or playtime when your dog follows a command correctly.

Remember, every dog is different, and some may learn hand signals more quickly than others. Be patient, keep training sessions short and positive, and adjust your pace to match your dog’s learning abilities. Happy training!