10 Dog Training Hand Signals

The post 10 Dog Training Hand Signals by Rachel Brix, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Dogs are experts at reading body language. They’re reading our signals all the time, so hand signals are a natural way to teach your dog most cues. Also, studies show dogs are more likely to accurately respond to hand signals than verbal cues.

Studies show dogs’ abilities to understand our pointing gestures may be innate, or perhaps they are predisposed to understand our pointing better than other gestures. Therefore, similar hand signals can be distinguished with learning and practice.

Are there dog-training hand signals that everyone uses?

There’s no set standard for hand signals across the dog-training industry. However, the key for you and your dog isn’t whether you’re following certain signals, but rather that you’re consistent with the signals you choose. Consistency is key in all dog training, especially when teaching and maintaining communication. While there are commonalities among trainers, you decide which signals are the most comfortable for you to use and your dog to understand.  

Why hand signals are handy in dog training

Using hand signals is more common than you might think as they:

Come in handy in a variety of situations where you can’t use your voice

Hearing-impaired dog

Deaf dog training

Sleeping baby, you’re on a video/phone call, or any other time you want to be quiet

Improve focus: Your dog learns to keep an eye on you for direction and guidance

Improve cognitive skills

Provide enrichment and stimulation to help alleviate boredom

Support building solid behaviors while having fun

How to teach a dog hand signals

If your dog already knows the verbal cue, begin to add on the hand signal.

Start in an environment with minimal to no distractions.

Have your dog’s attention (eyes on you) and give the verbal cue along with the hand signal. Be clear and deliberate with your signal, and mark/click when he performs the intended cue.

Repeat several times.

Alternate using the verbal cue and the hand signal.

Drop the verbal cue and only use the hand signal. Of course, your dog must be looking at you first! Say his name first to get his attention, then immediately give the cue/hand signal.

Keep sessions short and focused.

Start regularly generalizing hand signals into daily life.

If your dog doesn’t already know the verbal cue, teach both the verbal and the hand signal simultaneously by using lure and reward.

Top 10 Dog Training Hand Signals (With Photos)

Come: Fist over your heart with your elbow at your ribcage (much like if you were saying the pledge of allegiance)

©Rachel Brix

Sit: Palm out and facing upward; bend the tips of your fingers toward the palm of your hand

©Rachel Brix

Down: Use all four fingers together or index finger in a perpendicular position to the ground

© Rachel Brix

Stay/Wait: Open palm facing upward like a “stop” signal

© Rachel Brix

Look/Watch Me: Index or index and middle finger together pointing at your eye

©Rachel Brix

Place/Go to Mat: Similar to down, since you’re usually asking your dog to lie on his mat, a pointed index finger in the direction of the mat can be used to get a simultaneous down

© Rachel Brix

Drop: Closed fist pointed at the ground

© Rachel Brix

Speak: Open palm facing your dog, keep your four fingers together and close to your thumb; open and close repeatedly

© Rachel Brix

Shake Paw: Use an outstretched hand, palm facing up

© Rachel Brix

Rollover: Index finger in a circular motion; if your dog will roll both ways, teach using clockwise to mean roll to the right and counterclockwise to mean roll to the left

© Rachel Brix

As with all dog training, consistency is the top priority. You’re communicating, so be as clear as possible. Think of the numerous nuances in our written communication: For example, there (place), their (possessive) and they’re (they are) mean very different things. Be clear to get the correct point across!

The more hand signals you teach your dog, the better you can communicate and the more fun you’ll have. You can even use hand signals to segue into activities like trick training certifications and canine freestyle.
The post 10 Dog Training Hand Signals by Rachel Brix, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

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