Using dog training hand signals in addition to verbal commands when you are obedience training your dog is very useful. The signals work even when your dog cannot hear you, so they are a great way to ensure your dog pays attention to you-even from a distance. Handlers of hunting dogs or agility dogs can control their dog’s actions in the field simply by using hand signals. By using the appropriate hand signals, the handlers can make their dogs turn left or right, stop, go fast or go slower, etc.
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 use hand signals of your own invention as long as your are consistent in using the same movement each time.
Dogs learn the hand signal concept very quickly because they naturally tune in very closely to another dog’s body language as part of the way they communicate with each other. So, if you are just starting with your dog’s obedience training, introduce the dog training hand signals right now. Even if your dog has already been verbally trained, you should still teach him the hand signals as well. Starting with teaching the hand signals for just a few of the most basic obedience lessons is a good idea. This way you are following the usual route of obedience training anyway. 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 your dog the hand signal that means sit, you should bend your arm at the elbow and quickly raise your hand up to your head’s level, while firmly commanding your dog to 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. The hand signal gets him to follow your hand down to the floor.
- To teach your dog the hand signal to stay, hold your arm straight out towards your dog with your palm facing up-the same hand position a policeman uses to stop traffic. Hold your hand out like 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. You will like the feeling of control you get from being able to command your dog to behave even across a distance where he can’t hear you.
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