How to Teach a Dog Hand Signals

Consistency plays an integral role in dog training.

Dogs can be trained verbally, with hand signals or a combination of both. Dogs use their nose, eyes and ears to experience the world. They use the body language of their owners to understand their intent and messages. Dogs look to their owners to guide and lead their actions and do well when the discipline is introduced. These signs build a good foundation to engage your dog's senses and tune them to your commands.

Things You'll Need

• Treats

Instructions

1. Good Sign: Choose a sign you are comfortable using to indicate a good attempt or correct execution. Have a handful of the dog's favorite treats at hand and sit with him. Use the "good" sign and give the dog a treat. Repeat this step several times.To test the dog, give the "good" sign and wait to see his response. If he looks to you for a treat, he understands. If he does not, take a break, then come back to the training and repeat the steps.

2. Watch me: Show the dog a treat and bring it to your nose signing "good," then give the dog the treat. The goal is to have the dog look you in the eye. After a few days of repeating this step, begin to hold the treat out away from your face. The dog will follow the treat. He will become impatient and look to you for the treat. Display the "good" sign and give the dog the treat. After he masters this, hold the treat in different places, wait for his attention and give the treat.

3. Sit: Sit or squat on the floor with one leg extended in front of you. Hold a treat in your hand and reach under you leg where the dog can see it. Guide the dog toward the treat so that he must lie down to reach it. When his elbows and belly are touching the ground, sign "down" and give him the treat. Repeat these steps until he understands. Alternately, you can sit on a chair and reach your arm under the chair to teach this command.

4. Release: Make a circle with you forefinger and thumb, extending the remaining fingers upward like an "OK" sign. Dogs need to have a release sign so that they do not decide on their own when to go freely. After training a particular command, give the "OK" sign before moving on to another training. Put away the treats at the end of training and give the sign to release the dog. This is fairly simple for most dogs to understand.

Tips & Warnings

• Tips: Begin trainings before meals so that your dog is attracted to the treats you will use. Keep the sessions short to keep his attention. Reward your dog after each attempt in the beginning and gradually only reward for correct executions.

References

• Caesar's Way; Deaf Dog
• Deaf Dog Education Action Fund; Teaching Hand Signs

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish