Hand signals for dog training commands are the most effective ways to train and enhance your dog’s communication abilities.
There may be some differences in how to teach a similar dog command, as everyone has their methods.
In general, dogs tend to respond better when the owner uses an auditory dog command accompanied by a hand signal.
Read on to learn about some of the most common and appropriate dog commands/hand signals that will help train your dog.
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Dogs don’t understand what we say to them. But they can learn to respond to a certain hand, sound (voice commands).
Similarly, dogs are quite good at hand signals because they’re visually oriented animals. They’re also very good at reading body language and physical gestures.
Hand signals are the best solution in certain situations (e.g. in a competition), but a well-trained dog needs to be able to understand the voice signal and hand signal for a command.
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Hand commands are also great for old dogs with hearing problems.
Hand Signals For Dog Training Commands
Hand commands are great for building communication and trust between dog owners and their dogs.
They also build confidence in dogs, which helps them become better dogs. Here are some easy hand signals for dog training commands:
1. Look at me (Finger towards your face)
This is one of the most important nonverbal commands. You’ll want to teach your dog this command right away because it makes your dog pay attention to you.
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It’s important to pay attention to yourself during each training session, so it’s best to do this first.
You’ll hold a treat in front of you and lift it to your face. When your dog sees the reward and your face, he’ll say, “Look at me!”
You’ll need to do this over and over until your dog recognizes your hand signal.
2. Sit (Swing palm up)
This is a basic hand signal. First, you need to swing your hand up with your palm open.
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But first, you need to use this with a treat between your fingers with your hand open. Repeat this training several times until your dog is familiar with your hand signal only.
So, how do you get your dog to sit?
3. Stay or wait (Palm up)
This is another important skill. This skill can be taught using the treat or reward technique.
All you have to do is raise your hand wide open and palm out towards your pet. Every time your pet obeys your hand signal, you will be rewarded with a treat.
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4. Lay down (Finger downward)
One of the easiest ways to do this is to hold a treat in front of your dog and point your finger down with a verbal command. You can do this at home in no time.
5. Come (Sway your palm towards you)
If your dog is familiar with the word “come,” simply sway your hand towards you with a verbal command followed by a hand signal.
Repeat this several times a day until your dog gradually learns the hand signal. If you want a quicker response, you will need to use a treat at each training session.
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6. Palms Out (Free)
This hand signal is learned when you are done training your dog and want to let go. You can do this by raising both hands at shoulder height and palms out. This signals that your dog is ready to play.
Here is a list of hand signals for dog training commands that will help you train your dog smartly.
Hand Signals For Dog Training Commands FAQs
What is the most common hand signal for a dog command?
Sit is one of the first commands that most dogs learn, and it’s also one of the most crucial.
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The basic sit command is this: Hold your hand in front of you with your palm facing up and move it up and down. This is a great way to calm your dog down or keep them safe.
Is it better to use hand signals or verbal commands when training a dog?
While the hand signal is the most effective way to train, even if you’ve already learned a verbal cue, a hand signal can be added later by giving a hand signal before the verbal cue.
Over time, your dog will come to understand that the hand signal has the same meaning as the word.
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What are dog danger signals?
These warning signs include:
- Growling
- Snapping
- Barking
- Lunging
A well-trained dog does not attack
What hand signals should I use to train my dog?
Hand signals are relatively simple to learn, especially if you use lure and reward training.
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For instance, the classic hand signal for sitting involves raising your hand from side to side to be parallel to the floor.
This is done by holding a treat close to your dog’s nose and lifting it above his head to draw him into a sit position.
How do I get my dog’s attention before giving a hand signal?
- First, you will use verbal commands.
- Second, you will use hand signals with verbal commands.
- Third, you will only use hand signals.
- This is the core criteria or process of training your puppy’s hand signals.
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No matter what your hand signals are, you will use them with verbal commands first.
What is the touch command for dogs?
The tip of your dog’s nose touching a target.
Do dogs learn better with hand signals?
According to many professionals, hand signals work even better because dogs are visual learners and are very good at interpreting body signals.