Dog Training Hand SignalsThere could be several reasons why you want to teach your small dog hand signals. Maybe your dog’s deaf, or you often spend time in crowded, noisy places where verbal commands might get lost. In all honesty, dog training with hand signals is no different than dog training with word commands. At least not to your dog. You on the other hand will have to be creative to come up with the different signals. Just like with word commands, you’re entirely free to use whatever signal you want for a command. There are a few standard obedience training signals you can use. Or you could even consider using ASL (American Sign Language) or an adaptation of it. Using standardized signals will make it easier for other people to give your dog a command as well. Which can be useful for a several reasons (e.g. dog has to be re-homed, doggie daycare, …). Unlike humans, dogs pay a lot more attention to body language than to words. So dog training with hand signals might even be easier, as long as you’re consistent with the signals you use. What Makes Your Dog TickBefore you can even consider dog training with hand signals, you need to figure out what makes your dog tick. Is it food, your voice, a toy,… Obviously, your voice wouldn’t be very good to praise your dog when learning hand signals (after all, if he’s deaf he won’t even know he’s being praised ;-)Food treats work with most dogs and are the easiest to use. Don’t use the standard kibble you give your small dog for dinner. That might not motivate him enough. Instead use something smelly like sausage, hot dogs, chicken or cheese. Cut the treats very small so your dog doesn’t have to chew them. Chewing would distract him and slow down the learning process.If you’re going to be training a lot in one day, adjust the amount of food your dog would normally get to compensate for the treats.Important: food treats are a lure or reward, never a bribe. As soon as your dog knows a certain command, you need to cut down on the rewards so he’ll eventually perform the command without getting a reward at all. Basics Of Dog Training Hand SignalsDon’t train after your dog has eaten. It’ll be very hard to motivate him to do anything.Don’t train when you or your dog aren’t feeling well (both mentally and physically).Train in short sessions. 5 minutes, 3 times a day will be more productive then one training session of half an hour.End the training session positively. If you’re dog’s not getting the new command yet, give him a command he knows well to finish.During the learning time of a new command, reward every single time your dog gets it right.When your dog performs the new command perfectly, give him the jackpot. Give him several treats at once and end the training session.Take your time. Not every dog is a fast learner. Adapt to your small dogs speed and intelligence and intelligence.Start to train in a room with no distractions. As soon as your dog mastered a command in this situation, gradually increase the difficulty. For example, move the training session to the backyard, then to a quiet street, then a marketplace,… Not following this routine may leave you with a dog that listens perfectly inside the house, but not anywhere else because of all the distractions.The lure – the rewardStart off with showing the treat in your hand and lure your dog into whatever you want him to do. as soon as his in position, give him the treat. As soon as he knows the movement, stop using the treat as a lure. Instead hold it behind your back or keep it in a pocket. As soon as he finishes the wanted movement take the treat and reward him. After a while you will only reward perfect movements. Use a hand signal to praise somewhat good performances (of course the dog will already need to have learned the praise hand signal for this to be effective.).Use different kinds of praise along the way like petting, a toy,… whatever your dog likes. After a lot of practice, your dog will execute the commands automatically without the need for any kind of a reward. From then on, give him a reward occasionally, when he doesn’t expect it, just to keep him focused.
Common Dog Training Hand Signals You Could Use‘Good dog’The very first dog training hand signal you need to teach your dog is the ‘good dog’ signal. This will be the signal you use when your small dog has done something good or correct.The easiest signal to use, one that everyone will understand, is the thumbs up. Of course you could also use the ASL signal for ‘good’, or anything else you feel comfortable with. Remember, whatever signal you choose, you’ll be using it to communicate with your dog in public as well.Now, how do you teach your dog the signal. Take a handful of tasty, smelly treats and make sure your dog is paying attention to you. Show the ‘good dog’ sign and immediately give a treat. Repeat this about 10 times. Next, give the signal without giving a treat. Does your dog look at you as though he’s expecting another treat? Great! That means he understands the signal. If not, just keep on practicing until he does get it.As soon as your small dog understands the ‘good dog’ signal, you can move on and start teaching other signals.‘Release signal’A very important command, yet often overlooked, is the release signal. When you give your dog a command, you should be the one to end the command, not your dog. This is especially important if you want your dog to ‘stay’ for example. You’re basically telling your dog it’s okay to go and do whatever he likes. Personally, I use a small outwards wave of my hand to do this.You can teach this by giving the signal every time your dog finishes practicing a command.‘No biting’ or ‘be gentle’Usually, you would squeal to teach your dog that teeth on humans is a big NoNo. If you can’t use your voice, the trick is to withdraw attention. Start by tying your dog to the table or something so he can’t follow you when you get up. Play with your small dog, every time he bites too hard, pull your hands back slowly and get up. At first, don’t withdraw with only a minor touch of the teeth. Build it up gradually, from a ‘hard’ bite, to a gentle touch of the teeth on human skin.‘Sit’This is the most basic, but also the easiest and most useful command to teach. Just hold a treat right above your dog’s nose (try not to laugh at the squinting), then move it over his head slowly until he sits. Don’t lift the treat too high or your dog might jump up to get it. Practice this a couple of times without using a signal. The obedience sign for sit is moving your lower arm upwards (90° angle) with the palm of your hand facing upwards. To start teaching your dog the signal, put a treat between your thumb and palm while making the signal. As soon as the dog knows the signal you won’t have to keep treats in your hand.‘Down’This is easiest to teach when your dog is already in a sitting position. Again, hold a treat right in front of your dog’s nose. Then slowly lower the treat straight down. The obedience signal for ‘down’ is your arm moving down horizontally, palm of the hand downwards.‘Stay’This is great for teaching your dog self control. The easiest way to teach ‘stay’ is again from a sitting position. The obedience signal is your hand held in front of your dog’s face, palm facing your dog.Give the signal and then quickly give a treat (if he’s still sitting that is). Repeat the signal about 3 times while your dog stays in a sitting position. Then after the last reward, signal a release so he changes position. Keep practicing this, each time increasing the time between treats. When your dog will stay for a certain length of time, you can start working on distance. Give your dog the stay signal and take a step back. If he stays, immediately reward with a treat. Gradually increase the distance.Never work on increasing time and distance together. Always remember to release your dog after the command.Return from Dog Training Hand Signals to Free Dog Training Tips
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