Strengthening Training with Hand Signals

Sharon 0:02

You know something that can really strengthen your dog's training Adding a hand signal to an already known verbal cue. Because hand signals are not just cool tricks, they're actually very practical. If your dog already knows a behavior, like sit, you can easily layer in a hand signal. Start by showing a simple, clear hand motion. For a sit you might want to move your open, palm up hand, upward . Then immediately cue sit. When they get it right, reward them. Then repeat this several times. Give the hand signal, then immediately say the verbal cue and reward your dog when he responds. And after 3-4 repetitions you can start to fade out the verbal cue. Just give the hand signal and see if your dog sits. And if they do, reward them. They're starting to understand the new language that you're teaching. So why are hand signals so handy? Dogs are naturally visual learners. Their survival instincts and communication are heavily based on body language, not vocal language like ours, and sometimes in noisy environments like on a busy street or a park or a training class, it can be hard for your dog to hear you. The hand signal cuts through all of that chaos. And even better, if your dog ever experiences hearing loss later in life having a visual communication system already in place can help them continue to respond and feel confident.

Benefits for Special Situations

Creating a Bilingual Bond

Sharon 1:47

Dogs signals can also help your timing. Sometimes, and especially in early training, a clear visual signal can make it easier for your dog to anticipate and succeed. They can physically see when a cue starts and ends, giving them a bit more time to process what you're asking. And for shyer, nervous dogs, using hand signals can actually feel less overwhelming. It's a calmer, softer way to communicate, no shouting needed. So if you haven't started including hand signals into your training yet, it's a great project to take on. Just pick a behavior that your dog knows really well, choose a clear hand motion and start pairing the two together. Over time you'll have a dog that's bilingual, understanding both verbal cues and handsignals. And that is a huge advantage to building a strong, lasting communication bond.