HAND SIGNALS TO TEACH YOUR DOG
Giving your dog hand signals is a great way to improve communication between you and your pet. Most pets respond more successfully when given an aural command and a hand signal. Many dog owners start their puppies off with this great training technique, which only improves as the dog ages. These hand signals can be quite helpful as pets age, which may cause some hearing loss! We’ve narrowed it down to the top five commands you can teach your dog right now.
Training Location:
Voice commands and hand signals must be taught to your pet. The following two goals should be attained when training your dog:
- Your hand signal should be simple.
- Use incentives to encourage behaviour (treats and praise).
Remove the reward gradually once your dog is correctly responding to your commands. The transition to hand signals is very easy if your dog is already trained to conventional commands like sit, stay, and others. Frequent interaction with your pet will aid in training. If you prioritise it, your dog will learn the hand signals quickly!
1. Keep one finger in your eye and look at me.
This is an essential first step if you want to eliminate aural commands and use only nonverbal clues completely. It would help if you first taught your pet to “look” so they can see the command you want them to follow before learning. Whenever they pay close attention, reward them with a treat. When you first begin training, it is beneficial to keep a little treat in your hand so your dog can concentrate on that.
2. Take a seat with your palm open.
Any dog’s most commonly used command. This is typically the first training your dog receives. Raise your hand and point it upwards and upwards, palm up at your chest. When you first start training, use both the hand signal and the word “sit.”
3. Point your finger down while lying down.
A great signal to use to reassure your dog is to lie down. For this command, you must sweep your index finger diagonally downward while maintaining it aimed up and toward your chest. Keep a treat in your hand while training. The nose of your dog will follow.
4. Stay, holding out your palm with your open hand.
Teaching your dog to wait or stay is one of the most important commands you can teach them. This nonverbal command guarantees your safety if you’re in a public place or close to dangerous streets. Step backwards while keeping your palm facing outward at chest level to test your command. Both hand signals and spoken commands can be used to train your dog. Make sure your pet buddy stays as long as you call them.
5. DIAGNOSTICAL WALKING HAND CROSS CHEST -Come.
Another useful command is to call your dog to come. From your side, reach across to the opposite shoulder with your open hand. It would help if you did this when you are out and about in areas where your dog is not on a leash.
It’s essential to continuously give your dog vocal praise and treats throughout the training process to reinforce good behaviour. Don’t forget to put your training into practice and have fun. Take advantage of these five training tips to improve your bond with your pet!