DOG HAND SIGNAL TO SIT HOW TO
DOG HAND SIGNAL TO SIT PROFESSIONAL

You’re probably thinking that most dogs don’t understand the point of hand signals. This can also help reinforce good behavior more effectively than a verbal cue alone might do because there is less chance of confusing them with conflicting commands from different family members sharing responsibility in training efforts at home.

Use hand signals to reduce stress for dogs who are sensitive to touch or who may not like being patted on the head for praise (like kids on Santa’s lap). Once you feel confident in using the gesture, bring in your pup and show them what it means by cueing them with a verbal command (sit) or some other rewardable behavior (ex: raising an open palm over their head). Practice using the hand signal without your dog around first so that they can’t read any cues from your facial expressions or body language. Think of it as a language-consistency is key! Your dog will only be confused if they think they have learned one word but are suddenly being asked to learn another. If you start out by signaling for sit with your left palm facing down, don’t switch it up and expect your dog to understand when you use your right palm facing up. Make sure to use the same hand gesture every time you want your dog to do a specific trick. There are many different hand signals that you can use, but we’ve compiled a list of 12 of the most common ones aboveīefore you dive into hand signals, there’s one more thing you should know: Hand signals are an important part of dog training and can help speed up the process of teaching new behaviors.

DOG HAND SIGNAL TO SIT HOW TO

Dogs that are trained will be more responsive to your commands and less likely to get into trouble because they know how to behave.

Not only does it make your dog happier, but it also makes your bond stronger. Nancy shares her life with her husband and two canine alumni of the NWSPCA, mixed-breed Otto (whose adorably fuzzy visage was incorporated into WDJ’s masthead some years ago) and Pit/Lab-mix Woody.Dog training is one of the most rewarding things you can do with your canine companion. As a regular volunteer for her local animal shelter, the Northwest SPCA in Oroville, CA, she fosters large litters of puppies and helps train wayward adolescent dogs in order to increase their chances of adoption. To stay on top of industry developments, she also attends pet industry trade shows such as Global Pet and SuperZoo, educational conferences of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and Pet Food Industry’s Pet Food Forum.

DOG HAND SIGNAL TO SIT PROFESSIONAL

The founding editor of Whole Dog Journal in 1998, Nancy regularly attends cutting-edge dog-training conferences including those for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Pet Professional Guild, Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and Clicker Expo. Nancy Kerns has edited horse and dog magazines since graduating the San Francisco State University Journalism program in 1990. Special Needs Training: Training Dogs with Hand Signals How to Train Hearing Impaired Dogs Using Hand Signals and Simple Gestures Here are just a few of the many articles we’ve done on teaching hand signals for your cues: Again, thank goodness he knows that one, because it’s one of the few things I can do now to make his “concentrating” expression soften and his tail wag.ĭon’t wait until it’s too late to teach your dog hand signals – if for no other reason than as a hedge for his or her old age. He’s always a good boy, and I give him the “thumbs up” and a big smile many times a day. I’m so grateful that I taught him that alternative to ”Yes!” because, basically, in my eyes, he can’t do anything “wrong” anymore. I’ve long used a “thumbs up” gesture as an alternative to a click or “Yes!” to mark the moment he does a behavior I’ve cued or, to be honest, anything else that I like. He didn’t DO anything, he just gets treats for showing up when the other dogs are asked to do stuff.

Dog hand signal to sit