Did you know your dog can understand you without even a single word?
Yes, it’s true! A dog can understand your thoughts and reactions through hand signals, making them essential in training.
Hand signals are an effective way to communicate with your dog, especially when your oral commands might not work.
Whether you’re in a crowded place or a quiet room, hand signals help you talk with your dog. Dogs are naturally skilled and incredible at reading body gestures, even a sudden hand movement can easily catch their attention.
So why won’t we take advantage of this natural ability and teach them specific hand signals for effective communication?
In this blog, we’ll discuss various hand signals essential for your dog training.
Hand Signals Your Dog Must Learn
Here is the list of basic commands that your dog should know.
1. Sit
Sit signal is the most important and basic part of dog training. For the sit signal, raise your hand with your palm facing upward, raise your hand above your dog’s head, and slowly move it backwards.
For effective use of this signal, make sure the dog is focused on you, removing all the distractions.
2. Stand
For the stand command, hold your hand out, palm facing your dog, and say “stand”.
In this process, the dog should be focused on you, and if not use some kind of treat to attract his attention.
3. Come
Extend your arm out with your palm open, and then bring your hand towards your chest. Keep the motion of your arm slow and make this natural gesture that encourages them to come closer.
4. Down
Move your hand down in a sweeping motion and say the word down in the “Down” command. This is the down command for your dog. It is the easiest command to teach your dog and you can also start your dog training with this command.
5. Wait
For the wait command, hold your hand up with your palm facing toward your dog. This gesture encourages them to pause and stand at a particular place. For better results, try this command where your dog is calm and focused on you.
6. High five
For a high five, hold your hand up with your palm facing toward your dog. To make it more fun, you can also hold a treat to encourage them to lift their paw and touch your hand. This will force them to learn new tricks and signals.
7. No
The hand signal for “No” involves holding your index finger out and moving it in a wagging motion. This gesture acts as a signal to stop or avoid a particular behavior.
To keep this habit consistent, you can also offer a treat as their reward.
8. Drop
Drop command involves holding your hand open, palm facing down, and moving it slightly towards the ground. This hand signal depicts that they should release whatever is in their mouth.
9. Fetch
For the Fetch hand signal, point your finger with your hand at your side and raise it to point forward towards your object. Or you can mimic by throwing a toy and a pointing motion towards the object as you throw it.
10. Leave
Leave command involves opening a palm facing your dog and saying “Leave”. It gives them a signal to stop. This gesture gives clear instructions to move away from an object.
Practical tips for training dogs with hand signals
To make the training more effective, here are some of the practical tips for all dog owners.
1. Start with basic commands
As you start the training session, start with the basics hand signals like sit, stand, and come so that they can learn the skills in a more focused and easy way.
2. Short and fun-loving sessions
Frequent and short sessions are always suggested to make the learning more easy. Aim for 5- 10 minutes of training to keep your dog engaged and focused in training.
3. Reinforcement
Reward is the best motivator for anyone. Provide your dog with a reward each time when they correctly respond to hand signals.
4. Be consistent
Use the same hand signal each time for the command. Consistency helps your dog to bring uniqueness in every gesture and makes them clearer about the commands.
Summing Up
Hand signals are a powerful way to communicate effectively with your furry companions. When your words fail to make them understand, the hand signals work well. This will strengthen your bond with your pet and make them more comfortable in your surroundings.
If you need any expert guidance in training, feel free to reach us at Boonuu. We understand your pet’s needs and deliver the best possible solution for your furry companion.
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