Hand Signals for Dog Obedience Training

Dogs are wonderful companions, but sometimes their natural energy can cause problems if they want to romp, play and run. Obedience training allows you basic communication with your dog using hand signals. It also teaches the dog to obey those signals. In fact, the hand signals are easier for the dog to understand than hand signals because dogs aren't used to the nuances of language. You can find dog obedience classes offered at major pet stores and local dog clubs. When teaching a dog to obey hand signals, learn the basic commands first and you'll see a marked improvement in your dog. Those basic commands are: heel, sit, stay and down.

  1. Heel

    • When a dog heels, it walks beside you on your left-hand side. It does not pull ahead. The hand signal for this is done by sweeping your arm down in front of the dog with the palm forward. Then you bring your hand up. It helps to say the command "heel" at the same time. By saying the command and doing the hand signal at the same time, the dog begins to associate the two. This is one of, if not the first, command that a dog should learn because it will help you when you need to walk your dog.

    Sit

    • Sitting is another one of the first commands for a dog to learn. The hand signal begins with your arm at your side. You move your hand, palm up, to your chest. When training the dog for this command and signal, don't say "sit" until the dog actually begins to sit. One training method is to simply push gently on the dog's rump while saying the command.

    Stay

    • To get a dog to stay, the dog should already be sitting next to you. Hold your arm straight down with the palm flat. Place your hand next to the dog's nose without actually touching the dog. The dog shouldn't stick his nose in your hand or lean against it. The hand signal should be enough to keep the dog sitting as you move away.

    Down

    • "Down" is similar to "sit" in that it stops the dog. While the dog sits on its rump when told to "sit," it will lay on its belly when told "down." The hand motion is to hold your upper arm parallel to the floor with the elbow bent, then sweep it downward so that your arm straightens.

    Next Step

    • A basic dog obedience training class will probably be once a week for six to eight weeks to learn these basic hand signals. Remember to use positive reinforcement, such as giving the dog a treat for obeying a command. Once you've mastered the basic hand signals, you can move to advanced training. This would include hand signals for leave it, shake, catch, stand and others.