Hand signals

Do you use hand signals along with verbal commands when you train your dogs?

Yes, absolutely. If you do both, within a couple of months you can do either and get the same results. Often you get better results with hand signals.

Yes, I have to use hand signals because she is deaf, but I still speak to her as well, it feels more 'normal' to do it that way.

I haven't had success with it with my current dogs, but I had a shepherd/collie once who really responded so well to hand signals.

Dogs aren't really verbal animals. I find it much easier to teach things using hand signals rather than words. You need to make your hand signals things are are obvious as to what behavior you want. For example, a downward palm down motion of the hand means "down". A palm extended toward the dog means "stay". Dogs are fantastic at body language. Thats their native language.

Yes, I've used those before. Maybe I just need to do more of it with these two.

We use a combination of words & hand signals. The hand signals are used simply because I have a habit of talking with my hands anyway so why not teach the dogs that as well as the words. Ya know?

Dogs read body language. Even if you don't use a signal grab a leash or a treat jar and you will most likely get a reaction. Sometimes we are giving them signals and we don't even know it. The fun part is making that work to our advantage.

I still use spoken instruction despite having a deaf dog because it comes naturally and I suspect most people who use voice commands probably use hand signals as well without without even being aware of it.

I have noticed this with my sisters dog. They really do learn fast. If they get under the sink where they keep the treats he goes crazy!

There was a story on the news last week about using hand signals. I'm thinking of working with my dogs on it again.

My old man dog started to lose his hearing from age, hand signals were great until his eye sight started to go. He would sometimes misplace himself out in the yard, but my other dogs would go bring him in, with a gentle nudge to his shoulder he would follow them in the house.

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Hi, I have always trained all my dog's to understand hand signals. Not difficult really, especially if a treat is held in that hand. Especially good, if asking for something at a distance, as sometimes a voice command can get lost on the wind. I have also used a name and hand signal for obedience competition as well, shows can be a noisy place, and even if the dog can't hear you properly they can usually see a good hand signal, such as in distance control well.

I also use a dog whistle, and this when learning is backed up with verbal commands and hand signals. All my dogs have learnt recall, to stop at a distance, and to look at me using whistle only.

Jan

That is great RubyRoo.... I live in an area where people let their dogs run as wild as their kids...no manners at all.....
I try not to be prideful, but when someone tells me how well behaved my animals are (all of them, dogs, horses, yes..even my cats)
I am sooo very proud of them.

I am very far in their learning, but I don't "wait a minute..in a sec..I'm just gonna... I call, you come now. I always have a reason,
not always a cookie, but a real reason. When they stop what they are doing and head your way....I glow with pride for them.

Hand signals help alot, like you said from a distance or other noisy distractions.

We like to play in the desert...one day my little rat terrier, Buster thought he was too far away from me, and was running back.
I signaled to STOP, wait.... an idot on a dirt bike almost ran him over... I almost hugged him to death for knowing sign.

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Hi Syn
This is what training is all about, the times when it is really necessary to get your dog to understand and act on what you want/need it to do. In your case it saved your dogs life.

Today Ruby set off after a hare, and recalled immediately to the whistle, and yes I was so chuffed with her. When we got her eighteen months ago, she had no learning at all. She has come a long way. If only her previous owners had put some work in, they also could have had this wonderful delightful dog.

There is always new things to learn, especially as training methods evolve.

Take care.

Jan

Cheers to you RubyRoo...

Ruby is were she should be.... were she was meant do be, with you, to love and care for.
I'm so happy you found each other.

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Hi Syn

It sounds as though you think along my way of thinking in more things thank dog training. I am very interested in 'spiritual' things and also think that Ruby was meant to be with us. There were so many 'coincidences' surrounding us getting her, and I don't really believe in coincidence, as I feel that life is all mapped out for us, however horrible it may be at times. We lost two beloved golden retrievers in 14 months to cancer, and were suddenly without a dog at all after 25 years, of having multiple dog household. An elderly friend that lives near us, came round with a rescue kennell details that I wouldn't have bothered with, as it was a small place. We had tried a larger well known place the day before, and the one dog that Dave liked he wouldn't have, as he thought it was too large. Anyway I rang the other kennels up on the monday morning, and they said that they didn't have many dogs in after an article in the local paper, but go over anyway. I mean this was great for the kennel, but I was wondering if I was going to get another dog. We went the following morning, and I knew somehow that I was going to find a choc. lab bitch there. She had in fact been brought in shortly after my phone call to them the day before. She was madness itself, and i was astounded that Dave even said that we could have her. Thank God he agreed, as she has been such an amazing dog. Brilliant with other dogs, people and more importantly our grandchildren. Mind you, she took a lot of work, but I knew that we were meant to be together. Also she was so awful to start with she took our minds off losing our beautiful boys. I thought I was going to have a breakdown after losing Rudi so young.

Anyway enough of my waffling on, I would be interested in your thought on 'New Age' things, including healing, which I do.

Many regards Jan

I noticed some dog owners train their dogs by using verbal commands alone. But others integrate verbal commands with hand signals. After all, dogs usually visual signals to communicate. In fact, the dog might actually understand physical signals more easily than spoken commands.

Right now I'm trying to re-integrate the hand signals in the training and I'm doing both. I just really need to spend more time on it though.

We have an interesting situation. I have always used hand signals as well as voice commands, it more or less comes naturally. My dog responds to body language very well. My son has autistic spectrum disorder, he doesn't interpret body language well at all but he is wonderful with dogs. I have encouraged him to learn and use hand signals as well as voice commands but it certainly doesn't come naturally for him. The odd thing is that our dog understands him perfectly, she will do anything he asks of her.

Ah, the bond between child and dog. They don't need language; it's within them both!

That is nice to hear Justontime, some people just have a way with animals, the rest of us have to work a little harder to achieve the same results.

Justontime, that brings a smile to my heart about your son and dog. I will toss this into the face of those at my work place who are ALWAYS saying how stupid there dog is. I really want to smack them on the back of their heads to knock some %#@!* into them. I am so happy for your son and dog to be able to do this wonderful bond together.

Syn, I don't think I have ever met a stupid dog, a few naughty ones and one or two troubled or damaged ones, but not stupid ones. However I have met more than a few stupid dog owners, it just makes you feel so sorry for the dog doesn't it.

I don't do alot with my co-workers, I found myself enjoying their animals and playing with them instead of what I'm there to do with the co-workers. Most of them seem so happy that someone wants to play with them. One girl has a jumper and I was able in just a short time get him to stay off, sit, and wait. She was upset that the dog will not do that for her. I offered to help her work with him, but surprize, surprize, I was not invited back...:confused:

It seems to me most people want a dog/animal just to say they have one.

Life is so much more enjoyable with a well trained dog, but many people don't bother, then they complain that the dog has bad habits.

Syn, I am pleased you enjoyed reading about my son, he has always loved animals. When he was about 7 he kept hamsters and he decided that he wanted to breed them. He got up early so that 'the deed could be done' before I woke up and stopped him. The hamsters were not as keen to start a family as he hoped and nothing happened. A couple of days later I found him sitting next to the hamster cages, reading them the chapter on reproduction from the hamster care book - so that they would know what to do next time!!

OT: I agree with kernow that it's the owner that I have issues with and not the dog. Too bad the dogs reflect what their owners are.

Justontime, it made me smile reading your previous post about your son's bonding with the dog. I'm sure your son will be grateful to you having a pet in the house.

Justontime,
I have a tear in my eyes, and a swell in my heart...I love that about the hamster reading, I can truly see him doing this.
I was a lonely child growing up. My few pets where all I had. I remember a field mouse in the house ( A bad thing then) and I would feed it and tell it where NOT to go in the house, I really thought it was listening to me... maybe it was, since the house cat didn't get it...

Pets fulfil many roles in our lives and the companionship they give us should never be underestimated. I think sometimes my dog has a more intuitive link to the way that I am feeling than any human friend does.

Remember Father Flanagan and his 'there's no such thing as a bad boy'? Let's just alter that to there's no such thing as a bad dog, just a bad human.