#Hand signals for sit dog training how to#

Let’s assume your dog already knows the association between a visual cue for “sit” and the action you want them to perform (sitting). Link a specific motion to a particular verbal cue, such as bringing a piece of kibble up past your dog’s nose and saying a specific verbal cue like “sit.” From there, getting your dog to react to the hand signal alone is a matter of practice and repetition. The goal with hand signals for dogs is to get your dog to associate a hand gesture with one of your verbal cues. The first thing to do before you begin with hand signals is to establish eye contact so you know you have their attention, then you can begin with hand signals.

#Hand signals for sit dog training how to#

Here’s how to get started: How to Get Started With Hand Signals for Dogs There are several techniques in training your dog to follow hand signals. After a while you can test them to find out which approach works best.Īll you need to teach dog obedience hand signals are some positive reinforcements (dog treats or pieces of dog food kibble) and a little bit of know-how. More than that, teaching your dog hand signals can be useful when communicating in situations when your dog can’t hear you well.ĭogs are very adept at responding to human body language cues, so teaching them to follow verbal commands and nonverbal commands simultaneously can be highly beneficial. Whatever commands you decide to teach your dog, be sure to remain patient, have fun, and lavish him with praise for a job well done.Dog training hand signals are fun to teach and easy for most dogs to understand. When he comes, praise and give him the kibble. Say “Come” and back up a few steps at the same time. Do this slowly at first, bringing the kibble past your dog’s nose as you signal. Now sweep your arm forward so your hand touches your opposite shoulder. Start with your arm held straight out to your side parallel with the ground. To teach him to come when you call, start with your dog in front of you. Lead his nose down as you say “Down.” When he lies down, praise him and give him the kibble. Do this slowly, bringing the kibble past your dog’s nose as you signal. Hold a piece of kibble in your fingers and - with your hand raised above your head - bring it down, keeping your arm straight until it is hanging at your side.

When he sits, praise him and give him the kibble.įor the “down” command, start with your dog sitting in front of you. You’re leading his nose upward as you say sit. Do this slowly, bringing the kibble past your dog’s nose. Hold a piece of kibble in your fingers and - starting with your hand at your side - bring it up slowly, folding your arm as if you were going to toss something over the same shoulder. To teach your dog to sit, start with him standing in front of you. Soon your dog will sit, lie down, or come with just a motion of your hand. Once your dog reliably reacts to the silent hand gesture when you have the food, gradually remove the piece of food from the equation. For a while you might use the verbal command and hand gesture together half the time and the hand gesture alone half the time. While still using the food reward, gradually eliminate the verbal command. You will have to repeat this many times to ensure your dog understands the association. When your dog performs the correct action, immediately reinforce this behavior with a kibble.

To get started, pair the verbal command with a hand signal (see below for examples of common hand signals). The next thing you’ll want to do is to create a new association between an unfamiliar hand signal and the verbal command and action that he already knows. Let’s assume that your dog already knows the association between a verbal command (sit) and the action you want him to perform (sitting). From there, getting your dog to react to the hand signal alone is just a matter of repetition. Later in this article, we’ll give you tips on how you can link a specific motion to a specific command. The first thing you’ll want to do is to get your dog to associate a hand gesture with one of your command words. There are several ways to teach your dog hand signals. All you need to get started are a few kibbles of food.

They’re fun to teach and easy for most dogs to understand. Once he understands and responds to your verbal commands for sit, down, and come, hand signals are a good next step in the training process. Training your dog isn’t just for getting him to follow your directions - it’s also a great way to bond, and when done correctly, can be a lot of fun for both you and your dog. Does your dog understand verbal commands like “Sit,” “Down,” and “Come”? See how teaching him hand signals is a fun and rewarding next step in his training regimen!