Bring your hand diagonally across your body to your opposite shoulder. To teach your dog to “come,” place your arm at your side with an open hand. There may be times when your dog is at a distance from you and you need him to come closer, such as when you’re walking leash-free in the dog park and your pet wanders too far. Slowly move your hand upwards until you reach your shoulder. To teach your dog to “stay,” hold out your hand with your palm facing you. This non-verbal cue ensures that your dog remains safely by your side out in public and near potentially dangerous places, such as busy streets. Stay is one of the most important hand signals that you can teach your dog. An alternative hand signal for “down” involves doing the opposite of “sit.” Begin with your hand near your shoulder and move your hand in a downward motion, with your finger pointing towards the floor. To perform this action, hold your pointer finger at chest level and do a diagonal sweeping motion downwards. The next most common hand signal for dog training is the “lie down” signal. Start with your hand out in front of you and raise it in an upward motion toward your shoulder. The “sit”’ hand signal for dogs is an open hand with your palm up. There may be circumstances in which your pet will need to quickly stop and sit for his safety or the safety of others. Teaching your dog to sit is important for all pet owners. Each time your dog looks at you attentively after using the hand signal, offer a treat. You may need to use a verbal cue at first and progressively phase out any words and only use your hands. To get your pet’s attention, use one finger to point to your eye. This step allows you to shift your verbal cues to non-verbal cues by teaching your dog to stop and pay attention to you when prompted. The first thing you want to do is get your pet’s attention.

Practice the following common hand signals to help you better communicate with your furry friend: 1. Dog training can be a lengthy process but can also be rewarding for both you and your pet. It is important to be patient when teaching your dog hand signals. What are the Most Common Hand Signals for Dogs? As many dogs tend to struggle with understanding their owner’s verbal communication, introducing common hand signals can result in a better response from your pet. Training is an essential part of puppyhood and what your dog learns from you will follow him throughout his life. Why Train Your Dog to Respond to Hand Signals?Īdding hand signals to your dog training regimen can help make your training efforts more versatile. However, dogs of all ages can be taught this non-verbal form of communication. Ideally, you should begin teaching your dog hand signals as a puppy. Hand signals are often more effective for dog training and can come in useful as your pet gets older and potentially starts to lose his hearing. Teaching your dog basic commands can be tough, especially when you only rely on verbal cues.

Dog hand signal for sit