Hand Signals

Hand signals are a great way to train a puppy.  Dogs communicate primarily through body language, and giving a hand signal in conjunction with a verbal command makes your instructions clearer.  It also ensures that you have the puppy’s attention before giving a command, as the pup has to be looking at you in order to see the signal.  Here are the standard hand signals we would like incorporated into puppy raising obedience. Note that in these photos, the signals are very exaggerated.  You can make the signals more subtle as your dog begins to understand what you are asking for.

Sit 
With your palm facing up, move your flat right hand in an upward motion.  While the puppy is learning the command, you can give the hand signal right at eye level; eventually, you want to build up to giving the signal while standing completely upright.

Down

Raise your right palm up, then make a downward motion that concludes with your fingers pointing towards the ground.  Initially, you can reach down close to the ground, but gradually progress to being able to give the downward-motion signal while standing completely upright. 

 

Stay

Cross your right hand across your body and face your flat palm in front of the puppy’s face.  Pause your “stop sign” hand for a moment while you say “stay”, then remove your hand.  The puppy should not be dependent on your hand remaining out; however, on a long or distracting stay, you may repeat the signal briefly as a reminder.

Forward

Start with the puppy seated or standing in heel position.  Extend your right hand from your side out in front of you in a quick motion while commanding, “forward”.  When you are initially teaching the puppy, you can give the hand signal and step forward to encourage the puppy to step out.  As the puppy gets the idea, wait for the puppy to start walking first; you can apply light forward leash pressure to encourage it to start moving.

Call to heel

The signal is to swing your left hand out from your side in a quick, sweeping motion.  While teaching the “heel” command, you will be starting with the puppy in front of you, then using backwards motion as well as leash cues in order to teach the “horseshoe heel” motion.  Begin to wean off of the backwards steps but continue to sweep your left hand out while holding the leash.  That will become the primary signal that can be paired with the verbal command.