Hand signals are very important tools you can use to train your dog.

Dogs aren’t verbal creatures – even though they can learn how respond to your words. For them it’s easy to see movement – so they can readily perceive the movement involved in a hand signal. Give the hand signal immediately followed by the verbal command.

The Stay Signal is one of the commands you can easily learn and teach your dog.

Hand signal - Stay command 1

Hand signal – Stay command 1 – Dog on your side

If your dog is beside or behind you, drop your arm and hand to your side, fingers down, with the palm of your hand directly in front of the dog’s nose.

Hand signal - Stay command 2

Hand signal – Stay command 2 – Dog(s) in front of you.

If you are facing your dog, point your fingers upward with your palm at an angle that’s easy for your dog to see.

When you teach hand signals to a dog try to keep them large and precise.

Grace is a 14 week old Poodle Shih Tzu mix

Grace

Grace is a very cute young puppy. On her first day she was a little bit unsure in her new environment – a new place, new people, and different dogs. Now, after a few visits she is doing very well.

Grace with friends

Grace is playing with other dogs, and has learnt the sit-stay, down-stay and come commands.

Grace learning the Down command

We are now practicing walking on a leash with Grace.

Follow the following steps to teach your dog to walk on a leash:

1. Begin by using a happy voice to say “lets go” or some other phrase you like.
2. Start walking. Pat your leg and show a treat to encourage puppy to follow you.
3. If your puppy starts to wander away and tightens the leash, say “easy”.  Then turn and walk in a direction away from the puppy. Don’t jerk on the leash. That will happen automatically if the puppy doesn’t pay attention. Don’t slow down and wait for the puppy.  It’s the puppy’s responsibility to keep that leash slack.