If you’re after some ideas for signals, the image below is from ResearchGate ☺ No matter whether your dog was born with hearing problems or has started to go deaf with age, if you want to communicate with a deaf dog hand signals are going to be critical.ĭeaf dog hand signals can be a combination of hand commands that you’d normally use in dog training, along with ones of your own you can make up using some of the signs from American Sign Language, and are motions that allow you to communicate with your deaf dog in a clear and concise manner. And our Primal Treats make a great training tool to reward your pet! Remember to be patient and have fun with the training process.If you want to make sure your hard-of-hearing best friend has the best possible life and feels safe, being able to communicate effectively with them is one of the most important things you’ll need to learn to do. It is always important to positively reinforce your dog with verbal praise and treats during the training process. This is a must when you are out in areas where your dog is off leash. Start with your hand open at your side and diagonally bring it to your opposite shoulder. HAND DIAGONALLY ACROSS CHEST - Come.Īnother meaningful command is to call your dog to come. Make sure your pet stays until you ask them to come. Train your dog with both your auditory command and hand signals, test by walking backwards with your palm facing outward at the level of your chest. This nonverbal command is great for safety if you are out in public places or by busy streets. Teaching your dog to stay or wait is one of the most important commands. Have a treat in your hand while training and your dog’s nose is sure to follow! 4. The action for this command is to hold your finger pointed up at your chest and do a sweeping diagonal motion down. FINGER POINT DOWN - Lie down.Īnother great signal to help settle your dog is lay down. When you first start training be sure to pair the verbal command “sit” with the hand signal. The gesture is simple, have your hand palm facing the sky at your chest and move your hand in an upward motion. This is often the first training your dog receives. The most widely used command for any dog. It helps to keep a small treat in your hand when first teaching-your dog’s eyes will be on the prize! 2.

Whenever they look attentively at you, reward with a treat. To allow your pet to learn they first need to ‘look’ to be able to watch what command you want them to do. If you want to completely shift from auditory commands to only nonverbal cues this is an extremely important first step. If you make it a priority, your dog will pick up the hand signals quickly! 1. Training is best when you work with your pet daily. If your dog already is familiar with the standard commands: sit, stay etc., then making the transition to hand signals is fairly straight-forward. Once your dog is accurately responding to your commands, slowly fade out the reward. Reinforce behavior with rewards (treats and praise).

The most effective way to teach your dog is to follow these 2 steps:

Your pet needs to learn the association between the verbal command and hand signals. Pets can lose some degree of their hearing as they age, which is why these hand signals can really come in handy! We’ve narrowed it down to the top 5 commands you can teach your dog today. Many pet owners introduce this at a young age and it is a great training technique that becomes even more invaluable as your dog grows older. Most pets are able to respond better when an auditory command is paired with a hand signal. Teaching your dog hand signals is a great way to improve your communication with your pet.

Hand signals for dea dogs