Dog communication>Do you use hand/body signals, as much as verbal signals?

I got stuck in using hand signals because someone ripped me a new one over 25 years a go when I was training my first street dog. He asked me, not so politely, how was I going to call my dog to me if I was in a position to not be able to use my voice. It was a great question and I have done it ever since. As far as body language, I have used it even before then because it came naturally to me. Hope I helped!

All my dogs are trained with hand signals and voice commands. I'd like to say the do really well with both... (but I'm lazy and don't practice enough with them). I do find the hand signals are great when they are at a distance. I don't have to yell a command, I just make the signal and normally they obey (not the yellow one though. She is so bad.....) <grin> Edit - Chetco? what does your signature stand for? I always meant to ask you... =)

I do use a lot of body language, since dogs normally look for it.

I was working with MRDD adults for 2 years.. we had to use sign language with some of them as they were non-verbal.. and some were also deaf. I found myself using some signs with my dog after a while.. and he did catch on to them! He knows the signs for "bathroom" "bed" "ride" "no" and "eat"

no hand signals as my hands stay curled and i can't use them much. my papillon decides if she's going to do what i say or not. sometimes she's pushbutton and other times looks at you like, i know that word, don't i? i'm trying to figure out how to teach her ignore, and still do what i ask her after she ignores me.

I use hand and body signals, verbal is a last resort... Being aware of your body and hands is of utmost importance as an owner and trainer. I also have 6 dogs, lol! It really helps when you can click your tongue and stomp your foot, and they all know, " look at ME, something is about to happen", lol! Edit: Wow, saw the avitar and realized it was you! We usually look to you for answering the questions, lol! P.S. I had a very deaf sheltie that got me into the habit as well. God bless them, they all have lessons to teach us as trainers, don't they?!? Btw, I lost another pup this spring to cancer, and I used the link you sent me AGES ago! Still brings a LOT of comfort. Thanks again!

Great question! Verbal is always a last resort to me. With my type of dogs, I have absolutely no communication with them without body language and/or hand signals. My voice commands usually mean squat once arriving at my house from a previous home. I do, however, begin training with verbal commands - body language just comes natural, and hand signals come after those are both established and fully understood, and after some given time my body language is all that I have to use. My poor poor hubby, for the life of him, will NEVER catch on, though. I don't think it comes as natural to everyone as much as I'd like it to.

Voice, eye contact and mystical communication. If she is in doubt about something she will look at me for a cue, shaking my head up and down or sideways is usually enough. Dogs anticipate owners/masters and they are among the most eager of all pets to serve. This is why when it is bath time and I call her just like any other time, she hides under my desk....she knows I'm going to soak her:-) It is also why dogs make such great aids like drug sniffers, seeing eye dogs and 'homing devices.' I find the the less critical I am with dogs (and some people), the more responsive they are. This is my second Australian Shepherd, a registered stock dog, and they have both been equally sensitive to non-verbal cues. A far cry from many humans who say 'Duh, what?' and wait for the explaination for the upteenth time. The first time she went down to the field with me and watched me round up the cattle, put them in the pen for feeding and fly spray treatment was the only time I had to do it on the 4 wheeler. After that, she did exactly as I had done; started with the farthest out and brought them all in...every one of them. I could go on about the non-verbal business, but every friend of dogs knows exactly what I mean.

I train all my dogs voice commands and then graduate to hand signals. Demon and Koda are both, and Bo is learning hand now. I have 4 others Min. Schnauzers for both and my husbands Gordon Setters, field trails, are all hand and voice, he uses all hand most of the time. My 2 Rotti's, I have started them on hand, but they are so playful and think I am waving at them...then they settle down and train.....Thunder and Satan are real characters....and the UPS man came yesterday to deliver a package, had to go out to the gate, Thunder did not like him one little bit, and Satan was holding the gate at bay.....they were not aggressive, but just sat there, and kept the gate from moving, yes I know lots more training is in store...they are so protective right now.....but not mean or hateful.... Chetco and Cindy, do you think the voice or hand signals on them would be best, thus far the voice is really doing good.....