Dog Training Hand Signals Guide: Common Signals and How to Teach Them

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

Dogs are experts at reading body language. Hand signals take advantage of that, and they add flexibility to your training.

Why use hand signals

• Natural: dogs watch movement.
• Quiet: useful in noisy places or at a distance.
• Inclusive: essential for deaf dogs. See how to train a deaf dog.
• Flexible: helpful for older dogs with hearing loss.
• Useful for sports and shows.

Common signals

You may invent your own, but these are common:

• Sit: a raised hand, palm up, or a hand moving up from the waist.
• Down: a flat palm moving down toward the floor.
• Stay: a flat palm facing the dog, like a stop sign.
• Come: sweeping your arm toward your chest, or patting your leg.
• Heel: tapping your left leg.
• Wait: a hand held out, palm toward the dog.
• Touch: presenting a flat hand for a nose touch.
• Spin: a finger circling in the air.

Choose signals that are distinct from each other.

Step 1: Teach the behavior

Teach each behavior by luring or capturing. See how to teach a dog to sit and how to teach a dog to lie down.

Step 2: Pair the signal

As you lure, your hand movement becomes the signal. Practice until your dog follows the movement.

Step 3: Fade the lure

Use an empty hand with the same motion, and reward with the other hand. Gradually make the movement smaller.

Step 4: Add and fade the verbal cue

Say the word first, then the signal. Over time, your dog responds to either. Practice with signals only, and with words only.

Step 5: Practice at distance and in new places

Increase distance, add distractions and practice without eye contact where appropriate. Reward success.

Consistency

Use the same signal each time. Teach family members the same signals. Avoid ambiguous gestures that look similar.

Signals for deaf dogs

Deaf dogs depend on visual cues. Use clear, exaggerated signals, and teach an attention cue to get their focus. See how to train a deaf dog. Teach a visual marker, such as a thumbs up. See marker words in dog training.

Signals for older dogs

If your dog is losing hearing, signals help keep communication going. See can you train an old dog.

Signals in sports

Hand signals are used widely in agility, obedience and herding. See how to start dog agility.

Common mistakes

• Using similar signals. Keep them distinct.
• Waving constantly. Be intentional.
• Skipping rewards. Pay for responses.
• Changing signals. Be consistent.

Troubleshooting

• Your dog does not respond. Go back to lures.
• Your dog responds to only one person. Practice with everyone.
• Your dog looks away. Teach attention first.
• Your dog is confused. Simplify signals.

Combining signals with verbal cues

Many handlers use both words and signals, so their dog understands either. Start with whichever your dog finds easiest, then add the other. Practice both separately and together, and reward both.

Be aware of unintentional signals. Dogs notice posture, eye contact and tiny movements. Practice standing still and giving a verbal cue without moving, and then giving a signal in silence. Film yourself to see what your dog sees.

Teaching children and visitors

Show family members the signals, and let them practice with treats. Keep signals simple, so everyone can use them. Visitors may enjoy giving a sit signal and seeing your dog respond, which is a nice way to reinforce training.

The takeaway

Dogs read bodies, so hand signals come naturally. Teach them clearly and consistently.