We often use verbal commands to train our dogs, but hand signals also work well and can serve unique purposes. You can use dog training hand signals instead of or alongside verbal cues.
Leslie Sinn, DVM, DACVB, of Behavior Solutions, says that dogs with sight can learn hand signals no matter their age or breed. In her experience, most dogs learn hand gestures easier than verbal cues.
Many dogs can learn hand gestures within a few weeks, but this depends on the individual dog, training consistency, and clarity of signals.
We’ll share when hand signals are helpful, how to teach them, and answers to common questions.
When Would Hand Signals Be Useful for Dogs?
Hand commands can be helpful for:
- Noisy environments
- Competitive obedience sports
- People who use sign language
- Deaf dogs (or losing hearing)
Adding Hand Signals to Verbal Cues
As Sinn mentioned, any dog can learn hand gestures, no matter their age or what verbal commands they know.
If your dog already knows verbal cues, you can teach new hand gestures while saying the verbal command. Give treats when your dog responds accurately. If you want to eventually use the hand gesture by itself, drop the verbal cue when your dog understands the hand command.
Since hand signals are usually easier for dogs to learn, you can teach them without reinforcers. That said, treats and praise are generally helpful for positive training results.
Teaching Hand Signals for Different Commands
Start slowly by teaching your dog a couple different hand signals to start. Once they’ve learned a few basic hand gestures, you can move into different commands.
Megan Maxwell, Ph.D., CAAD, with Pet Behavior Change, says each hand signal should be unique so your dog can distinguish each one. It’s also important to be consistent and use them the same way every time.
She also recommends using many treats when your dog is learning a new command and showing desired behaviors or responses. With practice, you can gradually fade out treats. However, it’s helpful to continue giving treats and praise when your dog reliably responds to different hand signals in various situations.
If your dog is Deaf, be sure they’re looking at you when you use hand gestures. If you need their attention, you can use a form of vibration, like stepping on the floor or tapping a nearby wall or piece of furniture.
The Hand Signals for the Most Common Dog Commands
Amy Pike, DVM, DACVB, IAABC-CDBC, with Animal Behavior Wellness Center, says that when teaching your dog hand commands, there aren’t specific signals you must follow. As long as you teach what each signal means and stay consistent with it, your cues can be whatever you’d like.
Here are common dog training hand signals and example gestures you can use:
- Look: Point one index finger to your eyes (do this before any command to gain their attention)
- Sit: Put your hand, with palm facing up, at your dog’s nose, then slowly move it upwards
- Down: Put your palm to your shoulder, then move your hand slowly towards the ground
- Stay or wait: Hold your hand up by your waist with your palm toward your dog
- Come: Extend your arm beside you with your palm facing your dog, then bring your hand and arm to your chest
- Drop it: Point your finger towards the floor
- Good job: Thumbs up
- Quiet: Place your index finger perpendicular to your hands
How Do Dogs Interpret Hand Movements and Gestures?
Dogs can understand gestural communication, particularly pointing. Studies examining how dogs respond to pointing found that dogs don’t see pointing as an order. Instead, they may interpret pointing as informative or telling them something.
Dr. Sabrina Kong, Veterinarian, DVM says that hand motion and consistency are necessary for helping your dog stay accurate when learning and responding to hand commands. Use clear, distinct movements for hand signals. For example, use a flat hand for “stay” and a pointed finger for a specific direction.
Kong also shares that dogs don’t recognize the number of fingers you use, but they focus on and can understand your hand’s overall shape and motion.
Facial expressions also play a role when using hand signals for dogs. Dogs are keen observers and often look at faces for cues about emotions and intentions. While the primary focus with dog training hand signals is the hand gesture itself, a consistent facial expression can reinforce the command or offer additional context (i.e., smiling to reinforce positive behavior).
Hand Signals vs. Verbal Cues and Clicker Training: How Are They Linked?
Alternative cues to hand signals include:
- Gestural: body language like movements and facial expressions that share information with a dog
- Verbal or sound: common auditory commands such as “sit” or a sound like a dog whistle
- Scent: sniffing smells to find something, which is usually for search and rescue purposes or service dog work
- Marker: a sound that indicates a specific moment, like using a clicker as positive reinforcement when your dog does something desired
This chart shows the pros and cons of these cues:
| Cue method | Pros | Cons |
| Gestural | You can communicate with your dog while conversing with others and when you don’t want to speak in a quiet environment or can’t because it’s noisy. | It can be difficult to stay consistent with gestural cues, which dogs need for successful learning. |
| Verbal or sound | You can communicate with your dog in environments where you want them to hear what you’re saying or a sound you’re using that other dogs or people won’t need to pay attention to. For example, you can use a dog whistle that only your pet responds to. | Verbal or sound cues might not be appropriate in all environments. |
| Scent | Dogs like sniffing, so scent training is enjoyable. | It can take a while for dogs to learn scent training. |
| Marker (i.e., clicker) | Marker training works well because multiple people can use it since your dog responds to the marker, not the person.
Markers are also easy to hear in various environments. |
Marker devices can break or get lost. |
Can a dog understand both verbal and hand signals?
Dogs can remember both verbal and visual commands.
According to Maxwell, dogs usually respond more to visual signals than verbal ones. For example, if you use the hand signal for sit but say “come” aloud, your dog is more likely to respond to the sit hand gesture. Avoid confusion by keeping verbal and hand cues the same.
She also says it’s best to use verbal and hand gestures for dog training if you can. Humans are naturally verbal, which works well for hearing dogs, especially when they can’t see us. However, dogs are more likely to respond to visual cues if they can see you.
Using both lets you have more tools to your advantage. Help your dog be successful with various command types by offering treats and praise when they respond well.
Can hand signals reinforce verbal cues?
Hand signals won’t necessarily reinforce verbal cues. You can use dog-training hand signals while teaching verbal commands and vice versa. For example, if your dog understands the hand cue for “stay” already, you can use it while teaching the verbal command. You can stop using the hand gesture when they understand the verbal cue.
How can clicker training underpin hand signals and verbal cues?
With clicker training, you use a handheld device that makes a “click” noise. While you can use a clicker alongside another cue, you can also use it by itself. Using a clicker with hand signals or verbal cues can act as a reward when your dog shows a desired behavior or action.
Whether or not you use another device when teaching your dog hand signals, remember praise, treats, and patience go a long way.