it's when I work with other dogs that either have different signals or none at all that I get confused! For example, service dogs shouldn't learn hand signals (any targeting/luring should be faded out completely), becuase you never know if their future partner will be able to give signals - verbal needs to be solid.

I have a lot of hand/body signals, but most started as targeting/luring, or synchronizing, so they are pretty easy to keep track of for my own dog. I use my arms to show him what I want his front paws to do (he mirrors my movements) - we're still working on this one. 'Cover', I sort of salute with bent fingers. 'Roll over' I 'roll' my hand a couple of times. Run out in front of me until I tell you to stop, I use my arm up high and 'push' forward. head in 'that' direction a little bit, I do a little point with my finger, arm still at my side. 'Down' is the opposite of sit - palm down, fingers bend toward ground. 'Sit' is the North American one shown above, but I fade it down to just a little finger-raise.

'Stay' I just show a flat hand for a moment, at the dog's eye level from whatever position they are in. For 'speak', I open and close my fingers like a mouth.įor 'wait', I swing my hand/arm along the line that I don't want crossed.

Hand signals for dogs