Besides using verbal commands while obedience training your dog, you should also learn the dog training hand signals. The dog training hand signals make it possible to command your dog over distance, as long as you are visible to him-even when he can't hear you. Handlers of hunting dogs or agility dogs can control their dog's actions in the field simply by using hand signals. By using the appropriate hand signals, the handlers can make their dogs turn left or right, stop, go fast or go slower, etc.

It is best to teach your dog the hand signals at the same time you are teaching the obedience exercises. Any good dog obedience program of dog training class will teach you the various hand signals. If you want, you can make up your own dog training hand signs, as long as you are always consistent about using the same one each time you have a training session with your dog.

In nature dogs pay a lot of attention to body language, so the hand signal training is easily understood by your dog. If your dog's obedience training is just getting started, be sure to include the hand signals as part of the training. Even if your dog has already been verbally trained, you should still teach him the hand signals as well. Try starting with a few of the more basic obedience commands (such as sit, down, and stay). Most courses start the obedience training withe these basic steps, so it makes good sense to begin here. After your dog learns these first 3 signals, he is ready to keep going when taught the remainder of his dog obedience lessons.

• To teach the hand signal for sit, bend your arm upwards from the elbow to head level in a quick movement while at the same time saying sit. By repeating the hand signal each time you command your dog to sit, he will soon learn to associate the hand signal with the vocal command.
• For teaching the down hand signal hold your arm out level with the floor and then lower it down towards the floor. At the same time you give your dog the down command use this hand signal. The hand signal gets him to follow your hand down to the floor.
• Teaching the hand signal for stay is done by using the policeman's hand sign to stay-holding your arm outstretched towards your dog with the palm facing him. You should be making this hand signal at the same time you verbally command your dog to stay.

If your aren't already training your dog with hand signals, you should start now. It is a good feeling to know you can control your dog even if he cannot hear you for some reason.

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