Training with hand gestures

[nits231]

Has anyone managed training their pup with hand gestures followed by verbal commands? While training Leo in the basic commands, sit, lie down, paw.... I found that he started responding to my hand gestures and I didn't even need to use the command. The only draw back is that aside from lie down, he does respond to the other verbal commands minus hand gesture. But does not lie down without the hand gesture.

Just wanted some thoughts on people who have tried this and maybe drawbacks if there are any?

Also Leo is 7 weeks old.

PS: I also found training helps calm him and take him out of his land shark attacks.

Leo trained out. Haha


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[mandiah89]

Ive always trained with both hand signals and verbal commands... Diesel would respond to either, I used verbal commands when she was further away from me and hand signals around the house and such.

I am also doing the same for Penny, and she also now responds to either, and I am still trying to get her to do platz (laydown) without the hand signal, she will do it sometimes now but we are working at phasing that hand signal out and only responding the the verbal command and THEN I will reintroduce the hand signal later on... Hope this helps

[nits231]

I think I will have to phase out the hand signal for that too. Until he learns. After how much training did your dog manage to follow the command from a distance? Leo still first runs close to me and then obeys the command.


Nitika and Leo

[Kaleb f]

I trained my lab and he did both I never phased it out because I needed to use them for when we were hunting. One day I would train with one then the next day I would do the other.


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[jessac]

I've been training my puppy with both. I haven't phased any hand signals out - it's kind of nice when we are in a busy place and it's noisy or I don't want to call attention to the fact that I'm "talking" to my dog. So, no, I haven't seen any drawbacks. We would train with both initially, not one before the other, but he caught onto the hand signals first. Even now, if I squat (which I did when he was 8 weeks to get on his level) he'll run over to me lightening quick since it's how we practiced come when he was younger. He's 5 months, so I haven't practiced much with him at a distance (except for come). Curious about that too and how to train that.

[volcano]

Im new so take my advice with a pinch of salt. Yes my girl probably responds to body language beter than voice commands, but you need her engagement and her looking at you to communicate that way. id use a voice command as well to get her used to both. Plus its easier to say a word than to mime a command. And of course the most important command is by voice only= RECALL.

You train come with a long lead for safety. Call the dog and have a reward, say yes when it starts coming to you, feed the dog a tiny treat/ repeat over and over. If she isnt running at you then you probably have a lame dog biscuit, use tiny pencil eraser sized bits of ground beef as treats/ your dog will run!

[KZoppa]

I always train verbal and hand signals. Haven't had any problems yet. As long as I use the verbal command at the same time I use the hand signal, the dog connects to two pretty quick in training and I get to the point I can do one or the other and get the desired response.

[nits231]

Ok so I worked on the verbal command n hid my hands behind my back. He is finally responding. But he seems to need very close proximity to respond. I'm not sure why. Maybe cause he knows the treats are in my hand so he thinks he won't get it if he is at a distance.
Will this better over time or do I have to work on it? If so, how will I? Leo is 7 weeks so I do have hope that his age will straighten him out.

Also, how many hours a day do you train young pups? I'm finding that Leo goes through fits of biting. I can't wear short sleeves cause people may think I do this to myself. I have cuts and scratches all over. Lol. I am trying everything from yelping (seems to make him bite harder), redirecting, making him run (can't take him out of the house as he's not vaccinated). Only thing that works is training which seems to get him to focus away from biting. But is there such a thing as over training? I try to control the treats so he isn't over fed (at least I hope not).

Any advice on this?

Thanks all


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[KZoppa]

hes 7 weeks old. I wouldnt do more than a couple 10-15 minute training sessions at a time. Young puppy attention spans are short. You have to start small and build up so trying to move too fast with the training wont get you anywhere except frustration. You CAN wear short sleeves. Anyone with a problem with it, should understand that you have a puppy at home and even if they don't, it's not really their problem. Look up the teaching bite inhibition threads and sticky.

[nits231]

I do only about 10 mins each session but nearly 3-4 times a day. I just meant how long do you train in total in a day for a pup this age?
Leo is amazing and smart. He's picked up quite a bit and quite fast. He's now sitting, lying down, shaking hands (paw), even a high-10 (where he sort of puts both his front paws in my two hands), and kisses I really wanted to work on the kisses (licking) so he learns to not bite my hand n maybe lick it instead. I think that's becoming easier than teaching him to bite softer. I will check out more threads of this as well. Thank you.
What else can I teach Leo?


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