So canines developed a special sensitivity to reading body language and movement signals of their packmates. If the leader of the pack spots a deer, for example, and gives the vocal signal which is the canine equivalent of 'Hey guys there is a deer over there!' you can be sure that the deer also will hear that sound and will use it as a warning to run for the hills. This makes sense because they have evolved from pack hunters who needed to coordinate their movements. We always knew the dogs were masters of interpreting body language. But what about in those situations where there are no environmental distractions and the dog's attention is directed to you? Do you yell 'Down!' or do you raise your hand above your head to signal the dog to drop into a down position? Which command is the dog more likely to promptly obey?ĥ Body Language Secrets From the Ancients

Alternatively, if your dog is looking away and not making direct eye contact with you, it seems reasonable to use a voice command. If you are in a noisy setting then perhaps it is better to use hand signals since your voice command may get lost in the ambient sound. Most dog handlers will tell you that which set of instructions you should select depends upon the situation. But when you have to choose just one form of command, matters become a bit more confusing. It just seems as if the combination of a verbal command and a hand signal seems to produce the most reliable performance in dogs especially when they are first learning. From their very basic beginning training sessions most dogs are taught to respond to both our voice and our hand gestures. It is one of those issues which can trigger debates that can go on interminably among dog trainers and obedience competitors. While the question seems like an obvious one, the answer is not.

Dog hand signals commands