![]() ![]() It is not unusual indeed for a dog to pay more attention to a hand gesture than a command such as a sit. Ever seen how Rover is quick to read any of your slight body movements towards the refrigerator? Used with consistency your puppy will learn to respond to the verbal and/or silent hand signal command.Dogs are ultimately very well adept in interpreting non-verbal signals, and therefore do well, if not even better, when they are attending to hand gestures but why is that?Ī good part of this may be attributed to the fact that canines do not use verbal communication, and therefore, must rely a lot on body language in order to communicate with their own species and humans.Ĭonsequently, dogs have a certain aptitude for reading our body language and gestures. For instance, you could hold your hand horizontally (palm down) toward the pup and make a downward sweeping gesture as you say “down.” Click and reward when he complies. Choose something that won’t be confused with any other and use that same signal with consistency. Add in a hand signal with your verbal “down” command.Your pup will very soon associate the action with the word. Once he’s “got it,” you can begin using the command “down” at the same moment you click. If the puppy already understands through previous training that the click signals he’s performed what you want, he won’t take nearly as long to repeat the “down” when he connects the dots.Don’t offer any other verbal encouragement or guidance, you want the puppy brain to percolate on its own and process the cause-and-effect of his actions and getting the treat. When this is the pup’s first experience with a clicker, it may take him several minutes to accidentally assume the position again.Click at the exact moment he goes down, and then reward the behavior with his favorite treat or toy. Have treats and clicker ready, and watch your puppy until he assumes the “down” position on his own.After he’s learned to “down” from a sitting position, practice having him “down” from a standing start.End with success! Praise along with the treat or toy, and throw a puppy party to celebrate how smart he is. Remember that pups learn by making mistakes, so a mistake is just a chance for a do-over.You want the puppy to be eager for the next session, and not dread training. Generally, it’s best to train in several short sessions of 10 minutes or so throughout the day, instead of one long marathon session that wears the pup out. Practice the command and behavior several times, so he understands the concept.Once he’s in position, give him the reward.Be sure his nose stays in contact with your fingers and treat, all the way down. You use the reward to lure him into walking his front legs forward until he’s in a down position. For tiny pups, you can teach this on an elevated surface like a coffee table, and lower the treat/toy just below table level. ![]()
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