Using Hand Signals During Labrador Training

When one talks about labrador training, what comes into mind most of the time is a dog owner training his pet using verbal commands. But while this method is indeed the most widely used, an owner can also opt to use hand signals to further increase the chances of getting positive training result. Apart from that, using hand signals is beneficial if the pet is suffering from some sort of hearing difficulty.

For further enlightenment, here are the reasons justifying the use of hand signals:

- Dog breeds with good work ethics and even temperament like the labrador retriever are popular working dogs. They make great disabled-assistance dogs and are used in search and rescue operations and in illegal detection. Teaching a dog with hand signals will let him know what the plan of action is without making a sound and makes communication easy if you are working in a noisy environment.

- Despite your effort to keep your dog near you most of the time, he might run off especially if he sees something interesting on the other side of the road - a fashionable poodle, a barking chihuahua, waste can, squirrel or anything that has captured his attention. The situation can be dangerous but if he is trained to respond to hand signals, you can be at ease knowing that you can tell him what to do even if he is away.

- Hand signals can be used to emphasize various labrador training commands. Like for example if you are training your lab to stay, placing your hand (palm facing out) in front of his snout can help him understand what he is supposed to do. Additionally, outstretched arms and inviting look may mean "come" while an extended arm with palm facing down, forming a parallel position with the ground can be used to signal "down".

- By using hand signals, your dog will focus more on you to determine the next command. He is less likely to look around and potentially lose focus should he see something that can divert his attention away from training.

- Due to their floppy ears that trap moist air, labrador retrievers can be prone to ear infection and if not addressed immediately, may cause serious hearing problems. Hand signal is particularly useful to dogs with hearing-related problem.

There are many hand signals one can use during labrador training. Use them properly and see your labrador retriever transform into a well-behaved pet you have been dreaming of.

Love this Labrador training article? Check out more Labrador training advice from Kate Truman at her site specially dedicated to Labradors.