Are Hand Signals Outdated?

[Star and Goldie]

We had our first training session with our trainer today. I'm just getting to know her and how the program works so there isn't much to speak of just yet but one thing that really stuck out to me is that she doesn't use hand signals. I told her that I use hand signals and that Goldie already knows several. I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't going to have to unteach those hand signals and she said "well we don't use hand signals here"

I saw past discussions on hand signals and found several resources online about how/why they are so great. Most of the discussions on here were at least 2 years old so my questions is... are hand signals outdated? Should I stop that method? I still do the verbal cue, of course, but I've always accompanied it with a hand signal.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

I am by no means an expert...But, our trainer teaches us hand and voice together...just voice and just hand.  He told us the reason for hand signals was ...what if you were in an area with a lot of noise and your pup couldn't hear you.  you can still put them in a sit,down or stay as needed...

Just my experience from our trainer...

[Star and Goldie]

That is exactly the way I understood it too. I'm glad to hear that maybe it's not outdated and it might just be this trainers personal preference.  I think I will check in with her and make sure that she will still incorporate hand signals for us. I was definitely taken back by the no hand signals here comment because I had just done so much reading up on how great they are and it's all I've ever known! Thanks for making me feel less crazy!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

my trainer said the same thing and he also added that it just looks cool when you can put your dog into a down from across a room without speaking a word.  :)

[GBK]

My trainer too...  We do hand signals and voice, at the same time and on there own.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I say, listen to your trainer, but also use your hand signals or whatever method is going to work for YOU

Some dogs are trained by voice command first, then incorporated hand signals. I think, Kyoko's trainer was of that train of thought.   Hey, BG only used hand and body signals in a well documented series here in the Training Group.   Others use only one or the other.

I use BOTH

My Mastiff went blind and he was very fond of hand signals.  This particular case cased a problem.   Spud responds to hand signals better.

If it works.  Do it

Are you in clicker training?

[Star and Goldie]

I do both as well. Just flows natural to me. I was excited to be enrolled in training because I wanted to learn hand signals for some commands that I don't usually have a hand signal for... but looks like I'll have to come up with my own!

Ya know, clicker training is one thing I've actually never tried. I thought about it with a dog I had years ago but just couldn't quite grasp it. This trainer did have a clicker hanging from her treat pouch so I'm assuming it will be incorporated somehow but it wasn't on the list of items we have to start bringing...

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

what signals were you looking to learn?

[Star and Goldie]

I do the #1 for sit

stop sign for stay
palm down for lay down

palm flipped up and sideways for shake- but sometimes she gets it confused with lay down so I think I need to find a replacement for one of these.

Snap and point down for OFF

That's really only as far as we've gotten. so I was open to hand signals for any and every command that's to come... I just didn't think I'd have to create my own. haha

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I have an obedience book that actually shows the hand signals that are used in actual obedience training when training a dog for obedience trials.  Most of them are designed to be clear and fairly large so that a dog can see it from a distance.  For example, sit is moving your hand in an upward motion with an open palm and a down would be moving the open hand in a downward motion.  Most of the hand signals use an open palm because they can see it easier but if the #1 works for you and you don't intend to do obediance competitions then stick with it.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yes, there are strict and certain commands.  I learned one way but switched to Schutzhund Trail/Sport training and we had to switch.

Spud had no problem with the switch as I thought he would.  But, I believe Amy,  you are correct that they do require a specific hand signal with each type of trail.

The trails I witnessed were ALL hand signals. I do not remember anyone speaking to their dog and if they did, many quietly spoke in German

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Joanne, this is the same type of training Bailey and I are in.  But I don't use German commands...

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I just read, that in trails, no hand signals permitted. That once the dog is trained ( trained enough for trails and that was not us) that hand signals were not used/ not permitted in Schutzhund trails.

I must have been watching just the training trials. Too me, still intense.

Elizabeth, I never used German either  :)   I had a tough enough time with the perfection of this training let alone teaching another language.

Loved this type of training. The dogs there were so good and the trainers serious about their work.