Mary Allen
Dogs communicate with each other primarily through body language. You can take advantage of this in dog training.
The right body language will help you enforce consistent and loving dog training. In general, pay attention to your demeanor and charisma when dealing with dogs – otherwise, misunderstandings could arise.
Body Language in Dog Training: Use Hand Signals
The aim of dog training is that the four-legged friend always knows what you want from him. This means your signals and commands must be unambiguous. If you only rely on your voice, different emotions and moods can unconsciously resonate that confuse the dog. Hand signals and similar body language signals, on the other hand, are clearer.
It is important that a certain character has exactly one meaning and does not change anymore. Below are some examples of how to express commands through body language. Of course, you can customize them as you like.
● “Attention”: Raise your index finger.
● “Sit”: Point your index finger down.
● “Place”: Clarify the command with a flat hand.
● “Off!”: Face your palm forward.
Alongside this, you can continue to use the voice commands so that your dog will learn them if he is out of sight.
You Should Avoid These Mistakes When It Comes to Body Language
Dogs may feel threatened or provoked by some unconscious signals from your body language. For example, the four-legged friends perceive it as aggression if you stare into their eyes. If you bend over to pat him on the head, he’ll get scared. This creates misunderstandings and when the dog defends itself because it feels wrongly attacked or provoked, it is difficult for humans to understand.
Try to be bold, avoid sudden movements, and don’t cause too much agitation. However, if you appear confident, calm, and send clear messages through body language and voice, your dog should understand you well.