Standard hand signals

[Justicemom]

Most of her training is off leash and I'm lefthanded. VERY lefthanded. When we are doing controled walking/heeling, I hold the leash in both and let go of the left to give commands. I use a lot more verbal commands when we are on leash. I'm not even sure I could train myself to use trhe right hand! hehe..

I figured. I'm left handed too. But I do a lot with my right hand. I had a terrible time learning to throw the dumbbell. Lots of lights were in danger. Unfortunately if I threw with my left, the dogs head was at the right level to get clunked.

Have you figured out what paw your dogs are yet?

Justice very left pawed. He turns to the left when doing anything. He had a really hard time learning to turn to the right. Made the broadjump a nightmare. Took a year to get rid of the big question mark return.

Ember and Diva are right pawed.

 

[Toffee's Mom]

I had no idea that they favour a paw/side!
But now it all makes sense!? Toffee is left pawed, when giving paw etc, he always started with his left, and for giving his right paw, I use the command 'Other' and use my left hand... it's too funny when people get confused, because they say give paw put out their right hand, and expect him to give the right paw, but they get the left instead, and often he is confused at first since to him their verbal and handsignal are crossed and messed up... I think he feels sorry for them! lol

My good friends kid is left handed, and Toffee doesn't respond well to her hand signals because they are with the wrong hand, LOL... I keep on telling her, no dear, use your other hand for the commands, and voila he does the tricks... but it's more difficult for her, lol

I use my left hand for signals like spin to the left. It's amazing how they pick up on subtle differences in hand signals.

 

[Justicemom]

I had no idea that they favour a paw/side!
But now it all makes sense!? Toffee is left pawed, when giving paw etc, he always started with his left, and for giving his right paw, I use the command 'Other' and use my left hand... it's too funny when people get confused, because they say give paw put out their right hand, and expect him to give the right paw, but they get the left instead, and often he is confused at first since to him their verbal and handsignal are crossed and messed up... I think he feels sorry for them! lol

My good friends kid is left handed, and Toffee doesn't respond well to her hand signals because they are with the wrong hand, LOL... I keep on telling her, no dear, use your other hand for the commands, and voila he does the tricks... but it's more difficult for her, lol

I use my left hand for signals like spin to the left. It's amazing how they pick up on subtle differences in hand signals.

It is amazing how close they watch us. Both Justice and Ember have picked up my eye movement during the signal exercise as a extra command. It took Justice about a year but Ember noticed right away that if I look away then back a signal is coming. Since the order of the signals in the ring never changes she can do the whole exercise with just eye movement(no head movement). ie look away/back, she'll down, look away/back, she'll sit, look away/back, she'll come. This is from 40ft away.

 

[Amber]

I think it just matters to be consistent. If you have multiple pets that you're training, would also make sense to be consistent across to all.

If you use one hand signal for "jump" then don't expect them to preform "down" even when you're saying down, but hand signaling jump.

 

[Strider]

I figured. I'm left handed too. But I do a lot with my right hand. I had a terrible time learning to throw the dumbbell. Lots of lights were in danger. Unfortunately if I threw with my left, the dogs head was at the right level to get clunked.

Have you figured out what paw your dogs are yet?

Justice very left pawed. He turns to the left when doing anything. He had a really hard time learning to turn to the right. Made the broadjump a nightmare. Took a year to get rid of the big question mark return.

Ember and Diva are right pawed.

Deja appears to be right-pawed atm.. We shall see