And these are what trainers of agility dogs and hunting dogs use to control the actions of these dogs while in the field. By using the right hand signals during dog training, they can make the dogs turn left or right, go fast, stop, or stay put. Now, you can also do these to your pet without using verbal commands. Learn these first three hand signals and teach them to your dog while doing dog obedience training.

1. For the “sit” command, here’s the hand signal: bend your arm upwards at the elbow and then raise your hand with fist closed up to your head’s side while you command your dog to sit simultaneously. Keep on doing these hand movements while commanding your dog to sit. Later on, your pet will soon learn how to associate the hand signal with your vocal command. Now, if you are not able to get your dog’s attention the first time you try the hand signal, don’t punish it. Instead, keep trying or better yet, make sure you have a leash in your left hand.

2. For the “down” command, the hand signal is just like when you are asking someone to sit down at the same time saying, “Have a seat.” To teach your dog the hand signal for down, you need to hold your arm out towards your pet and then lower your hand, on which your palm faces down towards the floor. While doing this, give the “down” command, and your dog will follow your hand signal into the down position. Just like in the sit hand signal, keep repeating this until your dog learns to associate the lowering of your hand towards the floor as part of the “down” command.

3. For the “stay” command, first, put your dog into the sit or down position. Afterwards, hold out your arm towards your pet, with your palm’s position similar to that of a policeman who’s using hand signal to stop traffic. And just like in the previous two commands, do this at the same time command your dog to “stay”, with your firm tone of voice. If at first, your dog does not follow, try it again until he recognizes that hand signal means “down”.

Using hand signals can really do a lot when training your dog. Although you may find it difficult to make your dog obey at first, don’t give up, but instead keep repeating the signals until it understands what you are trying to communicate. Take note that if you are consistent and thorough in showing your pet those hand signals, the faster it will respond.

Here are the guidelines on how you should go about dog obedience house training.

Let him have his own space.

The untrained puppies or dogs should not be allowed wandering around the house without any supervision. You may not know it but your pet might already be chewing on things and worse, may get themselves injured or electrocuted. If you are at home, be sure to keep him in a place where you can see him easily. If there will be a time that he will be left alone, better place him in his den or crate. Put a bed of his own that can be made out of a box or towel, some toys, his water and food. Be sure to let him have his own playtime too so he can have enough exercise.

Introduce him to new areas.

After you have taught him how to behave in his own place, it is now time to introduce him to the other areas of your home. Be sure to spend time with him in that area. If you want to show him the new place where he can eat, do it under your supervision. Introduce the places and what he is allowed and disallowed to do in these areas. Do this by leashing him so as to control his reactions. Unleash him when you think he already has gotten himself familiar with the new areas. But, remember to keep watch or else he might get into trouble and cause further damages.

Potty train him.

Show him the area where he can do his thing. Make sure not to confuse him. Never allow him to play in that area or he might get the idea that he can use the same place for all his activities.

Let him understand the “No Chew” command.

By nature, dogs like to chew on things since it aids in the strengthening of their teeth and gums. It is also kind of a healthy exercise for their jaws. Part of your dog obedience house training is providing him with toys that he may chew on and let him understand that not all things can be used to strengthen his teeth and gums. Be stern as you give him the “no chew” command. Praise him when he has done the right thing and give him a reward.

Set off limits areas.

It is always important to keep your dog away from the rooms that contain pieces of furniture and where the electric lines are. Give him the “off” command and when he does follow it, pat him and praise him.

By and large, dog obedience house training will benefit you in the future. So, start early!

Here is a list you might find quite interesting:

Let us start off with the basic commands

1.) Sit – it is a mono-syllabic word that requires a bit of an authentic tone that would require for your dog to be in a sitting position.

2.) Down – just like #1, this also requires an abrupt tone for the dog to be typically down when its elbows (front feet) and hocks (rear legs) are touching the ground or floor.

3.) Heel – The dog’s head or shoulder is parallel to the handler’s leg on the left side of the handler.

4.) Come or Here – (referred to as the recall) you just really got to call your dog which equates the whole command.

5.) Stay – another command that requires another snap for the dog to remain in the sitting position (sit, down, stand), and location under which the command was given until it is released by the handler

Those were just some of the basic ones, but wait! Here is something for those who are too hungry to actually stop. The advanced commands are the following (which may need more patience and dedication):

1.) Stop – Wiki says that the dog commanded will simply stop whatever it is doing, and lie down on command no matter how far it is from its keeper is a dog that can be taken anywhere. Some handlers use the German word PLATZ (related to place, i.e. stay in position) for this action. A little bit demanding, but who knows when your dogs needs it.

2.) Back up – keepers of large dogs or dogs with reputation (a must quote!) for aggressiveness can make strangers more comfortable by teaching the dog to back up on command. This command might probably be very useful for police dogs.

3.) Growl – now this is what you guys should be talking about. In case you are bullied, this is the inverse of backing up. Some owners teach non-aggressive dogs to growl on a subtle command –not the word “growl”, just usually a small hand gesture –as a way of letting strangers know that you and your dog value being left alone.

4.) Steady – to keep near by. The dog can walk free, but not dash off. This can be very valuable to sport dogs, and/or during competitions.

5.) Stand – on this command, the dog stands still. Funny how this is seems so advanced; it is very valuable for “grooming”. Many dogs are groomed frequently, that they need to stand quietly during the process. You can also use this when you want your dog to wait for you at the park, while lining up for an espresso at Starbucks seven in the morning.

6.) Go to bed, kennel, or get in – this command directs the dog to go to its bed, and remain there unreleased. This is somehow useful to keep a dog out from underfoot, and safe in a busy or complicated situation.

7.) Drop or Drop it – to release something they just picked up; very useful when they’re about to chew your sandals off.

8.) Leave it – an adjunction to Drop, directing the dog NOT to touch an item.

9.) Take it – the dog leaves a desired object untouched until given this command.

10.) Give – a command teaching the dog to be generous, and/or releasing something your pet has placed in his mouth on your hand.

11.) Speak – another way of saying “to bark ONLY when I say so”.

12.) Roll over – can be one of the basic commands; this is when the dog lies down, roll over, and stand back up. Quite a bit of an exercise.

13.) Attack – if partnered with the command “Growl”, you (the owner) will be the king of your neighborhood, though mostly used only on Police Dogs. Common commands are either “Attack” or “Sick’em”.

14.) Fetch – can also be one of the basic commands where the dog retrieves a thrown object, bringing it back to the one who threw it, a nice strategy for luring guard dogs (especially when they’re obsessed with balls).