Does Anyone Teach Their Dog Sign Language?

[clairej810]

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I came across this website a while ago and decided to try it on Tiny as he prefers signals with voice commands. Sign Language for dogs

He's doing really well with it and knows loads of new words, he know wait, no, come here, come on, stop, walk on, good boy and quite a few more too. I'm working on stay and recall now. :thumbsup:

 

[~Helen~]

Thanks for that, Claire, it was really interesting reading.

I have taught my two that I accompany a verbal command with a hand signal for a few commands, and it comes in really handy if they're half-a-field away! There's a lot more there, though, so I'm going to incorporate a few others, gradually.

Thanks!

 

[lalena]

we use hand as well as vocal commands, and it really is useful. we just started it from the off with amber for, like helen said, when the distance is too great to shout over, or times when we're on the phone and cant say 'sit' (end up with some very confused telesales people that way :lol: ) and in the future, god forbid, should ambers hearing deteriorate, we have gestures to rely on.

 

[hellybobs]

How good is that...only had a quick read but with have a proper one later.

I'm going to try it out on my two when I'm feeling better... :thumbsup:

 

[dana]

ive tought dana hand as well as verbal commands and it works really well if you on a loud busy road she follows the hand signals as opposed to the verbal... plus u never know if your dog is gonna go deaf in its old age so its worth doing.

 

[midlanderkeith]

I came across this website a while ago and decided to try it on Tiny as he prefers signals with voice commands.  Sign Language for dogs
He's doing really well with it and knows loads of new words, he know wait, no, come here, come on, stop, walk on, good boy and quite a few more too.  I'm working on stay and recall now. :thumbsup:

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Use hand signals on my dog, works quite well

keith

 

[J.T.]

The first puppy class I ever took Hebe to tought us how to sign to the dogs. At 20 weeks she could sit, down & stand using hand signals only. I never really followed up with the training but she will still do it now. A few months ago I was playing with the dogs & went through the signals again with her. To my surprise Scrumpy(7 months ish at the time) followed all Hebes moves & without ever "training" her will now follow hand signals. Amazing!!!

A friend of mine wants a deaf dog to train for agility so I've sent this to her. It's really interesting. Thanks Claire.

 

[clairej810]

The first puppy class I ever took Hebe to tought us how to sign to the dogs. At 20 weeks she could sit, down & stand using hand signals only. I never really followed up with the training but she will still do it now. A few months ago I was playing with the dogs & went through the signals again with her. To my surprise Scrumpy(7 months ish at the time) followed all Hebes moves & without ever "training" her will now follow hand signals. Amazing!!!
A friend of mine wants a deaf dog to train for agility so I've sent this to her. It's really interesting. Thanks Claire.

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Glad I could help!! :thumbsup:

 

[pollyanna]

My friend next door has a deaf KC spaniel and we trained her with Polly, up to silver level Kennel club award. We would sit them side by side and give the verbal and sign command together and Rosie watched what Polly did, and copied her. :thumbsup:

Later we realised when we gave Rosie (spaniel) a hand signal Polly would also obey (if it suited her, the same as with verbal signals :blink: ) !!

At least if Polly ever goes deaf, she is ready trained to sign language

 

[maggymills]

i can just use hand signals with flo and shes better with signals than verbal commands-

apparently the dog interprets movements more than sound anyway- so if a dog goes deaf- if you think about when you give commands and use the movements that you did when you say a command- i bet the dog will do whatever you are asking it.

 

[debsandben]

I USE SIGN LANGUAGE FOR DOGS, IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD WHEN YOURE IN OBEDIENCE COMPS. I HAVE A 7 MONTH BABY AND SIGN HIM FOR FEED AND NAPPY CHANGING, HE GETS VERY EXCITED WHEN I SIGN BOTTLE.

 

[madmac]

I had a yellow Lab so terrified of anything above a whisper I taught him signs for all comands and even did obedience work like this. He worked extremely well.

 

[imperative]

very interesting,will have good read later

 

[D for Dog]

I have a deaf dog who we use sign language with )

To help other deaf dog owners (or anyone who wants to use sign language with their dog) I made this summary of some of the most common signs you might like to teach them. The signs are a mixture of commonly used ones or ones we made up.... it just gives people an idea of where to start and what kinds of signs to try.

Deaf Dogs - Hand Signals

I also had this letter printed in a dog mag recently, concerning signing:



By the way, completely off topic here but check out my little deaf dog Berkeley in his new sun visor :wub:

Aren't they lovely. You can buy them here.

Jenny

 

[clairej810]

Your site is excellent, I use quite a lot of those signals or very similar, I also do:

wait (at roads) - hand in front of him.

Stop - like no but with the whole hand.

Good Boy - thumbs up.

We can't do sit though, both Tiny and Max hate sitting.

:thumbsup:

 

[sharron]

I try to use hand signs when training Zeb just encase i cant shout, or if hes along way off.

For a came here i use my index and middle finger togather pionting down,

sit i use the same fingers and point them in the air

Down i use 1 finger and shout the floor

Stay i make a fist

Wait i use the palm of my hand

Stop hand in the air

To shut the door i point to the door

It seams to work.