Old Trainer: How to use hand signals and a calm tone of voice to train your dog

Dear Old Trainer: When you discuss training you always say give the command in a “normal voice,” but what does that mean? Everyone at my dog park has to yell to get their dog’s attention. I do too. Ranger, my 18-month-old Husky mix, ignores me unless I yell at him, so please explain what normal voice means and how I get him to listen to it

Riley, San Francisco

Old Trainer: My favorite example of the voice level to use with your dog is the, “I may have to take you down” speech from the movie “Heat,” the only scene in the movie in which Pacino and DeNiro are face-to-face.

Neither raises his voice during the conversation. They make their point with force of personality and body language.

All dogs ignore orders now and then, but Huskies are the champs. They not only ignore you, they do it with such confidence you think it’s your fault.

They are an aloof breed, but they’re smart. Ranger will respond to commands given in your speaking voice, but only if he sees you are a leader who demands perfection. You convince him you are by using the Five Steps of Teaching a Command:

1. Show him what you want (for “sit” raise his chin with one hand, press down on his hind quarters with the other).

2. As you do, say the command in your conversational voice.

3. Give the hand signal for that command.

4. Allow him 10 seconds to think about it.

5. When he does what you want, praise him and pet him.

Repeat the sequence several times, then take a break. Hold several short sessions per day. Ranger won’t give in unless you convince him he has no choice.

Dogs have superb hearing so there’s no reason to yell, but there is a reason to use a hand signal (see next letter). It keeps Ranger focused, gives you a second way to transmit your orders, and puts an end to the pretense he can’t hear you.

Dear Old Trainer: You said you always have a hand signal for each command. How do you teach them to the dog, and how do you figure out which hand signal goes with each command?

Allison, Pasadena, Ca

Old Trainer: It makes no difference what hand signal you use. Your dog doesn’t care what it is as long as you use the same one every time, so pick one easy to remember.

Dogs are masters of body language and most learn and obey hand signals faster than they do verbal commands. In addition, no matter how far away a dog is, he’ll obey as long as he sees the signal. And, most important of all, lots of old dogs lose their hearing (four of mine have) and the hand signal is the only way to communicate with them.

Some of the hand signals I use:

For “stay,” I hold my hand up like a cop stopping traffic.

For in or out a door I use the wave ZZ Top uses when the Red Roadster zooms by.

For “sit” I close my fist, palm parallel with the ground and index finger extended and move it down.

For “right” or “left” I extend the appropriate arm in the direction I want them to go.

Hand signals are easy to teach and dogs love them. You will too.

The Old Trainer has been a trainer for three decades and has rescued, trained, loved, and placed more than 4,000 dogs. Send questions to: theoldtrainer@gmail.com

This story was originally published May 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM.