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Dogs have an incredible ability to learn a wide range of things, including sign language. Whether the dog is deaf or the owner is hearing impaired, sign language can bridge the gap between them.
Though it may be more difficult to get used to than training dogs on voice commands, basic American Sign Language is possible. Here’s why dogs should learn sign language, how to teach it, and some training tips to help the process.
Can Dogs Learn Sign Language?
American Sign Language (ASL) has been around for over 200 years as a way for people in the US who were born deaf or lost their hearing to communicate with others. ASL is different from other types of sign language, but they all share the focus on communicating using hand signals.
Dogs can learn using verbal commands, but many learn to recognize hand signals and cues—even if their owners don’t intend to teach them. Although this is not formal ASL, you can definitely teach your dog to respond to visual cues including signals you perform with your hands.
It’s also important to consider whether this may be helpful in different life situations, for example in noisy environments or when you are simply far away but have your dog’s attention. Moreover, learning to respond to different cues is mentally stimulating for your pup and will allow you to include even more variability in your training.
What Is K9Sign?
Sean Senechal, a cognitive psychologist and behavioral specialist developed K9Sign, a form of signing for dogs. K9Sign’s focus is on allowing dogs to tell humans important things like whether they’re hungry or thirsty, whether they want a treat, and how they’re feeling. This is important for dogs and humans who can’t communicate verbally.
According to an Italian study, canine participants responded to verbal cues 82% of the time yet responded to hand signals 99% of the time. This is likely because dogs have evolved the ability to read human body language, so they can be more effective than verbal commands.
Teaching Dogs Sign Language
If you want to teach your dog sign language, K9Sign is a great choice. Training aids and tips for K9Sign are available through the dog-sign training manual.
However, if you want your dog to learn how to communicate their wants and needs to you, K9Sign may be the better choice. Training aids and tips for K9Sign are available through the dog-sign training manual.
Here are some hand signals for basic commands as laid out by the K9 Training Institute:
- Watch Me/Look at Me: Signal your dog to get their attention, then point at your eyes.
- Come/Recall: Hold both arms above your head, then move them round and down in a circular motion away from each other. This is a big movement that your dog can see from a distance, much like hearing your voice from far away.
- Sit: Hold your palm straight out in front of your chest, then slowly bend your elbow and raise your palm toward your face and over your dog’s head at the same time.
- Lie Down: Hold your finger straight out in front of you, then rotate it slowly to point at the ground.
- Stay: Hold your palm straight out, like you’re gesturing “stop” to someone.
- Drop It: Hold your hand out in a fist, then open your palm.
- Heel: Tap your hip with your hand or use your hand to form a circular motion by your hip.
Whichever hand signals you use, make sure you stay consistent throughout the process.
Tips for Success with Training Sign Language
Your dog won’t automatically understand hand signals. They need to be trained like any other commands. Here are some tips to help the process go smoothly:
- If your dog already responds to a verbal command, simply start by getting their attention and presenting the hand signal right before and along with the verbal command. Do this for a while and ensure you reinforce good responses. After a while simply remove the verbal command, and chances are your dog will respond to the hand signal. Otherwise, keep pairing the two signal presentations; eventually, the dog will learn it.
- If your dog needs to be trained from a blank slate, take it slowly. Teach the hand signals alongside the verbal commands. Eventually, you’ll be able to phase out the hand signal.
- Make sure to use treats as a reward throughout the process to let your dog know they’re doing it right.
- Once your dog knows all commands, randomly combine and take turns between the hand signals and voice commands to strengthen your training and keep your dog sharp on both.
- If you’re working with a deaf dog, start with the “watch me” signal. You won’t be able to get your dog’s attention using your voice, so this command is the most important one to build the rest of your training. However, by also remembering to reinforce your dog whenever you have their attention, you will be able to develop this hand signal with them. Having an attentive dog is always desirable.
Conclusion
Whether you or your dog are hearing impaired or you simply want to expand your dog’s mental stimulation through learning, sign language is a useful training tool in any circumstance. Even if you just focus on the basics, it’s a good bonding experience for you both and helps if you’re in loud situations or your dog begins to lose their hearing with age. As you get the hang of it, you can progress to more difficult signs.
Featured Image Credit: Linas T, Shutterstock
