Even the most experienced retriever can’t be expected to see every bird fall during a morning of hot shooting. It is at such times that being able to direct your dog with hand signals can make all the difference. At long distances, verbal commands become impractical. Your retriever simply can’t hear you. Factor in wind, waves, gunfire, and the excitement of the moment, and confusion can reign supreme. That is, unless you and your dog are in sync through the use of hand signals.
Training your retriever to respond to hand signals should actually begin long before you take the dog hunting. You can start by using hand signals in combination with verbal cues when teaching basic obedience. For the “down” command, for example, say “down” and motion toward the floor with your hand open, palm down. Early on, you may need to nudge or push on your retriever’s back so the dog knows exactly what you are telling it to do.
A key element here is consistency. Use the same command every time. Do not deviate. If you do, you might as well be speaking to the dog in another language. Also, make sure the dog is looking at you—if he’s not, he’s not going to read the sign language.
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