How to Use Your Body Language to Train Your Dog

Your dog – man and woman’s best friend. Keeper of all of your deepest darkest secrets.

You can talk to your dog for hours. Tell him everything you are unable to tell your friends, and you can trust 100% that he isn’t going to run off an gossip to the dog down the road. Mostly because, well, he can’t talk, but also because he doesn’t understand half of what your saying. Dogs are smart, there is no denying that. But their ability to learn around 165 words from the human language does not mean they can understand everything we say to them. That is where body language comes into play.

So how do you use your body language to train your dog?

Have you ever noticed that when you ask your dog to stay, your chances of him listening are heightened if you hold your hand up in a stop position?

It’s true! Go ahead and give it a try! This is because you are using your body language to train your dog, and you may not even realize it.

How about that time when your dog got off lead and you began to panic as you chased him? How did that work out?

Not so good I imagine. That is because your dog picked up on your anxiety and panic, and most likely decided to make a game out of your anxiousness. The good news is, it is easy to use your body language as a huge advantage during dog training. In this scenario, there are 2 things that should have been done differently.

1. Do your best to avoid panic, and feeling anxious or scared. I know, it’s hard. When our fur babies get out, we fear the worst, but letting those emotions show will not help. So get it together, and focus!

2. Do not chase your dog. That is the worst possible thing you could do. Your dog will just turn it into a game, and chances are, will not come anywhere near you.

What should I do then? 

The second your dog gets loose (providing they are in your site) get down on your knees. This is less threatening to your dog, and they will want to come see why you are on the ground. Keep cool, call your dogs name.

If that hasn’t worked yet, you can even try rolling around on the ground. I know, it sounds weird, but it works! I know from experience! ; ) Act like your playing – roll around, make puppy noises, and your dog will not be able to resist that body language, as you will be calling to him for a game rather than being captured.

The same thing can be applied to ANY training session with ANY dog. Whether your teaching your dog to sit, stay, come, or roll over, body language plays a huge part.

• Sit – snap your finger, and point to the ground.
• Stay – hold your hand up in a stop position.
• Come – pat your hand on your legs.
• Roll Over – use your hand in a spinning motion.

What have you noticed using body language training with your dogs?

Do you have any tips to add? Share your thoughts in the comments!