Hi-

I was just wondering how many of you do/don't use hand signals w/verbal commands when training your dog? I have a 3 mo old GSD pup, and every other dog I've ever "trained" (I use that term loosely - LOL), I worked out of training books. I have only taught the learning phase, and never the correction or distration phases, as I was just a kid goofing around at the time, teaching a dog to sit or whatever. This time I am truly "training" a dog (will follow through w/all three phases). Also, this time I discovered the Leerburg site and am using the Puppy 8 wks/8 mos DVD, as well as the Basic Obedience Training DVD. Anyway, Ed's method of training is different (read "better") than the books I've read). All of the books have instructed that you use specific hand signals w/your verbal commands, but Ed doesn't seem to emphasize this in his DVD's. So I'm wondering, if you are training a pet vs. a working dog, is it better to use both verbal and hand commands? Or just verbal? Or does it really matter? Just curious. Right now I'm still using hand and verbal, but sometimes my hands are full and I can't use the hand signal, which seems sort of redundant anyway.

Thanks for your input!

Hi, Kori,

Please do not make duplicate posts in different forums.

Your other post is getting answers, so I'll close this one.