Hand Signals/Whistles Prerequisites:  Basic, Advanced, and Precision Obedience Now that your dog is working mainly off leash and at distances of 50 feet or so, it's a good idea to add hand signals to your commands, in case your dog can't hear you. If you are working in a particularly loud area, or from a very great distance, we recommend the use of a whistle to aid in your dog's responsiveness.  The whistle is used only to get the dog's attention. Whistle-prep: 1.  Blow the whistle and praise or treat your dog anytime it makes eye contact with you on hearing the sound.   2.  Continue until the dog simply immediately looks at you when it hears the whistle. Hand Signals: Sit - the two most common 'sit' signals are a raised fist, knuckled toward the dog, or a flat hand, palm toward you.  Begin giving one of the these signals each time you give a verbal 'sit' command.  Praise.  After about a week, try giving just the hand signal.  If the dog responds, praise.  If not, keep giving the verbal command along with the hand signal.   Stay - a flat hand, palm toward the dog. Begin giving one of the these signals each time you give a verbal 'stay' command.  Praise.  After about a week, try giving just the hand signal.  If the dog responds, praise.  If not, keep giving the verbal command along with the hand signal. Down - a flat hand, palm down, moving in a downward motions. Begin giving one of the these signals each time you give a verbal 'down' command.  Praise.   After about a week, try giving just the hand signal.  If the dog responds, praise.  If not, keep giving the verbal command along with the hand signal. Come - hand brought up from the side in an outward motion, then toward the chest.  Palm moves from outward to inward. Begin giving one of the these signals each time you give a verbal 'come' command.  Praise.  After about a week, try giving just the hand signal.  If the dog responds, praise.  If not, keep giving the verbal command along with the hand signal.