[Maximo]

Hopefully some of the more advanced trainers will chime in, but I don't think it is a bad thing to use hand signals. I believe they are equally important as verbal commands. Ideally a dog will respond to each.

Advanced training may be to have her running in an enclosed yard and calling out the command to stop, and go down.

I often use the hand signals when we train in the house for fun, but Max has obeyed the verbal command "down" in emergency situations.

I also modify my voice for certain commands. I say down in a deep, descending voice. Dowwwwn. I have to admit, in the emergency situations, I screamed the command in fear. Probably not recommended, but my boys seem to respond to my fear.

I read a story of a dog rescue on a highway where the woman gave hand signals to help the dogs navigate safely through the noisy traffic to the side of the road.