Stock image of a dog holding his owner's hand. These are the signs that indicate you are your dog's favorite human, according to vets. Getty Images ...

It sounds like your daughter is well-versed in American Sign Language, which is great since hand gestures as well as touch are ways she can train and communicate with her new dog.

The second time, more intelligent dogs pause, check your hand, and figure it out. Learning from mistakes, recognizing patterns, and adjusting behavior are signs of adaptability and good memory ...

"In the human culture, extending a hand to someone we just met means a sign of friendship, so naturally we do it with dogs when we first meet them," Tamar Geller, a dog trainer with A-list clients ...