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Dog Behavior Training: There Are Many Aids Available

A pet that lacks proper dog behavior training can cause a lot of disturbance and damages, not to mention frustration. But don’t worry; there are lots of options available for training your dog. Some, like books or dog training videos, offer do-it-yourself solutions. Or you can opt for formal classes with professional instructors.

Ideally, you should start dog behavior training when the dog is a puppy. After a dog is part of the household and no longer kept in the nursery box, a dog owner should start teaching that dog about what behavior is acceptable. Some instincts that are normal for dogs, such as chewing objects to make their baby teeth feel better, is destructive and therefore unacceptable to most dog owners. Therefore, it is important to have toys and treats on hand to help modify the dog’s behavior.

Some training is much more specific, of course, including training a dog where and when elimination is appropriate. Again, the human must understand the normal canine behaviors and be realistic in expectations. A baby can’t possibly be expected to be housebroken and even dogs physically mature enough may have accidents. Expecting an animal to wait 12 hours to eliminate because their human is a workaholic is never appropriate or reasonable. To get the desired behavior the needs of the dog must be met. Providing an emergency “rest stop” like the disposable “pee pad” or newspapers in a predictable locations helps.

While most dog owners are reasonably comfortable housebreaking their dogs, more complex dog behavior training may require professional assistance. Such training may include teaching the dog to sit and stay, or it may encompass more complex training to help the dog protect the owner’s home. There are many videos about dog training available, and online training assistance can also be found.

Some forms of training, such as crate training, may require professional assistance if the dog owner doesn’t have any experience with them. Even if a person grew up with dogs in his home, he may not have seen a dog trained to accept the crate when no humans are around. Many owners prefer allowing professionals to perform the training instead of attempting a trial and error process on their own. Remember that crating must suit the dog’s needs and is not an excuse to ignore the dog for hours or days on end.

Most importantly, dog behavior training should be realistic. For example, some dog breeds require lots of room to run and exercise and will likely not respond well to training geared towards living in a small area. A professional trainer is a great source of information about the needs and personalities of certain breeds so that the training program can maximize its effectiveness.

Man’s best friend can be a pain instead of a pleasure without proper dog behavior training. There are many options for training your dog, from books and dog training videos to formal classes with trained instructors: basic dog training can be simple as using a library book or paperback to train a new puppy to a “sleepover” dog academy. Some dog breeds require lots of room to run and exercise and will likely not respond well to training geared towards living in a small area. A professional trainer is a great source of information about the needs and personalities of certain breeds.

- Paul Proctor