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.

Basic dog training should start as young as possible with a puppy, preferably. Once a pup is out of the nursery box and into the household, a responsible owner should begin to convey what conduct is acceptable and what is not. Certain normal canine behaviors, such as chewing on anything that feels pleasant to those baby teeth may be very abnormal to the human master and seen as destructive. Having appropriate toys and treats can be as much a part of dog behavior training as specific behavior modifications.

Some forms of training, such as teaching a dog where and when he should void, are much more specific. Humans need to be realistic about the extent to which they can alter innate canine behavior. Puppies cannot be housebroken immediately, and even adult dogs are going to have occasional accidents. It is not reasonable to expect a pet to wait for twelve hours to eliminate waste because his human cannot spare the time. The dog's needs must be met for housebreaking to be successful, and that requires providing a pile of newspapers or a disposable "pee pad" in a predictable spot for canine emergencies.

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 training may require a professional because the dog owner has no experience with it, such as crate training. Even a person who grew up with dogs in their home may never have seen or trained a dog to accept the crate while humans are away, and many owners find a training campus more efficient than trial and error at home. A decision to use crating needs to be weighed with the needs of the dog, and a crate should not be an excuse to simply ignore a pet for many hours at a time.

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.