Management

What it means

Management doesn't train a new behavior, it removes the opportunity for an unwanted one while training happens elsewhere, or in situations where full reliability isn't realistic yet. A baby gate, a crate, or simply putting the trash can somewhere inaccessible are all management, and they're often more effective in the short term than expecting perfect obedience in a tempting situation.

A real example

Using a baby gate to keep a dog away from the kitchen counter is management; separately teaching "leave it" and rewarding calm behavior near food is training. Most households need both.

A worked example

Hana's dog steals food from the counter. While she teaches a "leave it", she keeps food away from the edge and uses a gate to keep the dog out of the kitchen when she cooks. The dog stops rehearsing the habit, and training progresses faster.

Signs it is working

• The unwanted behavior stops happening, even while you train.
• Your home is easier to live in, with less stress.
• You can slowly relax the setup as the new behavior grows.

What it is not

Management is not avoidance. It is a safety net that prevents practice of the problem while you teach something better.

Why it matters

Every time an unwanted behavior pays off, it gets stronger. Management stops the practice while you teach something better, and is not a failure of training.

How to use it

1. List the situations where the problem happens, such as counter-surfing or door-dashing.
2. Block access: baby gates, closed doors, a leash, a crate or a covered window.
3. Meanwhile, teach an alternative behavior through short, rewarded sessions.
4. Reduce the management gradually as the new behavior becomes dependable.

Is management just a temporary fix?

It is a tool, and sometimes a permanent one. For high-stakes problems, like a dog that bolts, keeping management in place long term is perfectly reasonable.

Related terms

Keep learning

• Resource Guarding →
• Redirection →
• Poisoned Cue →