Training Moments vs. Management Moments: Knowing the Difference Can Save You (and Your Dog) a Lot of Frustration!

A common thing I hear is, "Management isn't training." And that's absolutely true. But here's the part that often gets missed...

Management isn't the opposite of training—it's what often makes training

possible.

Think of management as setting everyone up for success. It's making small adjustments to the environment so your dog isn't constantly rehearsing behaviors you don't want while you teach the behaviors you do want.

Management isn't giving up.

It isn't taking the easy way out.

And it certainly isn't failing.

It's simply taking the next step that allows learning to happen.

Here are a few examples.

Noise Sensitivity If your dog is anxious during fireworks or thunderstorms, management might look like closing the curtains, turning on a fan or white noise, providing a safe place to relax, or talking with your veterinarian about medication to help them feel more comfortable.

None of those things teach your dog that noises are safe—but they do help prevent them from becoming overwhelmed.

Training begins when your dog is calm.

You might record the sound your dog is worried about and play it at an extremely low volume—so low that you can barely hear it. (Remember...dogs have bionic hearing compared to us!)

Each time the sound plays, a delicious treat appears. As your dog begins to relax, you can very gradually increase the volume over multiple sessions.

Noise predicts wonderful things. That's training.

Puppies

Management is priceless when you have a puppy.

Having an exercise pen or puppy-proofed area in your main living space gives your puppy a safe place to be when you can't actively supervise. It prevents them from chewing furniture, stealing socks, or inventing new and exciting ways to get into mischief.

That's management.

Training happens when you're actively interacting with your puppy—interrupting undesirable behaviors, redirecting them to appropriate choices, and reinforcing the behaviors you'd like to see again.

One prevents mistakes.

The other teaches skills.

You need both.

Guests Arriving at the House

If your dog greets visitors by launching themselves at chest level, management might mean having them behind a baby gate, on leash, or in another room while guests enter.

This prevents your dog from practicing the jumping behavior over and over again.

Training happens when willing friends help you practice greetings. As your dog keeps four paws on the floor, your guests reward them with attention, interaction, or treats. If your dog jumps, the attention simply goes away.

Your dog begins to learn that polite greetings encourages people to come closer and interact with them, while jumping results in them moving away and disengaging.

Big Feelings on Walks

If your dog has big feelings around other dogs, people, bicycles, or anything else they encounter on walks, management often means creating distance.

Distance is one of the most powerful training tools we have.

By finding the distance where your dog can notice the stimuli without becoming

overwhelmed, you've created the perfect learning environment.

Now training can begin.

As your dog calmly notices the stimuli, you pair it with something wonderful—treats, play, praise, or whatever your dog loves most. Over time, those big feelings begin to change as your dog starts to expect good things when the stimulus appears. The more your dog is able to have calm, positive experiences while in the presence of stimuli, the more this will become their normal.

The Bottom Line

Management and training go hand in hand; to have one, you need the other.

So the next time you find yourself pulling out a baby gate, clipping on a leash, creating more distance, or putting away the tempting loaf of bread on the counter, don't think, "I'm not really training."

Smile.

You're simply creating the conditions where learning has the best chance to happen.

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Jill Kudera: CPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer

Licensed and Insured

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified