Field Guide · Glossary
Management
Methods and protocolsArranging the environment so an unwanted behavior cannot happen, rather than training the dog not to do it.
How it works
Film on a window, a gate across a hallway, food off the counter, a different walking route. None of it teaches the dog anything, and that is not a weakness: every repetition of a behavior makes it stronger, so preventing rehearsal is doing real work while training catches up. It is also sometimes the whole answer. A behavior that only occurs in one avoidable situation may never need a training plan at all.
What it looks like
A dog barks at people passing the front window. Frosted film goes on the lower half of the glass. The barking stops that day, and the weeks of rehearsal that would have happened during training never occur.
Commonly confused with
- Antecedent
- An antecedent is whatever comes immediately before a behavior. Management is the practice of changing antecedents deliberately so the behavior has no opportunity to happen.
Related terms
Where this comes up
In the reading list
Gear that helps
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Front-clip no-pull harness (Freedom-style)
The front clip gives you steering without pressure on a dog's throat, which is why we start most pullers here. The 2 Hounds Freedom set is well made and holds up, made in the USA.
Basket muzzle (Baskerville-style)
A conditioned basket muzzle lets a dog pant, drink, and take treats, so it's a safety tool, not a punishment. We use it for reactive dogs in public and any dog still learning to be handled at the vet.
15ft training long line
What makes a decompression walk possible: freedom to sniff and move with a safety net still in your hand. We reach for one constantly in recall and reactive work.
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