What is management in dog behaviour?
‘Management’ refers to preventing a dog from rehearsing problem behaviours by making it difficult or impossible for them to occur. This is often achieved by adjusting the environment or human behaviour.
Examples of management include:
- Putting a stair gate across the bottom of the stairs to stop a dog going upstairs
- Keeping kitchen counters clear to prevent counter surfing
- Using a long line to maintain recall reliability
Management alone does not teach a dog a new behaviour, but it can be essential for setting up a successful learning environment.
Why management alone may not solve the problem
In cases where a behaviour has a strong learned component, management alone may not be enough.
For example: Avoiding other dogs with a reactive dog will reduce the number of reactions, but the dog may still react when they encounter another dog in future.
Management reduces the opportunities for problem behaviour, but does not always change the emotional or learned basis for the behaviour. This is why combining management with training is often necessary.
How and when is management helpful?
There are several key situations where management plays a crucial role.
During developmental phases
Management helps prevent reinforcement of unwanted behaviours during sensitive periods of a dog’s development, such as puppyhood, adolescence, or hormonal changes.
Some examples:
- You tidy shoes away so your curious puppy doesn’t chew them. As your puppy passes this phase, their motivation to chew shoes will likely have passed.
- Reducing exposure to busy environments during an adolescent dog’s ‘fear period’ to avoid negative associations.
- Managing behaviour during hormonal changes, such as a phantom pregnancy, to reduce the risk of resource guarding or reactivity.
In fact, one of our senior dogs, Kanita, recently came into season for the first time. As it’s uncharted territory, we’re using a short drag line on walks for some gentle management while we monitor her behaviour.
When reducing stress levels
Some behaviour problems are heavily influenced by a dog’s stress levels. Management can help reduce these stressors, creating space for natural improvement.
Case study examples:
- When Amigo, an ex-street dog from Malaga, first joined our home, he was fed separately from the other dogs to avoid stress-based conflict. Now that he’s settled, feeding together with some space is no problem.
- Initially, Amigo also guarded toys from the other dogs. We removed all toys for several months, allowing him time to settle. Now he has free access and no longer guards them. No formal training was needed—just time, space, and management. Management helped his stress levels lower and for his relationship with the other dogs to become established enough for him to not feel anxious around resources.
When there is too much to train
Life is busy, and not everything needs a full training plan. Management can provide practical, low-stress solutions for everyday scenarios.
For example: Using a stair gate when visitors arrive, rather than training a complex ‘go to your bed’ routine.
This approach works well for many clients, especially when time, energy, or experience are limited. It’s OK to manage some things if it means owners can focus on more pressing training needs or simply enjoy time with their dog.
We also recognise that many guardians don’t have the same training experience or time that professionals do, and that’s completely valid.
When lifelong management is appropriate
In some cases, ongoing management may be the most ethical choice, particularly when underlying factors cannot be resolved.
Examples:
- A dog with chronic pain or a condition that can’t be fully treated may behave defensively when approached, especially by strangers. Preventing situations that trigger that response may be the most compassionate course of action.
- A dog living in a noisy urban area may never fully adjust to the environment. Regularly travelling to quieter walking locations might be the best long-term solution.
Management in these cases isn’t about avoiding a training opportunity, it’s about doing what’s best for the dog’s wellbeing.
When management is not enough
While management prevents rehearsal of undesired behaviours, it may not reduce the underlying motivation.
Without additional training:
- Behaviours can quickly resurface once management is removed
- The dog may not develop alternative, more appropriate behaviours
In these cases, management creates an important window of opportunity to teach and reinforce desirable behaviours. Training during this window increases the likelihood of long-term behaviour change.
So while management may not always resolve a behaviour on its own, it can still be a vital part of the process.
Final thoughts
Management is not a dirty word. It is a compassionate, practical tool that supports behaviour change and enhances the welfare of dogs and their families.
That said, we must ensure that management doesn’t unintentionally reduce quality of life for either the dog or the owner. If a family is happy with a management strategy and it’s working well, there’s no need to push for more.
At The Mutty Professor, we believe in meeting dogs and their people where they are, offering flexible, ethical dog behaviour support tailored to their real lives, not just ideal ones.
