Are We Training Dogs Or Just Avoiding Them?
Chewy ChumsAre We Really Training Dogs Or Avoiding Them?
Training dogs sounds active. Intentional. Disciplined. Structured. But what if, in many homes, what we call training is actually avoidance?
What Avoidance Looks Like
Puppy gets mouthy. You pull your hand away. Puppy jumps. You step back. Puppy grabs clothing. You end play completely.
Those reactions feel logical. They protect you.
But they don’t teach control.
The Cost of Pulling Back
When interaction stops at the peak of excitement, the dog never learns how to regulate it.
Energy rises. Teeth make contact. Human retreats. Lesson learned?
None.
If you’re navigating biting behavior right now, read: The Ultimate Guide to Puppy Biting.
Why We Avoid Instead of Train
Because it hurts.
Because it’s frustrating.
Because we don’t want to escalate conflict.
And sometimes because we were told:
- “Just ignore it.”
- “They’ll grow out of it.”
- “Redirect with a random toy.”
But not all redirection is structured.
Training Requires Staying Present
Real training dogs means staying engaged at the moment pressure builds.
It means:
- Teaching “gentle” during excitement
- Teaching “drop it” under tension
- Controlling when play starts and stops
- Maintaining physical presence without flinching
That last part is where most breakdowns happen.
Protection Changes The Interaction
When hands are unprotected, humans withdraw.
Withdrawal breaks repetition.
Without repetition, there is no refinement.
A structured, reinforced interactive tool allows you to remain calm.
Calm builds clarity.
Clarity builds behavior.
See how it’s designed: NeverBite™ Features & Benefits.
Avoidance Feels Safe. Structure Is Safer.
Avoidance reduces immediate discomfort.
Structure reduces long-term risk.
The goal isn’t to eliminate instinct.
It’s to shape it.
Especially in homes with children, where thresholds matter.
If you’re raising a puppy around kids, read: How to Teach Kids to Safely Play With Puppies.
The Real Question
Are we training dogs?
Or are we avoiding uncomfortable moments and hoping time fixes them?
Because dogs don’t grow out of instinct.
They grow into what we shape.
Final Word
Engagement builds confidence. Protection builds consistency. Consistency builds better dogs.
If you want to train through interaction instead of retreat, explore: NeverBite™ Protective Puppets.
Protect your hands. Stay present. Dog train with intention.
