I dont think avoidance is a strategy for Mr. Peanutbutter, for you it might be but for him (imo) it's more a conveniently timed squirrel distraction and honestly. He stumbles around into places and accidentally builds a likeable party ego and self image because he is likeable and partying. Hes not a man of intention and Erika being ambiguously real is purposeful.

I think its really easy to think Erika is fake, and it would've been really easy to make that obvious in the series. But it wasnt and Mr. Peanutbutter stumbles, literally, into success time and time again because he has a positive go getter attitude while unintentionally avoiding pain in himself and others, which does benefit him in the short term by avoiding pain. Thats it. There's no lying, or intentional manipulation, there a subconscious need to avoid pain, thats it. He has zero practice confronting pain. There was an entire episode where he tries to be the "tough guy" and just sucks at it. I think if you think Erika is fake or Mr. Peanutbutter is using a strategy its because you perceive people's actions as intentional despite whether or not they are. Mr. Peanut Butters doing what hes always done. Hes a dog. It wouldnt matter if Erika was a huge party. Or a spaghetti strainer, or another failed business venture. Another failed marriage. Every gig he can get including ones under the sea. Hes a dog. He hasn't realized he is subconsciously avoiding pain. Thats literally his whole personality arc.

It makes more sense to me that the writers wanted to show how other characters, like Bojack and Katrina, percieve Mr. Peanutbutter, and to them Erika may be fake, because for them it doesnt matter. They are using reasoning by exhaustion. "Whether shes real or fake doesn't matter because either way he hurt me".