Whether you’re training your dog for competition or to be a great companion, it helps to document your progress.
Keeping a dog training log will help you to remember what you’ve done. The setting and location you trained in, the time of day and the weather all help to get a sense of what you need to do to continue your success. Or, if your training didn’t go well, to get a sense of the behaviors you need to focus on.
We’ve tried, in the ByGolly Publishing Journals and Logs, to help you document all that. By noting in the blanks what your environment was like during you sessions, you’ll see when and where your dog was successful. You’ll also see what happened when your dog was not successful.
For example, if you’re working at loose-leash walking, don’t forget to write down where you were, pavement or grass, and the distractions around and distance from the distractions – like other people and dogs, squirrels, leaves … Also document the rewards you used and frequency of the reward. Be sure to note down how your dog reacted to all of the stimuli.
If you’re competing in Obedience, again make note of the conditions and distractions. Write down the behaviors you were training during the session, your rate of reinforcement and notes for your next session.