5 Simple Steps For An Effective Dog Training Journal
Hello and welcome back to the Lead & Collar Blog, where our goal is to provide high value education and resources for beginner dog owners.
Dog training requires dedication, consistency, and organization. One invaluable tool that can help you track progress, set goals, and refine your training approach is a dog training journal.
In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of maintaining a training journal, offering insights and tips for new dog owners. From recording commands to breaking them down into manageable sizes, and managing treat portions, a training journal can be your key to success.
Let's get started!
Step #1: Write Down Your Training Commands
The first step in creating a dog training journal is to list the commands or behaviors you want your dog to learn. Choose wisely, because these will be the words you use for the life of your dog. Here’s how we recommend you go about choosing your words:
FIRST: Pick your conditioned reinforcer. This will be a MARKER word, which means a word that essentially lets your dog know that what they did was good; for example, the word “YES”. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog where we will talk about how to condition your dog to this marker word.
SECOND: Choose a RELEASE word. We use the word “FREE”. The release word is used to let your dog know they no longer need to hold whatever position they are currently in (and they can play!).
THIRD: Now, choose your foundational commands. These are the basics that help control your dog, for example: "COME”, “DOWN”, “STAY” and “SIT”. Having a clear record of the commands you're focusing on will help you stay organized and track your dog's progress.
Plus, by having a clear visualization of the commands you're working on, you can prioritize and structure your training sessions effectively.
Step #2: Choose the Best Time for Training Sessions
We’ve said this before, but timing is crucial when it comes to training sessions.
It's important to choose a time when both you and your dog are relaxed and focused. Avoid scheduling training sessions when either of you are tired, hungry, or distracted. You also want to make sure whatever time of day you choose, you can dedicate uninterrupted attention to your dog.
Remember: The power of compounding lies in the small steps taken consistently, not in the intensity of a single session.
Basically, what we’re saying is this - if you know you have a busy lifestyle, even 10 minutes a day might feel like too much. The biggest thing we want to stress is that if you make it tiny and manageable, it will be so much easier to follow through with. You can tap into the power of compounding by dedicating even 3 minutes every day. While it may seem insignificant, those 3 minutes quickly accumulate to a total of 21 minutes over the course of a week - which is better than two failed 10 minute sessions!
When thinking about the best time for training, be sure to consider your dog's energy levels too. For more information on how to use exercise to maximize your training effectiveness, check out our recent blog post here.
Step #3: Set Goals for Each Session
Next, let’s talk about goal setting. Have you heard the saying: “what gets measured, gets managed”? When we have these big goals in our head, but we don’t write them down, how likely are we to actually achieve them? Probably not very likely. And dog training is no different.
Every training session with your dog should have a specific goal in mind. This could include:
Introducing/improving a command
Reinforcing/correcting a behavior
Improving response time
In your journal, write down the goal for each session before you begin. This provides a sense of direction and ensures that your training sessions have a purpose. As you progress, you can look back at your journal and see the progress you've achieved.
Step #4: Break Commands Into Smaller Steps
Now that you’ve thought about your goals, we come to our next problem - what if your dog can’t do it properly right away?
Teaching a new command can be overwhelming for both you and your dog if you try to tackle it all at once. This is why we recommend breaking down commands into smaller, manageable steps. In your journal, outline the individual steps required for each command. For example, when teaching "sit," you might start with luring your dog into a seated position, then gradually phasing out the lure and using a hand signal or verbal cue.
Focus on one step at a time, ensuring your dog understands and succeeds consistently before moving onto the next step. It might take multiple sessions to achieve a single step - and that’s okay! This is what makes the journal so helpful. It’s a record of your progress, it tracks your dog's development, and it’s an opportunity to celebrate small victories along the way.
Step #5: Manage Treat Portions to Avoid Overfeeding
Finally, let’s talk about what we’re actually giving our dogs when we train.
Treats are a valuable tool in training. But it's important to manage their portions to maintain your dog's overall health and weight.
In your training journal, you can take note of the number and type of treats used during each session - this doesn’t need to be precise, but if you’re new to training, writing it down can help you keep track of your dog's treat intake (and prevent overfeeding). We generally incorporate healthy treats or even use a portion of our dog's regular food as rewards during our training sessions, so that he’s not always having high fat treats.
Ultimately, balance is key, and your journal can be a helpful reminder to make sure you’re maintaining your dog’s health during your training sessions. If you’d like to read more information about dog diets, have a look through another blog post here.
Conclusion:
We believe using a dog training journal is a powerful tool that can greatly enhance your training regime. By following the steps outlined above, you'll have a roadmap for success. So, grab a pen, open a notebook, and let the training adventures begin.
As always, if you have any questions about the ins and outs of owning a dog, feel free to reach out to us via our contact page. We can’t wait to hear from you - happy training!