How To Write a Dog Training Session Plan
Hello and welcome back to the Lead & Collar Blog, where our goal is to provide high value education and resources for beginner dog owners.
In our most recent blog post, we talked about the 5 steps to keeping a dog training journal (have a read here if you haven’t yet). But, now that you’ve got your journal, you might be wondering - how am I going to organize all this information and keep track of my dog’s progress effectively?
Well, that’s the problem we are going to tackle today. We’ll break down each item to include in your training session plan checklist, so you feel confident to use your journal as a tool to stay focused and achieve your training goals - and more importantly, so you can get out there everyday and help your dog reach its potential.
Let’s see what it’s all about.
Item #1: Determine Training Focus
At the top of your journal entry, identify what aspects of training you want to tackle. You might want to start by focusing on one of the following:
Specific skills
Addressing behavior challenges
Teaching manners
Sports-specific training
Fitness exercises
A good way to figure out which area you might want to focus on is by thinking about the biggest issues you face with your dog at the moment. For example, can you take them to your favorite cafe? Are you unable to leave them inside when you’re away because they destroy your belongings? Do they pull on the lead every time you try to take them for a walk (which means they don’t get a walk and/or exercise nearly as much as they should as a result)?
No matter what it is, defining your training focus will help you structure your sessions and track progress effectively. This focus will likely change as you learn more about training.
Item #2: Set Session Length
I feel like a broken record with this one, so we’ll keep it short, but it’s because it’s so important. Think about the amount of time you have available for each training session. Be honest with yourself.
It really doesn’t matter if you can dedicate 2 minutes or a 15-minute session. What counts is if you make the most of the time you have. Remember, even short, consistent training sessions can yield significant results for your dog.
Item #3: Choose Specific Training Objectives
Within each training session, pinpoint and write down the specific behaviors or commands you plan to work on. For example, you might focus on reinforcing your dog’s "sit" or introducing a new command like "stay." Setting specific objectives keeps your training sessions targeted and measurable.
Item #4: Define Success for Each Session
Once you’ve chosen a specific training objective for your session, define what a successful training session means to you.
This could look like:
Achieving a high success rate for a specific command
Improving response time
Reinforcing desired behaviors consistently
Identifying success criteria helps you gauge progress and maintain motivation throughout the training process. This will get easier with more repetitions, so it’s okay if you aren’t completely set on this one from day one. Success could be as simple as completing the session every day for the first few weeks.
Item #5: Review Previous Training Sessions
Take the time to review and reflect on your previous training sessions. Briefly note any positive aspects, such as successful commands and behaviors - or even your consistency and confidence! It’s important to think about any challenges or areas that need improvement.
By reviewing past sessions, you can adjust your approach, celebrate achievements, and focus on areas that require more attention. It won’t happen all at once, but those 1% improvements will eventually compound into big results for you and your pup.
Item #6: Grab Your Equipment
Before you head out, think about what equipment you’ll need for your training session. A few examples could be:
A clicker for marking desired behaviors
High-value treats as rewards
Your journal for note-taking and tracking progress
A leash for controlled exercises
Appropriate toys for both training and playtime
Having these items readily available ensures a smooth and efficient training session. And don’t forget to warm up your dog first, too!
Item #7: Choose a Distraction-Free Environment
This is another thing to think about before you head out with your dog, because your environment should be chosen intentionally to minimize distractions (as much as possible). As we’ve spoken about before, distractions can hinder your dog's focus and make it challenging to achieve desired behaviors. Begin training in a quiet, controlled space (e.g., your backyard, or even your living room, is a perfect starting spot), and gradually introduce distractions as your dog progresses.
Conclusion:
There you have it. Keeping a journal is a powerful way to track your learning and progress throughout your dog training journey. And we hope this checklist helps you establish a manageable structure and routine for your training, making the experience more enjoyable, where you can focus on what really matters - spending time with your dog.
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!