Progress in dog reactivity, alone-time barking, toileting, recall and body care is rarely a simple success or failure. Distance may improve, recovery may shorten, or difficulty may occur only at one time of day. A log is not proof of effort; it reveals these patterns so guardian and trainer can decide whether to adjust distance, duration, environment or reinforcement.
What to observe first
A useful record lets another person understand what happened. Note the date, place, what the dog saw or heard, distance, the dog’s response, what you did and how long recovery took. Avoid entries such as “good today” or “failed again.”
For example: “At 7 pm by the lift, a dog appeared about five metres away. My dog became still but did not bark. We moved back to ten metres, I offered food, and we could continue after about thirty seconds.” A short video may help, but never keep the dog in a difficult situation just to film it.
What you can practise
Spend only two or three minutes recording after practice. Rate difficulty from one to five, note one thing that went well, and choose only one change for next time. Review the week as a whole, comparing response distance, recovery time and frequency.
When a family trains together, one person can maintain the log while others send brief notes or clips. The log is a decision-making tool, not a way to police who completed homework.
When to lower difficulty
If daily entries are difficult to maintain, record only representative sessions or reduce the log to place, distance, response and recovery. A simple record used consistently is more valuable than a complex sheet completed occasionally.
Do not replace the entire plan after one unusually good or difficult event. Look for a weekly trend: can the dog remain calm closer to the trigger, recover faster, or have fewer intense reactions? Change only one condition at a time.
When professional help is needed
Report bites, near escapes, vehicle chasing, attacks on other animals or other safety risks to the trainer promptly rather than waiting for the next routine lesson. Record events and context instead of labelling the dog “aggressive” or “disobedient.”
Protect the privacy of family members and the public when filming, and do not ask children to document risky situations. If events happen too quickly to observe while staying safe, a trainer can assess them in person and simplify the recording method.