Keeping a record of your training will help you know exactly what you’ve trained and exactly how your dog is performing. Keeping records can only help you. If something isn’t working, a record lets you go back and figure out why. It lets you see, objectively, what’s happening.
This doesn’t have to be a time-intensive process. Although taking the time to record your data between sessions does take away from your training time, using the information to evaluate your last session and plan your next, enables you to make your training incredibly efficient.
At the end of this document is a sample record sheet. The sample record sheet includes the following table:
| Date | Criterion | #R/E | #R/E | #R/E |
Date: Session date.
Criterion: The specific aspect you’re training in this session. For example, ½ second of eye contact.
The criterion determines when you click. The rule is simple: You click when you achieve the criteria. If your criterion is ½ second of eye contact, you click after ½ second of eye contact. If the criterion is 5 seconds of eye contact, you click after 5 seconds.
#R/E: Number of repetitions/Number of errors.
Why count repetitions and errors? Comparing the ratio of repetitions to errors gives you an objective way to determine the reliability of a behavior. When training a behavior, strive for 80% reliability at a criterion before making it harder.
If you work in sets of either 5 or 10 reps, it’s easy to tell when you’ve reached 80% reliability. Use the following guide:
o In a 5 rep session, 4 out of 5 correct equals 80%. If you make 2 or more errors, stay at the same criterion.
o In a 10 rep session, 8 out of 10 correct equals 80%. If you make 3 or more errors, stay at the same criterion.
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