There are multiple valid reasons to keep a log of your field training sessions for each dog each day. If you are training more than one dog it can be difficult to remember which dog did what so a review of your log can refresh your memory. It can point out deficiencies in your training. It can help you to consider the dog's responses to unusual situations that you want to work on at a later time. A training log can document the progress or lack of it that the dog is showing and thus help you to restructure a training program for that particular dog. And a training log can help to keep you organized in your training plans. Many professional and successful amateur trainers keep a training log for each dog. The need for a training log and a few suggestions for how and what to record have been discussed from time to time in Retrievers Online. Both Marilyn Fender and Dennis Voigt have mentioned their logs and made suggestions for how and what to record. Probably, there are as many types of logs as there are trainers who keep them. I have evolved a training log which I am happy to share with those interested in this matter. A special thanks goes to Dennis and Marilyn for their suggestions and input and to the many other friends and trainers who made suggestions. First of all I keep a list of the following items: Dog name, date,time of day, weather conditions (wind, temperature, humidity), dog's frame of mind (i.e. his mental state when he gets out of the crate to train...anxious, excited, playful, etc), location of training session, handler, b/ep (number of e-collar corrections or ear pinches given to dog during the session), a list of the concepts worked upon and the learning level* and grade (A,B,C,D,F) the dog gets on the performance of that concept, a diagram of the test and drawing of where the dog went or "went wrong" with note of whistle stops and collar corrections given; the name of the test, an analysis of this session and a note of what I wish to do for the next training session *The learning level refers to the learning levels discussed by Marilyn Fender in Retrievers ONLINE over the past couple of years. She calls these levels "the 4 As" of learning. I call them, for the sake of simplicity, 1-4 with "1" being introduction to a concept, "2" learning the concept, "3" proofing the concept and "4" applying the concept. This training log can be kept on sheets of paper, note cards, in a note book or on your laptop computer. I have found an ideal method for myself is use of the handheld personal computer (HPC). I use an HP 620LX which is about the size of a wallet and fits into a pocket of my training vest quite nicely. Entry of data in bright sunlight is not easy, but if I turn into the shade and open the HPC I can see the colored screen adequately to enter data. A software program to design forms for the HPC, called "Visual CE" which is distributed by Syware has been very useful for data entry. Using this program even the barely computer literate can develop their own HPC training log. I have one frame for drawing the test and the other frames are for data entry. The log can be sorted on up to five different categories for review and can be uploaded to your desktop PC. (I have not yet found an adequate method to upload to Macintosh, try as I might. Softwindows in NOT adequate and the cable connections became a nightmare. This entire scenario led me to purchase my first IBM compatible PC). The Visual CE software is apparently available for PalmPilot personal organizers as well. A similar log could be developed in Excel or Filemaker or any of the other forms-creating databases available for both Macintosh and Windows systems and then used on notebook or laptop computers. A print-out of my log looks like this:
	Getting Prepared How Poodles differ from Labradors Training Principles Beginning to Train Keeping a Log of Training Sessions Basic Training Intermediate Training Advanced Training Toilet Training House Training Return to P.P. index page