Tracking progress, changes and information is helpful when implementing a new training plan with your cat, dog, or any other pet! Tracking is what turns "I think this is working" into "I know this is working." Without it, you're relying on memory, and our memory is notoriously bad at spotting slow, steady changes. 

Tracking behaviour can give us an objective truth to ensure we’re making progress or change things when we’re not. Changing behaviour can take time and practice!

Get a system that suits you, otherwise you won't do it. What type of tracking you choose should work for your brain: do you like charts, an app, a calendar?

It should include include space for tracking the following key elements:

• Your goal behaviour: what does it look like? It can’t be “don’t jump” - that’s not clear. Is it ‘four feet on the floor’ or ‘dog goes to the mat when the doorbell rings’?
• What are the triggers of the behaviour
• How your pet did (for example a score of 0 - no jumping 5 - knocked grandma over in jumping)
• A place for notes of each training session, including any successes and challenges

For example, if your goal is to reduce your cat's scratching on furniture, you might track the number of times the cat scratches, what times of day, along with any changes to their environment or routine that could be contributing to the issue or helping. It could tell you on days when we play with the wand, there is no scratching on the furniture while on days you forget, the cat may scratch on furniture when home alone.

By regularly reviewing your entries, you can work out patterns and progress over time. This will also help you make informed decisions about changing the plan such as ‘make sure to play with the cat before work so she rests and doesn’t scratch the couch.