The Importance of Measuring Progress

​We often don’t notice that our environment is constantly changing.  We don’t see our progress as we learn new things.  As we gradually evolve into new habits, routines, and behaviours we don’t acknowledge they have happened. We simply accept the latest status quo.  Often we don’t even realise a new habit has developed.

How Habits Form?

• Cue – the brain receives information that causes it to produce a behaviour. When the brain obtains the cue it predicts that a reward is coming. Our dogs will analyse their internal and external environment for signs of reward location. This step is about detecting a reward.

• Craving – this is the driving force behind a behaviour; the motivation for a habit. When there is no motivating factor for a behaviour none will occur. Every motivation is associated with a desire to alter our dog’s internal state. We teach our dog to carry out a behaviour by pairing it with a reason to do so – e.g. a dog sits because they know they will get stroked when they do.   Being stroked releases a chemical called oxytocin into the dog’s system and this reduces stress and makes the dog feel relaxed. The dog likes feeling like this so they sit so that we stroke them. Each dog is an individual, so they are motivated by different things. Some will be motivated by food, others by toys and opportunities to play. Some will be motivated by affection or praise. It can be a great deal of fun finding out what makes your dog motivated.   This step is about wanting a reward.

• Response - this is the part of the process that causes thoughts or actions to form, producing the habit. A habit will form if there is sufficient motivation to cause it. When our dogs encounter some form of difficulty in obtaining a reward then habits will be blocked from forming. This step is about getting the reward.

 

• Reward – this is the end goal of all behaviour. It must satisfy the desire of our dogs and provide a benefit that makes it worth carrying out the behaviour. When our dogs receive a reward we make it more likely that a behaviour will happen the next time the cue is experienced. Our dogs are pleasure seekers so their brains are constantly looking for opportunities for reward.

Creating Training Objectives

 
So now we know how a habit is acquired, we can begin to measure our training progress using objectives.  Setting measurable goals allows us to track our training progress.  It allows us to see whether we need to raise or lower our training criteria, making it harder or easier for our dogs to complete it and form habits. By setting goals we can work out what we want to accomplish and what limitations we may encounter.
 
We can identify how many times we need to repeat a training activity to consider it successful and when we can move on to teaching something else. It helps us set realistic goals. There is no point trying to swim the Channel if you haven’t learned to swim yet. When we set ourselves goals that can be measured we recognise whether our investment of time and effort is worth the outcome. It helps us commit to the purpose of training. Finally, we can acknowledge the length of time it will take to complete an activity. We can remember to set measurable goals by using the acronym:
 
·        Specific (simple, sensible, significant)
·        Measurable (meaningful, motivating)
·        Achievable (agreed, attainable)
·        Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based)
·        Time-bound (time-based, time-limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive)
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​We create habits by training. We are training our dog’s brains to create habits.   Every behaviour is focused on the desire to obtain a reward.  When we measure our training progress we can identify what is blocking habits being formed.

Do You Need Help?

​If you need help setting training objectives please give me a call.
I offer individually tailored 1-2-1 Canine Coaching Sessions which may also be helpful.
Each session is 1-2 hours long and includes a follow-up email report and telephone support. Sessions start at £45, packages are available for multiple sessions.

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