How to Keep Track of Your Training (the easy way!) – HippoLogic Clicker Training Academy

A few weeks ago I stumbled upon a dog trainers blog about using a calendar to keep track of your training days. It sounded really easy to implement and it would help you stay motivated to train your pet. It takes only 5 minutes each day.

All clicker trainers know that only 5 minutes of training a day can already have a huge impact on your horses behaviour after only a few weeks. I thought, let\’s try it!

No calendars for sale in April

The first hurdle was: I couldn\’t find any calendars in the mall. After all, it was already April, so the season for calendars is over.

I still wanted one so I decided to made my own. It took me a few hours but it turned out great! Since I put so much effort in it I might as well share it (read on).

I chose to use a green check mark for each day I trained Kyra. Regardless how long or short my training was: I allowed myself to check that day off!

Reinforcing!

I never would have thought that it would feel so good to put a check mark on a calendar! It was really reinforcing me to train. Some days I didn\’t train at all, but since I already had some check marks that week, I could still feel satisfied about my training.

Simple

It is a really simple concept: check off the days you train your horse. It doesn\’t matter how long you trained or what the results were. Training = check mark, no training is no check mark.

I chose green check marks because I associate green with \’good\’. You can choose your own favorite colour. Check it out!

Here is my April calendar. It gave me good insights into which days I train almost every week (Mondays are good days for us) and which days it I couldn\’t make it (mostly on Sundays). Very helpful!

$\"_Track_Training_Calendar_hippologic\"$

I must admit: putting a simple check mark was really reinforcing for me and often it gave me that little extra motivation to just do it! I didn\’t expect it to be so helpful! Having no pressure for a certain amount of minimum training time also helped to make it a fun experience!

Make your own Free Track Your Training Calendar

If you want my calendar the download is still available. I made it in April 2017 so it is out dated by now.

Download it here: HippoLogic Track Your Training Calendar April-Dec 2017

Please come back and share your experience! Did you like it? Why? Was it not for you, let me know why. I can\’t wait to hear from you!

Thank you Anne Bachewich from All Dogs Are Smart for your inspirational blog that made me do all this!

Sandra Poppema, B.Sc.

Are you inspired and interested in personal coaching or do you want to sign up for the next online course \’Set Your Equestrian Goals & Achieve them\’, please visit my website

$\"BANNER$

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

All Dogs Are Smart

May 4, 2017 at 14:26

NICE! I love the green check marks. I’ll use that next time lol.

HippoLogic
May 4, 2017 at 14:29

Awesome!
I am going to do a different thing in May: I chose light blue for this month! 🙂
HippoLogic
May 4, 2017 at 14:50

Thanks Anne for reaching out, now I know where that awesome idea came from. I put a link to your inspirational blog in my article! Hope you get some dog people traffic! 😀
1. All Dogs Are Smart
  May 4, 2017 at 15:20
  
  Cool thanks! I also love he light blue idea. I’d better get out those markers.
  1. HippoLogic
    May 4, 2017 at 16:39
    
    I took a picture of my April calendar and shared it in some FB groups.