To help resolve a behavioral issue (anxiety, aggression, reactivity, etc.) with your pet, we first need to understand it. One way we can get a better understanding of what is going on will depend on your observations of your pets behavior on a daily basis. The best way for you to communicate that information to is is by keeping a daily journal. We suggest that you dedicate a computer file or notebook for this purpose. If you keep your journal in a word processing file on your computer, it will make it easier for you to share it with us as we work with you.
Your journal should contain the following basic information:
- General comments on your pets overall demeanor for that day.
- General comments on your overall demeanor for that day.
- A description of any positive events that occurred that day.
- General comments on your overall day (hectic, relaxed, etc.).
- A description of any undesirable behavior noticed, with as much detail as possible.
- Any additional stressors that may have occurred that day or within the previous 24 hours (vet trips, children visiting, etc.).
- An overall score for that day (1=very frustrating/difficult to 5=perfect).
- Your goal for the next day.
- If using the Bach Flower Remedies; the times that remedies are given, including any extra doses and why they were given (when appropriate).
- The times that any other medications or supplements, prescribed or over-the-counter, that are being given for behavioral purposes, are given.
- A description of any training sessions completed that day; to include the time of the sessions, the behaviors you worked on, the people involved, the progress made, any difficulties encountered and other details.
- A description of any desensitization and counter-conditioning sessions completed that day; to include the time of the sessions, the people involved, the environment in which they occurred, the progress made, any difficulties encountered and other details. [We will provide you with instructions on performing these sessions after your behavioral consultation. We suggest that you do not start these sessions until after meeting with us.]
We will ask you to bring this notebook with you for any future consultations or training sessions. Additionally, we may ask to have the opportunity to review this log book when refilling remedies so that we can make changes in the formulation should the need arise.
The following pages are examples of how one client completed daily journal entries.
Examples
Sunday, July 7
Bach @
- 5:00 AM
- 1:00 PM
- 5:30 PM
- 9:00 PM
- also extra at 2:30 PM
Rating (1-5): 4
Notes
- Rex spent the morning with my parents. Rex was calm but lots of nervous walking until I came home.
- Upon returning to Sunnydale Rex snapped at Fluffy 2 times while transitioning into the house. Fluffy was near Rex’s face.
- Rex settled well after 10 minutes
- Practiced recall (took a couple to get it)
- Practice sit, down and stay outdoors – did well with the stay.
- When I left the house in the AM Rex would not go in his crate
Monday, July 8
Bach @
- 4:15 AM
- 1:00 PM
- 5:30 PM
- 9:00 PM
Rating (1-5): 4
Notes
- Quiet morning
- Around 10 AM practiced
- Sit
- Stay
- Down
- Recall in house
- Rex is responding well to lie down when in the kitchen or working in the house
- Played hard outside with Fluffy at 12:00
- Went for walk – lots of pulling
Tuesday, July 9
Bach @
- 5:00 AM
- 1:00 PM
- 4:30 PM
- 9:00 PM
Rating (1-5): 4
Notes
- Great morning, very low key
- Clicker trained
- Paw touches
- Sit
- Stay
- Went for walk – lots of pulling, at first, did well checking in during walk
- Is slow to eat first few hand-fed bites
Wednesday, July 10
Bach @
- 5:30 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 5:30 PM
- 9:00 PM
Rating (1-5): 4
Notes
- Walked in morning – reactive barking to a girl on a scooter. Stopped and waited for her to go by, no issue after.
- Hand fed breakfast
- Did Remedial Socialization in Piggly Wiggly parking lot – ignored all people – had chicken as treat
- Walked before dinner
- Had friend over
- Introduced Rex second, Fluffy first
- Barked 5-9x
- Used treats to redirect towards me, away from friend
- Very friendly with friend after 10 minutes
Thursday, July 11
Bach @
- 5:30 AM
- 5:30 PM
- 8:00 PM
- Missed one, busy day
Rating (1-5): 3
Notes
- I was not home in the morning, but Tom said Rex had a good, quiet morning
- Rex was very excited when I came home
- Worked on sitting to greet with Fluffy
- Rex snapped at Blazer while Tom and I had dinner – we put him outside and withdrew attention until we were done eating
- Rex tried to keep Blazer from coming into the room where we had been eating.
- Quiet rest of the night
Friday, July 12
Bach @
- 5:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 6:30 PM
- 9:00 PM
Rating (1-5): 5
Notes
- Too hot for walk
- Played outside a little – very hot
- Clicker trained
- Sit
- Recall
- Leave it
- Worked on reactions to being startled
- Rex’s behavior, while Tom and I had dinner, was much better
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