What’s my next step?
After every practice session: go up, stay, or step back? Add how each absence went and get the answer — the same rules the Excel Tracker uses.
Add the result of each rep to see what to do next.
Rules of thumb from the Seconds to Hours guide, built on ASPCA and board-certified behaviorist guidance. Not a diagnosis.
How big is a step?
| Under 1 minute | Add 2–5 seconds |
| 1 to 40 minutes | Add about 10%, never more than 1 minute |
| 40 to 90 minutes | Add 5 minutes |
| Over 90 minutes | Add 15 minutes |
Only go up after two fully calm sessions at the same target. Most anxious responses happen in the first 40 minutes alone, so steps stay small until then (ASPCA).
The stop rule
Stop training and call your vet or a veterinary behaviorist if the longest calm time gets shorter three sessions in a row, your dog can’t manage even your shortest step, or your dog hurts themselves, tries to escape, vomits or panics. Some dogs become more sensitive with practice, and more training then does harm (VCA board-certified behaviorists).
Let the Tracker remember everything
The full Excel Tracker logs every session, carries your last calm target forward automatically, charts your progress, dates your milestones, and raises the stop flag for you.