How To: Use the Watchdog Report

How To: Use the Watchdog Report

Inventory manager / data administrator  ·  Yellow Dog Inventory 2026

 WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The Watchdog Report identifies common data issues that can affect inventory accuracy and reporting, such as unmapped items, missing costs, or uncommitted documents. Reviewing and resolving these issues regularly, and especially before a physical inventory, keeps your database clean and reliable.

This article is for inventory managers, data administrators, and anyone responsible for maintaining item records or preparing for physical inventory.

 PREREQUISITES

     Permission to run reports and edit inventory data.

 STEP BY STEP


Run the Watchdog Report

1.   Go to Home > Watchdog.

2.   Use the Store dropdown to select a store.

3.   Select Get Results!.

Review and resolve issues

1.   Select a row to highlight the issue.

2.   Select the Edit button. Its label changes based on how the issue is resolved (for example, Edit Item, Edit Store, or Edit Vendor).

3.   Complete the steps to resolve the issue. For example, if the issue is Vendor is not assigned to ANY store, selecting Edit Vendor opens the Vendor and Manufacturer Editor, where you can assign the vendor to a store.

Tip: Schedule the Watchdog Report to email automatically so you get regular reminders to review issues. Go to Reports > Send Saved Reports > 201 – ALR – Check Watchdog to set it up.

 

 BEST PRACTICES

     Have operational teams review the Watchdog Report regularly.

     Have managers or accounting review it again before month-end and before committing a physical inventory.

 

 RELATED ARTICLES

     Feature Overview: Watchdog Report

     FAQ: Watchdog Report

Last reviewed: June 2026  ·  Applies to: Yellow Dog Inventory 2026



    • Related Articles

    • Feature Overview: Watchdog Report

      Inventory manager / data administrator · Yellow Dog Inventory 2026 WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The Watchdog Report helps identify data issues that may affect inventory accuracy. Reviewing it regularly, and especially before a physical inventory, keeps your ...
    • FAQs: Watchdog Report

      This article addresses frequently asked questions related to the Watchdog Report in Yellow Dog Inventory. General Questions Q: What is the Watchdog Report? A: The Watchdog Report scans your Yellow Dog database for errors and inconsistencies that ...
    • Troubleshooting: COGS Numbers

      COGS reporting in Yellow Dog appears inaccurate Possible Causes: COGS Account Mapping COGS accounts are not mapped in the POS Item Map. Items do not have COGS accounts assigned. Purchasing Invoices were not entered in Yellow Dog. Physical Inventories ...
    • How To: Run the Item History Report

      Inventory manager / data administrator · Yellow Dog Inventory 2026 WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The Item History Report gives you a comprehensive view of an item’s activity over time, which makes it a valuable tool for troubleshooting on-hand quantity issues. ...
    • Reporting Explained: Inventory On Hand Report

      Use the Inventory On Hand report to see how much inventory you have available at a specific date and time. Standard Reports > Inventory > On Hand > By Item You can generate the report in multiple formats: By Dimension By Level By Store By Style The ...
    • Popular Articles

    • How To: Find Your Yellow Dog Inventory Version

      Understanding which version of Yellow Dog Inventory you're using is essential when exploring new features, as some enhancements and functionalities are specific to certain versions. All client types can benefit from knowing their Yellow Dog Inventory ...
    • Feature Overview: Par & Re-Order Points

      Par levels and reorder points help streamline purchasing in Yellow Dog. Par level is the ideal quantity to keep on hand. Reorder point is the minimum quantity that triggers reordering. You can update par and reorder points in the following locations: ...
    • Tips & Tricks: How do I download and install drivers for my Zebra Printer?

      **As a note: Admin rights will be required to complete this task. If you do not have admin rights on your PC, please contact your IT for assistance** ZD410 Desktop Printer Support Site 1. Navigate to Drivers: 2. Select Zdesigner V. 5 Driver for ...
    • How To: Swap the On-Hand (Base Unit) Size

      End user · Yellow Dog Inventory 2026 WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The on-hand (parent) size is the base unit—the unit Yellow Dog Inventory uses to track on-hand quantity and to convert every purchasing and counting size. When an item with multiple sizes is set ...
    • FAQs: What are Bins?

      Question: What are Bins? Answer: Bins are optional location identifiers that specify exactly where an item is stored. You don’t need to create bins in advance. You can assign them: In the Stores tab of the item editor Through a Balto import Bins ...