Check dough about 5 minutes after you have started the machine. The dough should form a nice round ball. If a ball doesn't form, and the mixture appears crumbly, add water, a tablespoon or less at a time, until the correct consistency is achieved. If dough looks too wet or formless, add flour, a tablespoon or less at a time, until the dough forms a ball. Add ingredients such as raisins, dates, chocolate chips and apple pieces about 5 to 8 minutes before the end of the kneading phase.
Some machine beep to indicate the optimum time to add nuts or raisins.
Check your manufacturers instructions for the time required for each process in the dough cycle. Ingredients can also be kneaded into the dough by hand after it is removed from the machine. A 60 minute rise period is ideal. It's ok to open the machine and quickly test the dough during the rise period. Gently push your finger into the dough, and if the dent remains, dough is ready.