gwd,gwd wrote: my only suggestion would be a bit less worried about labeling things, "dog in house, girl, lady", classical conditioning would be simply to have been aware that there was something that would set sandy off.........click, treat and retreat.......or, if you felt that he was well under threshold, click, treat, walk fast by the scary thing. think Pavlov's dog. ........bell, food, drool......bell, food, drool.......bell, drool. .....all with no talking!
I think you tend to be very verbal and it's really not needed at this point. even if you were move on to LAT you don't need to have different words for each 'scary' thing. this isn't doggie rosetta stone and you're not actually trying to teach him English!.
My OH would definitely agree with you that I talk too much.
It must be my studying languages (especially when I lived in Israel and had to learn Hebrew, and of my Jewish friend in Albuquerque taught her dog commands in Hebrew). I even tend to talk to myself aloud all the time. And, in school,I was always put on notice for talking during class.
So, i need one word for a cue. After treating Sandy and when we need to get away, i do consistently use "Let's go."
He knows "wait" as well as my signal to go, ie, cross the street. He knows "close" to stay next to me as when on the sidewalk.
So, as in a previous discussion, non-verbal cues are best. And too much talking, as my OH would attest to makes my voice blend into the background. Sand probably hears: blah, blah, blah...
I appreciate it and will follow your suggestions on our next walk.
Diane