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Motorcycles whizzing by on the road when we're driving, along with several other triggers, are still a work-in-progress with his reactivity issues. The other day, there was a whole bunch of motorcycles all lined up along the side of the building and a bunch of burly guys working on them and washing them. I left Mokume at my jeep and approached them to ask if they'd mind if I brought my reactive dog by to check out the bikes and them and they were all happy to help. I then gave them a brief explanation of how to act, (don't reach for him, don't try to pet him, but to just calmly appear to ignore him and let him inspect them, and not to make any move to engage with him unless I prompt them to.) So, muzzled, Moko and I did some up-close motorcycle inspection and greets with big unfamiliar menfolk.
It went really well! He sniffed over the bikes and paced around from gent to gent, checking them out and getting many admiring compliments from them, and even accepting some cheese (I handed to them,) and pats from one or two of them. (If he's over threshold it doesn't matter what treat is offered, he's too nerved up to eat.) Later that same day, we wandered around Pet Food Warehouse on a very busy day/time and he came almost nose-to-nose, only about a foot apart, with unfamiliar dogs several times as we navigated the aisles and not once did he flip out, and he was responsive to practice commands of "sit" and "down" and able to take treats. I'm really proud of the strides he's making.
Maybe next time the motorcycle club is around I'll ask one of them to start one of the bikes up and let it idle before we approach so it's making noise when he inspects it.
