We had our 3rd BAT session (second session with a trigger (ie person)) with Art and OMG I don't think either me or my trainer was ready for what happened!
The last session (first with a trigger present) Art was able to get about 15-20ft away from the trigger as they walked parallel across the feild and picked up leaves. Which made me super happy, especially since there was not a single treat anywhere for him! ^_^ He get's so hyper-focused on treats he can go 30 minutes just searching for more food and not notice a trigger.
So this session Art wanted to, happily and with relaxed behaviors, go and meet the person! This was a new person, not the same one from the other session due to timing issues. We started with them sitting again, eventually they were walking, and then sitting as we got a bit closer. It was amazing. Other than a few soft looks at the person, he really didn't care about him. :hail:
We didn't let him greet the person, just because were weren't prepared for that, but it was amazing! He would go forward, I'd stop him if I thought it was too close, he'd stop look at me, I'd offer an "out" with body language which when he was stressed at all he would take the offer and move away, but instead this time he just wanted to go investigate them!
It's even moving over to everyday situations. He was able to look at a person walking a few feet away, knowing I had no treats, and then instead of reacting just looking away and going back to what he was doing before!
I'm so excited, but also worried that since it's started snowing we won't see enough people to keep up the behavior :/ eh, oh well, I'm just happy with the progress