Fear of Loud Noises

This one's going to get me in trouble. Nobody likes this answer.

I had a soft-coated wheaten terrier named Norman. His owner bet me I'd never get him through a 4th of July. I took it. Fireworks over the lake, Norman sat next to me on the table, watching calmly. I videotaped it. The parents couldn't believe it.

Why? The parents had been rewarding the fear. Norman flinched, they rushed over — "It's OK, Norman" — petting him. The next garbage truck, Norman ran. Dog learned: loud noise → run → parents reward me.

Be a leader with timid dogs. Don't coddle. Don't say "it's okay." Get behind them, correct them tougher than everyone else.

Same as the timid kid who goes off to the Marines and comes back unrecognizable. If you're the alpha, they will.