We've learned a lot through all of our classes, individual sessions, online training and reading. But there are a few key training exercises that have helped massively.
At home, the relaxation protocol, playing calming games, and consistently rewarding calm have been very helpful.
Boundary games (e.g. rewarding for going to and staying in place) have helped to increase George's independence and also promote calm.
We use a small blanket for his "place". Wherever I put it in the room, George knows that's where he should go when I give the cue. I'm hopeful that this will eventually extend to outside the home.
The orientation game (marking and rewarding the moment they turn back to me) helps with engagement and proximity (not that I have ever needed to encourage George to remain in my proximity…). But it is helpful if I can time it to interrupt before he is fixating on a trigger and get him to re-engage with me.
"Touch" is also helpful for focus and connection with me. George loves playing this at home and in the garden. We are working on this outside the home.
Pattern games have been incredibly helpful. The predictable patterns help to build confidence. George adores playing these. They were particularly helpful when George was afraid to leave the house. Playing pattern games near the door, then with the door open, seemed to give us a reset.
"1, 2, 3" dropping the treat on 3 is very helpful. By the time I get to 2, George has usually re-focused on me.
We worked on confidence-building games from an early age, particularly as it was obvious George was a timid puppy. He loves playing these at home. We use cardboard boxes for him to put his head in to retrieve treats, and various objects to put his paws on. We play "paws up" outside the home on tree trunks and benches. Interacting with the world in this way helps to build his confidence.
Scent work has also been a great tool for the home - George loves playing it and using his nose to seek out the rewards is good exercise.
I've heard that "middle" can be a very helpful tool for nervous dogs. George doesn't like this one unfortunately - he doesn't like being under anything. We work on it now and again very slowly but it might not be the right technique for us.
The ones that have been the most successful are the ones that George really enjoys, don't require him to go too far out of his comfort zone, are repetitive and predictable, and keep him in fairly close proximity to me.