Lower the doorway trigger before asking for calm

The hallway problem Bex barks at the elevator ding because the sound predicts close people behind the door. If you start with the real hallway, the session may become rehearsal instead of training. Threshold plan Lower intensity -> Pair -> Substitute First make the trigger small enough for learning. Then pair it with food. Then cue the replacement behavior while the dog is still able to respond. Hard mode Real hallway plus close neighbors The door cue becomes a prompt for a trained pattern, not a launch point. Counterconditioning works at the intensity where the animal can still take in…

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