A client is referred to you after working unsuccessfully for three months to resolve a lunging at children problem in a 4-year-old shepherd mix. They have been trying to teach the dog to sit and take treats from children. The dog appears worse and rarely takes the treats, although he likes that kind of treat when kids are not present. Given this history, what is the most likely explanation?
A) Incomplete diagnosis: there is some other independent issue along with children
B) Poor execution/super-threshold presentation: the kids are too close/too intense
C) Insufficient time: emotional problems are rarely budged this quickly—adjust expectations
D) Children are becoming associated with owner tension during the exercises
E) Predation: the problem is not emotional in nature so the technique is wrong
