the guy's name is Warren Diffey - supposedly he trains patrol dogs.
that is absolutely nothing like Cesar Millan - yelling? screaming at the dogs? strangling the dogs? no - not right.
flooding, okay - i actually do agree with flooding IF other methods have failed or IF it is imperative that the dog be snapped out of it asap for whatever reason. sometimes you don't have time to "fix" or "cure" the dog - you just need him to push through it (the "suck it up" approach we use when our kids need to have blood tests or x-rays or dental work or similar frightening but crucial experiences - when your child has to have surgery, you can't have the surgical team sitting around with their thumbs in their ears waiting for your child to decide they're not going to be scared any more).
but these dogs weren't there to be treated for fireworks phobia but i can guarantee they've got one now!
keeping them still is absolutely stupid - cesar's method is you walk and keep the dog engaged. like humans, dogs can only focus on one thing at a time. if you keep walking while the fireworks are popping overhead; keep acting in a calm, reassuring manner; and keep the dog's hearing protected (yes, i walked with dandy, all hunched over, hands over his ears!), the dog will process the experience on his own and will learn that there is nothing to be afraid of.
this DID work and dandy is not at all afraid of fireworks, backfires, balloons popping, gunshots, etc - yes, he'll startle, but he won't go into a barking frenzy - it's "what was that!?? what was that!?? oh... balloon.... sniff, sniff.... blech"
it also worked for thunderstorms and horses (they kept the horse walking and i kept myself between dandy and the horse allowing him full sight and scent but by being between him and the horse, the threat quotient was reduced).
it didn't work for camels, though. he still freaks out and tries to hide under the car when he sees camels.