Imo, you would want to begin to desensitize Missy to trucks, or whatever fears she has,
from whatever distance MISSY needs to be calm.
If Missy needs to be 200 feet away to feel cool about looking at the truck,
then you start at 200 feet away.
Maybe next week, Missy will be calm at 180 feet away, and so on.
Missy can slowly, build an entirely NEW association in her mind about trucks.
You reward calm behavior, for Missy
looking right at the truck,
and overtime, shorten the distance, always making sure Missy is enjoying this, not freaking out, staying at subthreshold level, where Missy IS calm.
This will be challenging, as you yourself have no control over when the truck moves.
IF MISSY FLIPS OUT:
If truck drives right into area you were working with Missy in, closer than Missy can handle,
then have Missy focus on you, nonstop "look at me" til truck passes. Every time Missy reacts to th truck, that is one more re-enforcement in her mind, about "i should bark at trucks" see, it feeds that loop in her mind,
and so
you do want to prevent Missy from barking at trucks, as much as you possibly can, see?
You might find it easier, if you get stuck too close to truck, esp at first, to keep Missy's att'n/focus on you, if Missy has her BACK towards that evil truck.
It is okay to squat down, and speed feed her treats nonstop while truck passes by. Using small tiny, but high quality treats is good idea, lots of good recipes in the treat forum.
This nonstop "look at me" does nothing to desensitize Missy to actually looking AT the truck
,(i learned this the hard way)
it is just a "band-aid" last resort type of move, but,
it can help
prevent reactions, (if you get stuck too close to truck and Missy wants to flip out), and preventing reactions is also a good goal, too.
"Look at Me" is a cue, you train while Missy IS calm, just like you train any other cue. Lots of ppl try to TEACH the cue, while the dog is upset.
Keeping a dog focused on YOU nonstop, when an object or creature they fear is there, is not quite as easy as it sounds, takes practice, and it can be done!! Usually, for super challenging moments, usually i also have to keep my att'n on my dog, 100%, to be able to keep his att'n on me, too. Your mileage may vary.
Not easy, i know, but, think of 'Preventing Opportunity for Missy to Bark' as one of your goals on this issue.
You can also leave the area the truck has driven too close to Missy, with "Let's Go". If Missy barks over her shoulder at that truck as you leave, it might be worth trying a few moments of "Look At me" and THEN taking Missy away, in attempt to prevent Missy from barking as you leave.
Here is a thread on similar issue: (not quite
exactly the same, though)
http://www.dogtrickacademy.com/members/forums/threads/petrified-of-cars.3920/#post-27872
BUT HAVE HUGE HOPE, as dogs can generalize objects pretty well,
i think you can remove this "i hate trucks" from Missy's mind, i really think so!!
