Gidget is going to handling class too and she spooks at strange things - for example she hates walking past this one Great Dane that is waiting for the next class.
My instructor is very good. She has me switch hands and walk Gidget on the opposite side (right hand instead of left) so that she feels more secure. Eventually you can move back to the left. This helps a lot with Gidget and partly I think that is because I also have better control with my right hand than I do with my left.
Another thing we do is to make sudden turns with her (keep turning to the left for example) which distracts her from whatever she is obsessing over in the first place. This also works wonders if she is walking too close to me, which she sometimes does if she is stressed over something.
Gidget is full of herself as well and has so much energy and enthusiasm. She requires a lot of work and so I have to walk her a LOT before we even go into the class - she still has plenty left over for the class, believe me, but it helps to calm her.
Good luck!
