It’s more than just socialization. I made a mistake by thinking that the park, dog park, and socialization was enough. It’s also variety that matters. Colfax, Downtown, doggie daycare, letting others watch her, etc. is really important for them to trust strangers and not get overwhelmed in strange environments. If I did it again, I’d do more of those more frequently. Dog swap was Jackie and Justin? Let Pat and Megan watch her?
Sometimes not training, and letting things happen, is good training. Let events transpire so it occurs to the dog naturally as it would in a natural environment. This is especially prevalent in socialization. Humans interfere far too much and I think it does damage to healthy canine relationships. They know how to resolve issues and set boundaries, only step in if it becomes aggressive.
Theory: If I sit on the same bench every time, will she trust that I will be there in the future and feel comfortable enough to leave my side?