Leanne - please, always share your thoughts:) Incredible!

Thanks Forrest.  Perfect timing of the reinforcer -  as i've thought of a few more but wasn't sure whether to put them up or not.  As you've probably guessed I'm much more talkative in the online environment. 

well there goes with some other thoughts

• If someone else holds the leash and therefore the dog and the handler moves away do you think they dog will take any interest?  if so, that might be a way to lure the starting behaviour.
• How do the dog and handler do when arriving - i.e. in the carpark before class.  Perhaps this is a spot to practice before coming into class each week so that the dog has a bit more of a chance - most recently highly reinforced behaviour most likely to repeat stuff (unless the distractions are just too high)
• Get them to capture it at home and reward it every time they see it - should increase the behaviours likelihood (if they are good with timing and actually using something the  dog finds reinforcing).
• With the idea re you taking the dog through the basics first. You can take some of the pressure off the owner by using strategies such as using a dog you think might be in this situation to teach the behaviour to the rest of the class - depends on your comfort doing so and of course whether you can spot possible issues before you get to this point.
• Perhaps try dog on a spot - mat is popular or platform so the dog is highly reinforced for that then reinforcement stops suddenly -hopefully dog looks to where did that go.  The idea of the mat or platform is that there use can 'ground' some dogs by giving them something to think about doing.
• Try toy/food in a container they can't get into on the ground - when they look to human for help (can take time but most will do it) then major party and access to the containers contents.
• see if acting like a fool (something totally unusual for the dog /unexpected from their handler) will get their attention.  Be sure of your reading of the dog though - you don't want to frighten it or overload what might already be an over threshold animal.
• If worried about ability of handler to get timing - you can do the click or mark and they reward.
• The throw food down on ground - dog gets and looks back, mark and throw can also kick start the process for some.
• Just don't worry about it - it's in the syllabus but will the owner really care and will it not grow as they engage more with their dog in training and life anyway.  In other words take the pressure of you , the handler and the dog and get it engaged in movement or whatever behaviours it is capable of doing.  Unless of course owner wants it/needs it on cue - or to start being able to do this in class.
• wait it out - after class others left just wait it.  It can take forever the first time, but then each time should become quicker (if timing and what is used is actually heavily reinforcing.
• for every step in the right direction pay the bank big time - think  I said this but want to reinforce it's importance. If this becomes the best paid behaviour it will become more prevalent- however doesn't help you with starting it, just a reminder for the owners when they get even the first step if this is a behaviour they want strong. 
• final thought (promise).  Is the club class environment right for this dog and handler right now?  Don't know if it is or isn't but TTouch taught me that a whole range of behaviours (and non-behaviors) that I hadn't previously considered to be stress/anxiety that severely impacts on ability to learn are in fact just that.  Is the issue only with this behaviour or is there a need for the dog to be removed or just spend time being reinforced for being in the same place as all these moving things etc and not actually having to do anything for it.  Stuffed Kong under nearby tree just watching on instead of participating? You'll have to make a call - just sometimes it helps to stop and think about underlying causes (which i'm sure you do so hope this doesn't come off as a bit of a lecture).