The dark room training sounds awful, I would think it makes a CAG more fearful as they are already so easy to fret. My CAG will go to the end of the world with me in the dark, she trusts me too much sometimes. She loves to play catch, when she sits on my hand all of a sudden she throws herself down hanging on my hand with one foot and then dropping herself on her back, expecting me to catch her before she hits my lap or the floor, sofar I always have.
I will get her picture up soon, she is something!