Recommendations Please, and advice. Options

[kvs]

ok so some of you know peppa has been with us since nov and i think she is really settled with us now and she does make brilliant progress with my o.h.
the problem is that she has got to 4yrs old (well 5next month) without being socialised, the only dog she has ever been around is her very agressive mother. which has lead to problems with dogs when we are out.
she is quite noise shy and lead shy so i worry about clicker training as im sure the noise would frighten her.
i live in bedfordshire, close to milton keynes.
the other thing is that im pregnant and its not been that smooth so far so i need to be carefull, but obviously the whole issue of off lead dogs running up to peppa stresses me out but also i need to keep myself safe too so i dont feel as confident when out.
i very rarely have her off lead, she has a flexi and is happy, my o.h has her off lead in the park a lot but usually around midnight when there are no others around.
if you can think of anything that you feel would help please please post it up.

karen.

[woofgang]

you dont need to use a clicker to clicker train...just any consistent signal that marks the good behaviour..you can use a word or a mouth noise, clicl a ballpoint pen. People flash a torch for deaf dogs.

[pangolin]

As above, the benefit of a clicker is that it stays the same tone regardless. Your voice can fluctuate - tired, enthusiastic, sad, happy. annoyed (not necessarily at the dog), frustrated (especially if training isn't going well), and so on. But if you can pick an easy-to-say word that you feel confident in saying in the same tone each time, there's nothing stopping you using that. E.g. "bingo", "got it", and so on. Just remember to "prime" it like a clicker, say the word, give a treat, say the word, give a treat, etc. so dog learns "bingo" = treat. I use both dependant on the situation, e.g. trying to teach loose lead walking where I'm holding the lead and the treats, I usually forego the clicker and stick to a word for the practical side of it.

This post has been edited by pangolin: 27th Mar 2012, 7:14 am

[jackied]

A 'kissy' noise might be good instead of a clicker - not frightening, never sounds angry or stressed, something you're unlikely to do by mistake. It was recommended to me by a trainer because of the 'never sounds angry or stressed' bit.