Foster Dog

Question
Me and My mother Foster dogs. we are on our third one. She is a nice and loving 4 1/2 beagle something. The shelter says they got her from a high-kill shelter in Alabama. She is so scared when you go to pet her, like she thinks your going to grab her and loud noises scare her too. When she and our other dog are playing tug-of-war, she will yelp and howl, when my dog isn't even touching her. Please Help! how can i make her friendlier to humans and dogs?

Answer
The Beagle is a very vocal breed.  They readily offer vocalization as a communication of their emotional state.  If she is vocalizing while playing with your other dog, SO WHAT?  If the other dog continues to pursue the interaction, it clearly isn't a communication of distress.  If the other dog is reacting with fear (instant withdrawal), then you need to observe the further development of the relationship between the two dogs so that fear aggression doesn't develop.  It's more likely your other dog understands the signal and the game continues: zero problem.

Fear of loud noises is an acquired behavior, perhaps related to the kill shelter environment (which is enormously stressful) and her fear of being touched ("She is so scared when you go to pet her..") might be the result of capture by animal control or abuse at the hands of some miscreant who hit her (in her former life).  The best way to approach a dog with this sensitivity is on a curve (not head on), crouch in front of her, chuck her under the chin or scratch her chest, all the time praising her in a calm, soft voice.  She needs to LEARN that whatever she's anticipating (conditioned response) will NOT occur in your environment.  Until the dog is fully trusting, not only of you but of your visitors, she's not a candidate for placement.  It can take weeks (and sometimes longer) for a dog to overcome fears and sometimes they never do, but this particular fear CAN be overcome.  As for noises, ignoring her fear is the best choice.  Giving any attention (by way of attempting to calm or comfort) is a reward.  Behaving in a casual manner (even laughing and throwing a ten second "party" after a loud noise or during a thunderstorm) will convince her that YOU are not afraid (in fact, just the opposite!) and may reduce her fear response.