FEAR of almost everything..

Question
I rescued my dog from an abusive owner and she is fearful of alot. Mostly males, kids, noises, garbage bags, anything moving suddenly, etc. she sometimes will jump back and start barking like crazy. I know someone ruined her, but is there anything I can do to help? Ive had her for a year now and i really spoil her..she has a good home but i dont want to get too scared and bite someone. Thanks in advance.

Answer
Give her plenty of love and attention.  When she reacts in fear, pat whatever, and talk to it, ''Good garbage bag'', etc.  You may choose to limit how much of that you do with strange men.  You might start with a select few men and kids and let them offer her treats.  That works better with highly food motivated dogs, but is with trying.  

Maybe some of the confidence building I suggest for submissive wetting would work.  Start with obedience training.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  As you praise the dog for following your commands, it will build its confidence.  Working in a class could help, and a good instructor could be a big help too doing things I just can't do over the net.  

Play tug of war with the dog and lose.  However at the end of the game, take the rope or toy and put it up, less the dog becomes confused about who is top dog.  Ropes from the pets' store quickly turn to hazardous shreds.   Ones I made  lasted much better.   Go to a hardware or home center that sells rope by the foot.  Buy 2' of 3/4" poly rope. Melt the ends, and tie  knots in it.   Get them as tight as possible, put it in a vise and pound it with a hammer.  Watch carefully, and be ready to discard when it comes apart.

Finally, make sure it has a den to live in.  If you are not using a crate, buy one.  The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at
feeding time for more than one dog.

If she has her crate to retreat to, she may be more confident when dangerous strangers come to the house.  If she wants to retreat to it, lurk there for a while and then come out, that would be progress.  

Thank you for taking her from the abusive home and giving her your love.  Yes, she could mature into what is called a fear biter.  The sooner you work on it, the easier it will be.