Submissive golden male

Question
I purchased a golden male from a brteeder and took him home at 7 weeks. He came from a large litter,mostly male. I believe only one female.He is my only pet. I understand vets suggest that dogs are socialized between 7 and 15 weeks. He has not had that opportunity. I have walked and run him for two hours at a time on hiking trails near my home, since he was about 4 mos. old He is now 13 months. He occasionally come across  dogs and thier owners on these walks and he goes out of his way to avoid comming close to other dogs. He's alittle better with humans he meets. He has been rushed by a few aggressive dogs on these walks but never bitten or mauled by them. Most just want to play or are curious. When I try to get him close to a friendly dog he stiffens and adopts a submissive posture. I had him at my sisters house,who had two large adult dogs and a 10 week old puppy and he wanted nothing to do with any of them. My dog is very smart,has no other bad habits,very playful and enegetic,obedient and the perfect dog for my situation. Icould not ask for a better companion. I would like to see him less affraid and more playful with other dogs. How can I accomplish this now?

Answer
Start by building his confidence.  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.  

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.

When you meet other dogs, take the lead, greeting them and with the owner's permission petting them and making a fuss over them.  In time, he may follow suit.