Super Shy Golden

Question
I purchased my beloved Golden, Boomer, from a pet store. He is wonderful and we love him dearly. We could not ask for a better dog. Boomer is a year and a half now and I put him through basic obedience when he was just a few months old. He did great and I signed him up for intermediate classes as well. Boomer has always been a little shy, but he really seemed to freak out when we began intermediate classes. It was so bad, we dropped out.
Boomer is very, very shy around people he doesnt know. He hides behind our legs like a little boy when new people are in the house. His tail is between his legs and he acts as if he has been abused! He is so afraid of other people, he doesnt even like to go on walks. He sufferes through them because he knows I want him to and the minute we head home he knows and starts pulling me on his leash towards home! It is crazy! Is there anything we can do to help him feel more comfortable with other people?? Should I try intermediate obedience classes again? Boomer is a really wonderful dog. I wish we could find a solution so he could make more friends. I know he would really benefit from being socialized more, but I feel so sorry for him whenever I take him out of the house because he is SO scared. Do you have any suggestions??

Answer
How old was he when you bought him?  That is exactly the behavior that would be expected of a dog that met very few people before he was 12 weeks old.  I really don't think people walking by a cage in a pet store are enough.  Poor early socialization is as hard to overcome later as poor breeding.  Most Goldens are highly food motivated.  Try giving treats to strangers to him for them to give to him.  Treats don't need to be fancy.  I have carried kibble in a 35 mm film canister.  Once people bribe him into letting them close, let them pet him.  Work on this.  The closer to 3 years old he gets, the harder it will be to change him.   

Meeting strangers as a young puppy is so important, that puppies, bred to be service dogs, are given service dog tags when they go to their foster homes at 7 weeks.  A few weeks ago, we took a couple of 7 week old Goldens to help a friend.  The next day, we had them at a fundraiser in front of Wal-Mart.  The next weekend we took the one to a convention. The one evening the group was passing her up and down the table at a restaurant.