My 16 month old beagle mix is afraid of people

Question
My 16 month old beagle mix was abused when he was a puppy. I did not get him until he was 6 months old and i am having a very hard time with him.. He refuses to go outside while there are people about... He is a very loving dog around my family and i but as soon as some of my friends come over that have been around since he was a puppy he starts freaking out like barking, whining ,shaking, runs and hides in my bedroom, and if someone tries to pet him he pees or poops himself... When i take him outside for a walk to the park there has to be no moving cars or no people especially children around and then everything is fine but as soon as he hears or sees something he's pulling, tugging,and tucking his tail between his legs trying to drag me back home. I could really use some help because i have tried everything i could think of like enrolling in a dog training course just so he could socialize with others, trying to play with him outside while the neighborhood children played, and I have tried the treat method but nothing seems to work and everything that i have tried i did constantly for weeks or months at a time. So if you have any tips or suggestions please let me know. Thank you !!

Answer
You need to build up his confidence in himself.  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.

You also need to to build up his trust in you.  ''Elevation for small puppies: Sit on the floor and gently put your hands around your pup's middle, below his front legs, and lift him up. He is facing you. Hold him for 15 seconds. Repeat until he no longer struggles. If he is past 10-12 weeks, lift his front feet off the ground, but don't pick him up.

Cradling for small puppies: Hold your puppy gently on his back, as you would cradle a small baby. If he struggles, hold him firmly until he quiets for 10-15 seconds. With larger pups, you can do this as your sit on the floor, with your pup between your legs.

Quiet lying down: Place your pup on the floor on his side, with all 4 legs pointing away from you. Use your hands on his neck/shoulder area and middle, to hold him in this position. When he is quiet, praise him. Lengthen the time that you keep him quietly in this position. When he accepts this position well, handle his paws and muzzle, while keeping him quiet.''

The quotes mean this isn't my original work. It is copied from my Puppy Raising Manual. I have long used these or minor variations of them, and they are very effective. You may want to give him a belly rub while he is on his back too. Helps bonding. There is a big difference between him rolling over and demanding a belly rub, and you choosing a time to roll him over and rub his belly. The latter cements your place as pack leader.

Were you having other people offer him treats?  Start with the ones he has seen the most of, but still doesn't trust.  It will take along time, but you should be slowly able to over come the problem.