8 mo black lab, scared of everything

Question
The subject line pretty much describes my 8 month old puppy. He's scared of people, toys, basically anything that moves. He hates car rides, any one he doesn't know and he hates go to the park. It's really hard for us, because we just moved into a new home and we constantly have new people coming in and out. He hides under the bed when new people come in. When he was a puppy, the people left him outside all the time. He was kept in the chicken coop with four other puppies. Their mother was chained up and only let loose to nurse them. Their little boy had a go-cart that he used to chase the dogs around the yard in. I think these tramatic episodes early in his life my be causing his fear of everything. But do you have any suggestions that might help him get over his fear of everything? Please and thanks,

Shelly and Gary

Answer
Early socialization is extremely important.  I am talking 6-12 or maybe 16 weeks.  He may never be normal.  Try to avoid rewarding him for showing fear, none of the ''Oh, poor little doggy.'' stuff.  Instead, be happy and excited when people come, pushing the envelop of human behavior.  It is easier with objects when nobody else is around.  Go up to them and praise them and pat them.  I chose not to pat the ladies in the broom stick skirts my one Lab puppy was afraid of.  In time, he may do better.  Most Labs tend to be bold, friendly dogs.  His genetic programming may help undo some of the early abuse.  

Obedience train him.  The 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/  I am not sure how he would do in a class.  You could try one.  Many instructors are quite good having worked with many problem dogs.  Unfortunately there are some dolts.  

I am much better at starting a dog off right than fixing abused ones.  You might find better help with a Lab rescue.  Rescues are dogs that lost their home, but were taken into a foster home to be retrained as necessary and placed in the right home for them.  You may find a rescue near you starting at
http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm  There are some real dog lovers in the rescues and you might find somebody happy to help you retrain your own dog.  Used to be some good rescue people on question and answer sites, but the know nothings ran off all the ones I knew.