socialising

Question
Hi!  I just got a new boston terrier puppy.  I'm worried about how he acts around other dogs.  My neighbors just got a puppy too and it's about 11 weeks old.  My puppy is 7.5 weeks.  When they are together the 11 week old wants to play, but my puppy just growls and bites(in a non-playful manner), then runs between my legs or behind me.  He seems to be scared of other dogs and has done this with a few other dogs too.  Even if they just come to sniff him he will growl.  I thought that he would be submissive, but he's more aggressive when he gets scared.  Is this normal, what should I do to get him to be better around other dogs?  There are a lot of dogs in our neighborhood and I really wanted him to be able to play with them when he's older but he can't if hes just going to fight.  Thank you!

Answer
Molly
I am guessing that the 11 week old puppy is much bigger than yours.  Yes it is normal for a scared puppy to try and scare off the other dog by growling.  It is imperative that you take your puppy to proper puppy socialising classes where your puppy is introduced in a controlled way to other puppies.
Kirsty