Timid/Shy 6 month old standard poodle

Question
We recently received a 6 month old standard poodle as a gift. She's a sweet dog- very loyal and obedient with me. However, she's scared of everyone else-especially my husband. Everytime he tries to get near her she barks or will perform submissive urination. I know for a fact that she came to us from a very loving home. Please help!!!

Answer
I have been heavily involved in producing dogs comfortable around strangers for a long time.  It starts with selecting the breeding stock and caring for them.  Puppies need contact with people starting the day they are born, and the more the better between 6 and 12 weeks.  Living in a home with loving people may not prepare a dog for going to a new home.  

She should eventually adjust to living with you, but it may take time.  Keep you voices low and friendly.  Let her keep her distance if she wants to.  Do not make eye contact or let her see your teeth.  She is a dog.  Stand tall, give a big toothy smile, and look her in the eye, and she may flee.  Goldens are usually very food motivated, be free with the treats.  Even a piece of her kibble will do.  Most Goldens love people and attention.  She should be much more accepting of you and your husband in a few weeks.  

The submissive wetting may or may not go away.   Many dogs eventually outgrow it, but you can reduce it by building the dog's confidence up.  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.