My dogs fears!!

Question
I got White White, which is a golden retriever cross 2 months ago from a kennel. As I know she had been homeless almost since she was born. The vet said she probably has an age of 2.

She is a lovely and behaved doggie, however walking her everyday is a big big challenge for me! She is so scared of people, no matter kids or adults. She keeping pulling the leash and even scratched me a few times trying to escape. The situation could be even worser when there is traffic, I mean bicycles,trollys...too difficult to bring her crossing a road.

I bring her out for 2 hours almost every morning to meets friends, tried many methods to comfort her and give her confident, however, all seems don't help at all.

I got a friend who has a male golden retriever, he is now 4 yrs old, White White, my girl will only follow him to any where, even enter the lift (which is like a trap to her) to go back home! I found out my girl does trust a big dog rather than me.

Is it because she use to following the peer group when she was homeless in the past? Please show me how to overcome the fears with her, thank you!

Tiffany

Answer
Well there's a few things you can try,if you haven't already first go slow like have one friend come to your house,insted of talking her out to see alot of people things ect and when she allows them to pet her,give her a small treat

Now you also meantion she trusts the other dog,sometimes they recomend another dog to help bring out the confidence in a shy one-however if you cannot handle owning two dogs,you can always set up ;playdates' with her and your friend's dog,and have people meet her in the yard when she is playing with him