Buddy's best bud

by Eileen
(Venice, Fl.)

I have a 1 1/2 year old jack russell/dachshund mix that is terrified of other dogs (even Chihuahuas!) He barks, growls, whines. He has pulled so hard on his harness, that he actually wiggled out of it once. My mother-in-law got Buddy (the dog) from a shelter, and they had kept him separate from the other dogs. They said that he had been found in the woods, but didn't know how long he had been there. My mother-in-law couldn't keep up with him, so my husband and I stepped up and offered to take him. This dog loves people, whether he knows them or not, but tenses when he sees other dogs. -And the strange thing is that when he sees them his tail is wagging, until they get too close to each other. I'm afraid to take him to a dog park, because I don't know what will happen. How can I socialize him? I keep a squirt bottle of water handy, to distract his attention, but the closer the other dogs get, he goes ballistic. I need some help here, please!