Tips with socializing

so far our 12 week old shar-pei has only met three other people outside our family of three adults. he's pretty scared of everyone, even dogs at the vet when we took him for his vaccinations.
He barks at dogs on TV and seems to growl and bark when people he doesn't know come too close.

he likes being talked to more than treats and being touched, so I'm telling my friends to baby-talk him and offer him treats from a far to help, but is there anythign else that could encourage him besides just to keep trying?

he'll be going to puppy school as soon as we can, after his second round of vaccinations, and I'm hoping that won't be too late!

I reeeally don't want him to end up aggressive or bitey in anyway through this fear as he'll be quite an intimidating-looking dog one day!

any tips?

dont forget for now you can socialise him with other dogs you KNOW have been vaccinated, or jump carry him to the park and sit with him on your lap and let lots of stranger come up and pat him (which they will) the more this happens the more used to being around strangers he will be

yeah, I was concidering where I could take him without a car and I'm not sure anywhere is safe around here :/ The only dog I know he could have met was the neighbour's and he was put to sleep a few days after we got ours coincidentally. and Cage is far too big to carry far...he's a big boy :P I need to invite more friends over I think. not many of them are dog people, so it'll take some persauding for them to get to know my growling dog

good info.... i awlasy take my puppies to school at finishing time wrapped up in my arms the noise and little people are great ways to get your pup ready for the outside world...when vacs are done we take a walk up there a few times a week ) all those little ankles and fingers to nibble ) and the kids love it

that's a great idea! I live 5 mins from a first school, and I don't think he'll growl at so many kids if we're far away enough at first. he's too big to carry though, so I'll just wait a week until the rest of his vaccinations I guess...but it's still a good idea.

Really at 12 weeks??

yeah, we're getting him weighed today, so I'll be able to back that up soon lol

maybe I'm just weak, but it's the awkward large size of him that's just as bad as the heaviness!

I socialise my pup from 8 weeks (as soon as he/she comes home). I carry them everywhere, get as many different people as possible to fuss the dog (without frightening him/her), take the pup to dog club but keep him/her on my knee, trips out in the car, to friends/family houses. I would also put the pup on the ground as much as possible, where there aren't lots of other dogs.

This is such a critical age and your pup needs to see as much as is humanly possible, but in a safe environment so as not to scare him.

Another good way of getting your pup used to lots of different people is to sit outside your local supermarket and let them watch all that is going on.

The pup will meet hundreds of different people - your pup doesn't have to interract with them all. He will meet young and old people (and all of us in between ), people with glasses, walking sticks, trolleys, children, people of different race, people with hoodies on etc etc.

In addition to all the people he will meet there are all the different noises and smells as well.

It is surprising how much you can introduce your new pup to even when it can't go for a walk yet.

Another good way I found was at a car boot sale,

Roxy loved it, nearly everyother person stroked her on the way past and lots of kids stopped and gave her pats etc, I think it really helped