Help, dog scared of strangers

Hi, not been on for ages but thought this would be the best place for advice.

My 3yr old springer bitch is scared of strangers, Particularly men. We've known her since she was 2days old and owned her since she was 6wks old, so don't really know how this fear developed as she was brought up around lots of different people ( i worked at a riding school and she came to work with me everyday). Although there is a possibilty a guy i worked with and didn't particularly get on with could have done something when i was teaching as she was in a stable if she couldn't be with me.

Its not just grown men she is funny with she reacts to young boys too, although not in an aggressive way ( she barks as she is runnig backwards!!).

I have just moved house and so don't really know any "strangers" to ask to help socialise her with the whole idea of strangers are nice with treats/toys.

any help much appreciated as she would be greta at flyball or agility but i can't take her if she'll be scared of everyone there. lol

thanks again

I had the exact same problems with Reah when I took her on, but I was lucky I got to know a elderly chap who had a old rotti, he used to walk with me, although she grumbled and growled at him, but he used to bring a pocket full of treats with him. He started throwing them on the floor for her and evetually (in her time) she sneaked closer and closer to him. Then one day a break through as she snatched it from his hand, after that it was all systems go. It took Reah just over two years though (she was about 5yrs when I took her on). I used to walk her regular along the road and walk her past as many men as poss, just reassuring her as we went.

Hope you find a solution, it can be hard

thanks for replying so quick. she was making progress until recently. she would walk past men quietly, just sort of glance nervously as she went past and sort of cower lower to the ground (i.e submissive sort of behaviour) and then with all going so well we had a set back when a boy (approx 6/7 yrs old) startled her, he was standing 1/2 in shadow with a really sort of square/dominant stance so she ran backwards, barking. I reassured her and we walked past, she kept a good eye on him. just as we past him he decided it would be a good idea to chase her which obviously really worried her. thats even with me telling him to leave her alone. hes lucky she isn't fear aggressive because if she was he would have been close enough to be bitten!! he just didn't care (i told him not to chase her because she was scared and one day he might get bitten by another dog if he did the same).

i feel so sorry for her because she is only relaxed if there is no-one too close

So sorry to hear that. Sounds like a recruitment of a man needed......if you could get one to help you.

I know how hard it was with Reah, although with her all she wanted to do was attack them. Not a safe thing to have walking past men but we got there in the end. Have you tried a behaviourist, they can have some wonderful solutions, although they charge. Or a training class, if they will deal with the issue, at least that way you'll have someone to work along with you. Good luck