Rico is doing great.  He is learning really quick and has been a blast.  I have switched him over to Native dog food and that seems to have taken care of his digestive issues. 

What I want to check with you guys is how he acts around other dogs and people.  I have made sure I introduce him to any and everyone I come in contact with, but he will tuck his tail and growl at them untill he smells them then he is ok.  I have never had a dog that has taken this long to warm up to anyone, even if he has met them before.  Also, when hes around other dogs he is really scared and pees everywhere.  Just this weekend, we went to a friends house and they have a couple of dogs and when introduced to them, one showed some aggression to him and he immediately fell over and screamed really loud even though no one has touched him or anything. 

I understand being submissive, but it seems he is just plain scared.  I am not sure what is the cause but I need to find a way to make him comfortable.  Any suggestions will be appreciated. 

He is a great member of the family, but I am concerned to how he acts toward other people and dogs.

Thanks

That makes alot of sense.  Thank you. I do plan on hunting him, I just haven't introduced him to birds yet do to this........I want to do it right so I don't want to make him scared of that, just want to do it right.  I will try that. 

Anymore info is greatly appreciated.

Derrick

I do agree that you have to ignore that behavior, don't do the "aww poor pup, its okay" with him.  It does reinforce the behavior you are trying to change.  My Maple is not submissive with dogs, but early on we would  have growling issues at people if a single person would approach, or if someone was wearing a hat, or an umbrella or anything that looked different to her.  We worked at the no eye contact and she would get treated, not really giving her the chance to growl.  We would continue working on with these encounters for a few weeks, ultimately having the stranger giving her a treat and then slacking off on the treating gradually.  This worked rather quickly.  Maple is not like our lab who goes up to anyone to get attention, but she does not growl or avoid them, but is now rather indifferent about them, which to me is perfect.  I don't worry about her jumping on anyone.  Unlike the lab I have that wants to jump up and give everyone a kiss right on the lips.  Now her paws will not touch you, just her nose right on the face.  Credit for that trick is given to my daughter, who was then 12 who thought it was really cute trick.

I agree with Bev on the obedience training.  It gives you a good atmosphere of other dogs in training to introduce your dog to others that are there for the same reason.   Even if you start out with a "pet training class" first.  This gets you around people that like dogs and will help you with the people approach issue as well as the socialization with other dogs in a controlled environment.

Now I do not hunt, and from how it sounds, if the other dogs will ignore your dog, that would help with the socialization with other dogs.