Teaching my dog to meet new dogs

Question:
 I have a 9 month old mixed breed (from the humane society) that has played with a couple of dogs and really enjoyed it. However, we went to obedience class, where it was difficult but not impossible to get her to focus on what we were doing instead of the other dogs. Now we are doing agility, and she is very focused in class but out on walks or in the park she is beyond control when she sees another dog. I don't know if I should try to let her meet more dogs and play with them or if I should try to find a way to control her. Please help, she is a very sweet, loving, wonderful dog and I want to do the best I can for her.
Answer:
 Chances are she needs a different approach to socializing that what many people teach (get the dog out and everywhere and the method not tailored to the needs of the individual dog). This is a cut and paste of a draft from my new class manual on an overview of socializing... SOCIALIZING The best-trained dog in the world is nothing if he does not have the confidence or social skills to handle every day life. Puppies and dogs need to be exposed to a variety of situations, smells, sounds and textures starting from day one. First you must throw out the concept of hauling your dog everywhere to socialize. Yes, you need to get your dog acclimated and accepting of all situations possible, but too much too soon for a pup that is out of control or fearful can be just as dangerous as not enough socializing. The wrong type of socializing based on the needs of the dog can have a bad ending. Dogs that lunge and jump at things and are out of control are dog (or puppies) that may be lower confidence and have no idea how to properly respond so they act out. Puppies that shy away from things also are lower confidence and need to have it built up. These situations require very quiet and gradual socializing as opposed to pulling the dog through your local pet supply superstore on a weekend or even on a quieter weekday. Failing to take out of control dog or fearful dogs out and about is failing to teach them manners and how to handle things. Then when you need to, the dog has no idea how to react, the owner may become loathe to take the critter out and therefore denies learning and social opportunities – vicious cycle. Start off very quiet and low key – think an empty park. Just the sounds and sights and smells are enough of a new thing. When the dog is comfortable and under control, you can start adding gradual stresses. If the dog gets too scared or out of control, back things off a bit. Build confidence and self-control and progress from there. Second, Never force a strange situation on Puppy or dog. It can frighten him literally forever to that situation. Instead, let Puppy investigate at his own rate. Reassure with a fun tone and make the thing seem exciting so the Puppy wants to investigate. Do not sit and cuddle the Puppy, it may make him think it is a good thing to act fearful. Let Puppy see or hear new things from a distance and gradually move closer - keep your tone fun. (HAPPY! HAPPY!) Should Puppy get nervous, stop for a bit and wait until Puppy relaxes. Should your Puppy appear fearful of every situation, every noise, nip when confronted with a new person or act aggressive, you may wish to seek a behaviorist. This is a person who has gone to school and ideally is certified if not degreed in animal behavior. But also look at how you are training: do you expose Puppy to too much too fast? Some puppies and dogs can see the world in a day and still want more while others can only cope with a new experience a day or even a week. Do you accidentally do things to encourage this behavior such as rewarding fear or aggression without realizing it? Could there be something physically wrong with Puppy so he does not feel like exploring?
Answer:
 OK, does this sound more like what needs to be done? She just has little self control and needs to learn manners? If so (again, from my draft of my new manual:) LEASH LUNGING/DESENSITIZING TO THINGS AROUND THE DOG WHILE ON WALKS A big complaint of dog owners is that their dogs or even puppies lunge at things while out on walks. Regardless of the size of dog you have, lunging needs to be stopped. Part of having a well-mannered companion is having one that has solid leash manners at all points in time. I have watched dogs actually drag children into busy streets. Therefore for safety reasons, no child should ever walk a dog without a responsible adult present. There is just too much that can happen. If your dog lunges at things while walking, he needs to build up self-control or even self-confidence in how to behave. This is going to mean YOU need to teach him that. Along with teaching walking on a loose lead, we have to teach dogs to tolerate things around them. You are going to have to watch your dog closely and learn what body language he exhibits before he starts lunging. It will vary dog to dog. Some may be very overt while others may only give a flick of an ear or a change in stance. This is where owner observation and understanding of the individual dog owned is vital. Every dog has a threshold between not lunging and lunging – this is the point where the dog is still voice responsive and shows interest in you and the thing he may lunge at but has not started and actual lunge. It is vital that this threshold not be broken. As soon as a lunge starts, you have lost control of the exercise and need to start again. Punishing this is futile, builds stress and anxiety and since it is your fault for not watching the dog closely enough and backing off before the lunge, not fair. It can also encourage the dog to lunge more for a few reasons including you are being not fun or even mean or since you are reacting negatively to the thing, it may be a threat. Remember, you are the one teaching tolerance and building up that threshold. You need to reduce stress levels in the dog; punishing does not do this. Have the dog walking with you under control. When you see something the dog may wish to lunge at, start to gain the dog’s attention. As long as the dog will focus on you and work with you, start to slowly approach the thing. Watch the dog carefully, when he starts paying more attention to the thing and less to you but is not lunging yet STOP! Get the dog eve more interested in you, do some fun training and gain full attention for a few moments, praise and walk away. Next time try and get a bit closer. Always stop the exercise when the dog is paying attention to you and things are fun. Eventually, you should be able to walk close to the thing and the dog not lunge. Note: If you have to walk past something you know will cause a lunge, shorten the leash up tight to you (do not hang the dog, but give the dog no extra slack either). Start getting the dog to focus on you by using silly voices, treats, toys, etc and walk past QUICKLY without stopping. The dog is not ready for this level of closeness yet, his tolerance is not built up enough and you need to get in and out as fast and as positively as possible.