help! unsocialized dog!

Hi there!  I am not a trainer or anything - but, IMHO, I think you should put aside the idea of a dog park for a little while at least.  It sounds to me (based on limited information) like your dog is showing signs of fear aggression towards strange dogs.  Based on a lot of factors, your dog may or may not be able to become 100% comfortable around strange dogs.  But, I think it is very very probable that your dog can get a lot better with work.  I am sure others will come along who have experienced this issue first hand - I have not, so I don't know exactly what you should do...  but, I think that you want to start by teaching a mutually exclusive behavior (like a "sit" and a "look at me") and then increase distractions until those commands are pretty solid.  Then, you go on a walk.  When you see a dog (and you should be on the lookout so you see them before your dog spots them), cross the street or get some distance between you and the other dog and then have your dog sit and look at you as the dog passes by.  Reward your dog for being calm and listening to you instead of reacting to the other dog.  Gradually, as your dog can do this with no reactions to the other dog, start decreasing the distance between yourself and the other dogs.  If you could get to the point where you can consistenly go everywhere and yoru dog doesn't react to strange dogs - that would be great!  Dog parks are not for all dogs...  if your dog isn't comfortable playing with dogs who are not in his pack, from everything I have read, that is normal - what I would concentrate on, is getting rid of the unwanted reaction to other dogs...  Ignoring other dogs and concentrating on you, his leader, is good too...

This doesn't sound like a dog that would have much fun at the dog park.
If he is fine with your dog, he is probably capable of liking other dogs, but my guess is that he will always be somewhat leery of strange ones.  You can improve on this with diligent training - read "Scaredy Dog" by Ali Brown, & "The Cautious Canine" by Patricia McConnell.  Both books have some good confidence building and desensitization exercises you can do with your little one.

Just wanted to reiterate what others have said about taking your dog to the dog park.  We have a rescue pooch who has aggressive issues, and at first we didn't realize it.  A dog park had just opened two blocks from our house, and the community had fought hard to get it in the first place, so we were anxious to use it to get our dogs exercised.  So, nontheless, we were VERY disappointed when we realized that we could not take him there.  But, we also discovered he does fine on walks and we loves to run with us and go on bike rides with us.  And, we further realized that our other dog really didn't like the park so much either - we'd take her in, and she didn't really interact with the other dogs much. 
 
That said, that doesn't mean you can't train/manage your dog to such an extent that dog park visits can happen again.  But work on the aggressive issues first, and see how your dog does.

Build the bond between the two of you using obedience training classes.  After obedience commands are well under control in the class setting, you could start working on other dogs.  One way to do that is to find dogs in fenced yards and work your dog ACROSS the street.  Eventually, try and be able to practice a few behaviors on the side walk near the other dogs fence. 
 
Depending on the training option you find, there may be instructors who will know dogs that would be good for slow introductions and practice of commands while the dog wanders around or does stay exercises close to your dog.

Oh - that is a good idea I hadn't thought of- it would be great, if after a while of you working with your dog around other dogs at a distance, a trainer could help you introduce your dog to some well trained dogs who he/she knows...  Our dog, who is not so great with people, but good with most dogs, was used by our trainer for one of these exercises and he said the other dog did very well... Made me proud that for all the difficulties we have, Wesley can help another dog in this way []

Hi! I think i know exactly what you mean, my dogs terrible for it too. He came from a kennel and was the last pup they had left when I went to fetch him, due to a skin condition he had for a while I could not attend the puppy socialisation classes, which was a real shame. Now when he sees any other dog he pulls, barks jumps around and genrally gets very stressed, I am no expert but I assume its fear based aggression as he is not used to other dogs. I am going out of my mind with it as i just cant get his attention, especially when theres another dog around. He's distracted by anything and everything when I try to train him? I'm sure its very intimidating to other people out in the sun walking there dogs [>:]

sounds exactly like my dog! whenever there is another dog around he goes so crazy that it seems impossible to do anything to get his attention! i know once he gets used to another dog he's fine, cuz he loves our other dog...but our dogs are totally a part of our everyday lives...we love to take them traveling and camping and to parks...so its really difficult with him having this issue...is it possible for dogs to totally overcome this??