rescue dogs

Bless you -- do you have any ideas specifically what the problem areas are??  Desensitizing a dog like that so they CAN be successful in another home is what I call "heroic".  It's people like you who make the difference to these dogs.
 
If you can narrow down what she's specifically afraid of (men, loud noises, etc.) I can probably help you figure what to do to de-sensitize and build confidence.  Or even if you know what sort of abuse went on it can help knowing how to turn it all right.
 
Even if both dogs were in the same situation -- one may have a more sensitive nature than the other and the hurt can go deeper. 
 
 

I don't have any answers for you, but I wanted to bump this for you so that someone could help you.
I adopted a dog in August who has just (within the past month) started to really open up to us and become a truly happy dog.

And Callie and I must have been on the same wave, answering at the same time.

Good luck!

I  don't foster but obivously just show her that  everything that you do is rewarding for her. No yelling or anything. Give her space and if she doesn't want you to do something leave it.  I'm sure you will do  great! Sorry I couldn't help more. =)

I don't foster, but adopted Romeo from a shelter.  Romeo was loved the first years of his live, but ended up  in a very bad situation, where his spirit was totally broken.  He was outside tied up to a tree and beaten up for barking too much when thundering and lightning (just an example of what was done to him, his left front leg was broken and also 2 of his ribs)

He came to live with me, afraid of everything even the wind, he had no confidence, and did not know how to play with other dogs, it took me a year almost, to get him to where he is today:  a dog who is the most loving, trusting, open to anything, full of himself who thinks the world revolves around him.

Thank you for fostering, thank you for helping.   I agree with turtle2898, to today, all Romeo needs is a stern " no" for correction, anything more than that and he hides and does not come out the rest of the day, I found this out when my uncle came to stay with me for a couple of days, and he screamed at Romeo for jumping in the furniture.  That was the day, my uncle went to stay at a hotel for the last days of his visit. []

our amelia is a very timid dog. she has been since before we adopted her. i would have to say the one thing that has helped her the most, was the clicker training we have done with her. i was very surprised, but once we started doing that she gained a great deal of confidence. before she was afraid of my parents and brother when would come to visit. now she will take treats out of my dad's hand and let him pet her.

this wasnt an overnite change. it took a lot of gentleness from the humans, and a little training on both parts. []

Pyllis:  Not a fostermom but a fosterdad.  I was relunctant to respond because my experience with a frightened foster dog was 7 months.  Since the last poster stated it took a year I feel more comfortable in sharing my experience.
 
A few year back when I firsted starting inviting foster dogs into my home my 5th and 6th dog was name Barnum and Bailey.  They were male lab mixes, middle age, brothers but their personalities were opposite.  Bailey was very outgoing and playful while Barnum was shy, timid, and afraid of men.  Oh how Barnum loved women and was so comfortable around them.  But the world does not have only women in it so Barnum had to get comfortable with other situations if he is to survive.  Bailey was adopted in a couple of months while Barnum was with me for 8 months, the longest a foster has stayed with me.  Barnum lived with adults and 5 other dogs and visitors would come by with their children and pets.  A lot of exposure to real life situations.  Barnum was afraid in my house and mostly stayed under a table or behind a chair.  Barnum would come to me when called, get his pat, and then returned to his secure area.  He would always be at the outer edge of the room but would follow me from room to room.  At night after I settled in bed he would slip into my room and sleep behind the tv.  For my fosters, I don#%92t have a lot of expectations and I give them all the time they need to adjust to their new surroundings, people, and family pets.  After about 6 and half months, the moment I will always remember, Barnum joined in with the other dogs in play.  He then joined in play that included me.  From that point his look totally changed.  He was alert, started to get in shape from exercise, moved to the center of the living room, and basically came out of his shell.  He was adopted a month later and there was no regression in the transition to the new family. 
 
Follow the advice given and give your foster the time to work through his frighten issue.  Good luck.

Great references for you: "The Cautious Canine" and "Help For Your Shy Dog".  You can get them at dogwise.com.  In the meantime, don't soothe the dog when she's fearful, and quietly praise when she's brave. []