yeah, Little C used to bark fiercely at many random people and it was embarrassing to go anywhere with her. But, I persisted because I wanted her to get used to strangers. Now, every day I'm having to plead with her to STOP trying to visit with everyone she sees. Yesterday, I was trying to get her to go up some stairs because each step was only about 1.5 inches tall. She went halfway up no problem and then a group of women appeared. She went into a whole Look-at-the-tiny-little-puppy-so-cute-too-small-to-even-climb-stairs. They all ooohed and aaahed over her and petted her and talked to her and I could swear Sir N rolled his eyes. After they left, one turned back to wave to her, but she didn't see as she was already merrily going up the stairs. The woman got a good laugh out of that. Then, as we were heading home, she suddenly started barking at this man across the street. She wouldn't stop and I was about to pick her up to make her stop when he ducked into a building.
I thought she had outgrown this because it's been months since the last I'm-gonna-pick-on-that-person-too-far-away-to-do-anything-about-it episode.
but anyway, one thing that helped me was carrying a bunch of tiny treats with me when out walking with her. Anyone who looked interested in her got asked to give her a treat. So now, although she hasn't gotten anything from strangers since we left the island, she is still super pleased to see people--even kids.