Hi all, I'm new here, with a new pup, Poppy. Poppy is 4.5 months old, a mix from a nearby Navajo Reservation (probably shepard, heeler, cattle dog). She was rescued from living in a shed when she was 2.5 weeks old and has lived with a foster family until we got her 1 week ago. She is having a hard transition (scared around new people, scared with new dogs, really scared on short walks around the block, really scared of kids, etc.) She hasn't shown any aggression whatsoever, but is just really nervous. She does warm up to new people after a bit but is really nervous when they first come, and we have never gotten her to settle down and go near a kid. On walks she freezes and starts shaking if she sees people or other dogs (even if they are far away and in fences/houses).

Anyways, we are planning a trip to see family 12 hours away over Christmas. There will be another dog at the house (very old) and 8 adults and one 12 year old. We are a bit nervous about the trip given her behavior so far. The shelter we got her from is suggesting that we leave her with the foster mom and have her work on training her in the specific areas she is struggling, taking her into new, uncomfortable situations and trying to work with her though it. We are worried that if we do that, she will do well in her old house, but when she gets back with us she will revert to her old tendencies. She used to live with dogs and the foster mom said she never was scared of them or people coming and going.

We don't want to leave her, because that sounds really sad, but are will to if it is truly what's best for her. She's gotten a bit more comfortable the more time she has spent with us, and we have been introducing her to new situations and people frequently, but this is our first experience with a dog behaving like this so aren't 100% sure how to help her.

Does anyone have any advice or experience with this? Like I said, we want what's best for her in the long run but aren't sure what that is! Thanks!

tl/dr: should we leave our anxious pup with her foster mom while we go on a trip for specific training, or take her to my families Christmas where she will be in a new place, with new people (things she is anxious about).