How can I help my dog be more outgoing?

First, understand that each dog is unique and has its own personality and temperament. Second, when the dog sees you as its leader or Alfa, it will feed off of you. If you are calm and confident, it will feel that. If you are uneasy, worried, or otherwise unsettled, it will pick up on and mimic that. Third, enourage behavior you desire and be very careful not to encourage negative behavior. If you dog is afraid and shy, don't coddle it. If it's getting attention for its behavior, it is seen as either a reward for that behavior or as reinforcement of its fears of you respond negatively, like getting upset or angry. Ignor undesired fear, and praise relaxed confident behavior. Allow for adequate time for the transition to occurs. Dogs with fear or timid mess won't change overnight. It's a long term issue you will have to be mindful of all the time. If the anxiety is severe, you can use the aid of aroma therapy and herbal remedies to promote smoothing and calm feelings. There are both supplements/medications that can help internally, as well as fragrances that relax when emitted in the air.

Being shy isn't a flaw; some dogs are just shy and don't feel the need to interact with everyone. If he just doesn't desire to interact, let him do him. I'd be stressed, too, if there was someone constantly making me interact with strangers I had no interest in interacting with. However, nervousness or fear isn't a good feeling for your dog, so helping him overcome his anxiety around new people will be beneficial to his health.

I wouldn't force him to interact. Ask visitors to give him space: avoid eye contact, don't touch him, don't talk to him. Give your dog a safe place to go, like his bed or kennel, and give him something to keep him occupied, like a bone/stuffed Kong/etc. If he starts showing interest in a stranger, praise and reward him for his bravery. If the other person is willing, have them toss treats his way while still ignoring him. Over time, he will become calmer when in the presence of new people, and may start soliciting attention. The important thing is to let him be in charge of his own personal space. Dogs (like babies and pregnant ladies) are often treated like communal property, but this really isn't fair to them. If you let him decide who gets to touch him and who doesn't and back him up in his decisions, he'll be a lot happier, calmer, and confident with new people.