Dealing With Children’s Fear of Dogs
The fear of dogs may not make much sense to dog lovers, but for many children and adults it’s a very real problem. While any sane person is afraid of a snarling Doberman, those with true cynophobia feel terrified even of small, tail-wagging pups. Sometimes just hearing a dog bark can cause the person to panic. Uncomfortable and tenacious as this problem is, though, it can be overcome.
What causes a fear of dogs?
As with most phobias, the fear of dogs is usually learned. It most often starts in childhood and may come from being bitten or knocked over by a dog, seeing a parent act fearful around dogs, or simply seeing dogs portrayed as vicious in movies. It only takes one unfortunate incident to “set” the fear in a child’s mind. Don’t underestimate the power of this fear. Phobias are by definition strong, but irrational. Often the sufferer knows they have nothing to fear, but feels panicky anyway.
Helping your child overcome the fear of dogs
Since it’s nearly impossible to avoid dogs, it’s well worth helping your child overcome their fear. The most often recommended method is a highly controlled and gradual exposure to dogs. If your child is simply too afraid of dogs to be in the same room with one, you might start by watching a movie that features friendly dogs.
Once the child no longer fears the sound or sight of dogs, take them to see some puppies between four and six weeks (the age before pups get jumpy and yappy.) Let the child see and, if she’s willing, hold one puppy. Do this out of site of the mother, which may bark or growl possessively. If that goes well, the child may be ready to be near and even interact with an adult dog of a small, calm breed like a cocker spaniel or pug.
A fear of dogs can be triggered by a variety of causes, not all of which are obvious. One child may recover from a serious dog bite and still love dogs, while another may develop a strong fear just by having a small dog unexpectedly jump on them. Although this powerful fear can be frustratingly persistent, it is possible to overcome through very careful, gradual introduction to dogs.
