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Helping your Child to                     Overcome a Fear of Dogs

A child's mind harbors magical fantasies and frightful fears. Some fears are completely imaginary, such as monsters under the bed, while others may have some base in reality.   The worst, but most common are the fears placed there by their parents.  This particular one can lead to a life of horror and injury.

One of the top fears that children experience is the fear of animals, most often dogs. This article deals with the common childhood fear of canines that is not a result of a real dog attack. If your child has been the victim of an actual canine attack, please look into professional therapy to help your child overcome such a traumatic event.

For most children, however, this fear is not triggered by an attack, but by an event such as a large dog running toward them. While the dog's intentions may have been to play, the sight of a large animal with unknown intentions loping toward them can prompt an anxiety toward all canines in some children. Allie_Tiffany.jpg (11018 bytes)

As a parent, there are techniques that you can use to help your child to avoid developing a full-fledged phobia around canines:

  • Acknowledge your child's fear. Dogs can be unpredictable, and it is important that all children realize the potential danger that dogs can present. However, they must also be reassured that most dogs are perfectly friendly.
  • The unknown creates and intensifies fear. Help your child to learn about dogs and the proper way to behave around them with resources especially for kids and parents.
  • Teach your child to respect dogs. Tell them to speak softly and touch gently ­ never pull, poke, hit or yell. Allowing your child to mistreat a dog in any way could result in them getting bitten, which would only reinforce their fears.
  • Take your child to visit a friend or neighbor who has a friendly, small dog that is well-mannered and good with children. Regular visits will help your child adjust, showing him or her that dogs can be friendly and nice.
  • Don't make your child touch a dog if he or she is afraid. Let them make contact when they are comfortable. Forcing them to touch before they are ready will only reinforce their negative association linking fear and dogs.
  • Praise your child for any positive steps they make in overcoming their fear.
  • Your child's fear of dogs will often dissipate as they get older. Don't be surprised if your fearful five-year-old is soon begging you for a dog of their own!