View Full Version : Dog Phobia HELP please!
hiya
Connor has a severe dog phobia and i really do not know what to do!
Started when he was about 18 months, a dog jumped at him in his pushchair. Hasnt been that bad but about a month ago we were in a park when out of nowhere this huge dog came out and jumped at him, while connor tried to run away obviosly it chased!
Since then his dog phobia has been awful, if he sees a dog he freaks out, grabs our hand and tries to pull us away, either that or he will freak and just run no caring where he goes or what danger he could be in, just as ling as he is away from the dog!
obviosly this is worrying us, he goes on preschool trips and although they are aware of it they may not have tight enogh hold of him to stop him running in the roaad!
Its got bad that last week while out at a show, he saw a dog and decided enough was enough he wanted to go home. When we go out he asks will there be dogs there when we say yes he tells us he dosent want to go. When we get in car he says hurry up mummy there may be a dog get in! Everytime we suggest going he says ' there might be dogs there'
What can we do? Getting a dog hs been suggested to us but im not a dog fan, plus we live in a flat with hardly any garden so really not the best place to have a dog!
we need to do something, its just getting worse so any ideas would be fab!
thanks guys
xx
.:SpIcYsPy:.
05-07-2006, 19:38
Has any of your close mates or family got a dog? If they are close by you could ask them to help and maybe go around to thiers for a while and get him to play with their dog?
I wouldn't get a dog even if I had a huge mansion... I couldn't imagine someone bringing 'creepy crawlies' near me!! It would just scare me even more personally!!
Maybe you should speak to people who specialise in certain phobia's.. if they suggest buy a dog then.. well :| You know..
You could have a chat to him and tell him that not all dogs are scary or bad!! Most of them are friendly and love little kids etc. You could read 'superhero dog' stories or just dog stories in general so he gets the idea of dogs being nice. If he freaks out you probably just need to keep reassuring him that most of the dogs are friendly.
When you go out you could make sure he understands to hold your hand and explain road dangers in the process and say you will like 'save him' from the dogs and take him somewhere else. If you see a dog before he does, try to get him to hold your hand and stay calm.
I probably stated the obvious stuff but I say ask the experts :p Hope he gets over it soon!! x
Has any of your close mates or family got a dog? If they are close by you could ask them to help and maybe go around to thiers for a while and get him to play with their dog?
I wouldn't get a dog even if I had a huge mansion... I couldn't imagine someone bringing 'creepy crawlies' near me!! It would just scare me even more personally!!
Maybe you should speak to people who specialise in certain phobia's.. if they suggest buy a dog then.. well :| You know..
You could have a chat to him and tell him that not all dogs are scary or bad!! Most of them are friendly and love little kids etc. You could read 'superhero dog' stories or just dog stories in general so he gets the idea of dogs being nice. If he freaks out you probably just need to keep reassuring him that most of the dogs are friendly.
When you go out you could make sure he understands to hold your hand and explain road dangers in the process and say you will like 'save him' from the dogs and take him somewhere else. If you see a dog before he does, try to get him to hold your hand and stay calm.
I probably stated the obvious stuff but I say ask the experts :p Hope he gets over it soon!! x
noone we know has a dog, only one which is massive and loves to jump on you and i dont think he would cope well with that, explained road dangers and that mummy and daddy wont let the dog hurt him or come near him but that dosent work. Havent read stories but he is quite happy to see tahm on tv and last week we went to a dog show, and he loved them! we were far away on a seating thing so he knew they couldnt get to him!
was thinking of looking for dog breeders but would that work?
i really dont wonat a dog as you say fleas are the last thing i need!
I think you just got to let him get used to them i am really scared of them but being 17 its not the same. When i was a kid my mum used to let me see my friends dogs and stroke them, i personally would not advise getting a dog but thats just my opinion. I think maybe just explaining that he has to keep calm and then they wont hurt him. Sorry this doesnt really help very much.
I think you just got to let him get used to them i am really scared of them but being 17 its not the same. When i was a kid my mum used to let me see my friends dogs and stroke them, i personally would not advise getting a dog but thats just my opinion. I think maybe just explaining that he has to keep calm and then they wont hurt him. Sorry this doesnt really help very much.
everything helps :)
ive remembered a lady who breeds labradors who used to go to my wieght watchers, going to see if i can find her number and maybe ring her
emma_strange
05-07-2006, 21:47
You said you know someone who breeds labradors, how about getting him to play with a puppy? Puppies are a lot less daunting, and by doing this you could work your way up to him seeing dogs.
Sorry if it's not much help. I'm terrafied of dogs myself, so i guess i cant really dish out the advice.
You said you know someone who breeds labradors, how about getting him to play with a puppy? Puppies are a lot less daunting, and by doing this you could work your way up to him seeing dogs.
Sorry if it's not much help. I'm terrafied of dogs myself, so i guess i cant really dish out the advice.
me too emma, im not as bada as i was but i am scared, figure its something we can do together.
pookie1968uk
05-07-2006, 22:06
i have to say my daughter had a really bad dog phobia that developed from nothing, she would scream if one came near her, wouldnt go to friends houses if they had one and generally gave them a wide bearth.
she is now 11 and she is not too bad at all with them, her friend has a dog and she now goes to her house and will stroke it a bit!
i think things just got better gradually as rebecca got older but i know thats no consolation if you want Connor to be ok with dogs now!
Is it worth having a look in the local yellow pages for kennels/rescue centres and maybe giving them a call to see if they have any older dogs that are calm - explain how Connor feels round them and they may have a dog there that he could go and visit and see that they are nothing to be afraid of (helping you at the same time too). I know of rescue centres down here where they operate the same sort of scheme - they take in dogs whos owners have died etc, and are seen as too old to rehome, but are really placid so are great with people who have fears as they dont jump up or bark, just sit there waiting for some fuss.
If its any consolation - Ci has the same fear (though not to the same degree as Con). Their automatic response is to run and then the dog chases as they think its a game etc and then they get worried that the dog is trying to get them.
Hope that helps though...
Is it worth having a look in the local yellow pages for kennels/rescue centres and maybe giving them a call to see if they have any older dogs that are calm - explain how Connor feels round them and they may have a dog there that he could go and visit and see that they are nothing to be afraid of (helping you at the same time too). I know of rescue centres down here where they operate the same sort of scheme - they take in dogs whos owners have died etc, and are seen as too old to rehome, but are really placid so are great with people who have fears as they dont jump up or bark, just sit there waiting for some fuss.
If its any consolation - Ci has the same fear (though not to the same degree as Con). Their automatic response is to run and then the dog chases as they think its a game etc and then they get worried that the dog is trying to get them.
Hope that helps though...
thanks ms yeah that helps a lot ill have to lookinto that!
noone we know has a dog, only one which is massive and loves to jump on you and i dont think he would cope well with that, explained road dangers and that mummy and daddy wont let the dog hurt him or come near him but that dosent work. Havent read stories but he is quite happy to see tahm on tv and last week we went to a dog show, and he loved them! we were far away on a seating thing so he knew they couldnt get to him!
was thinking of looking for dog breeders but would that work?
i really dont wonat a dog as you say fleas are the last thing i need!
Maybe pretend to someone selling pups that you are interested in buying a pup and takecon along to have a look at them,that way he will see pups(smaller dogs and may not be so scared) it's a start.
By the way if you frontline your dog you dont get flea's.:D
Maybe pretend to someone selling pups that you are interested in buying a pup and takecon along to have a look at them,that way he will see pups(smaller dogs and may not be so scared) it's a start.
By the way if you frontline your dog you dont get flea's.:D
:lol: that still dosent convoince me to get a dog!
everything helps :)
ive remembered a lady who breeds labradors who used to go to my wieght watchers, going to see if i can find her number and maybe ring her
Lab's re prob the best type of breed to introduce him to,id try to see the bitch though not a dog as bitches are calmer
:lol: that still dosent convoince me to get a dog!
No no i definatley wouldnt get one to help con's fear,that would be a totally wrong reason to purchase a pup/dog.Do all the thing suggested,he'l soon get there,i was scaed of them too when i was young.A dalmation jumped on me when i ran away from it and terrified me for ages after,i only got over it when i met my bf's dog who was a old lab and grew close to him etc,now i hve 6 mutts as you know!
No no i definatley wouldnt get one to help con's fear,that would be a totally wrong reason to purchase a pup/dog.Do all the thing suggested,he'l soon get there,i was scaed of them too when i was young.A dalmation jumped on me when i ran away from it and terrified me for ages after,i only got over it when i met my bf's dog who was a old lab and grew close to him etc,now i hve 6 mutts as you know!
im scared too, but im getting better. i dont show my fear around conm well not intentionally and if hes holding my hand i try not to drag him away. im definalty going to look up breeders now!
JustJodi
06-07-2006, 01:24
AWWW Debs.......you know I am a huge dog lover,. I think Con will out grow this... I certainly hope so,, Is there a pet shop near by.. maybe let him see that little puppies love to play and jump on him, those big dogs should not have been running around with out being on a leash. I wish Con could meet Max.. I have been pretty lucky in my life with my dogs, I have only had ONE bad dog, but that poor lil guy came from a puppy mill .
What about going to a dog pound where all those homeless dogs are at,, let Con see them ( they are always behind a gate or fence and can not get to him )
But maybe talk to a PROFESSIONAL about his phobia,, Poor lil guy give him a big old hug from his silent Aunt J:wub:
$sTaCeY$
07-07-2006, 17:52
maybe takiing him to see cute little puppies might help him realise they are in no way a harm to him?
AWWW Debs.......you know I am a huge dog lover,. I think Con will out grow this... I certainly hope so,, Is there a pet shop near by.. maybe let him see that little puppies love to play and jump on him, those big dogs should not have been running around with out being on a leash. I wish Con could meet Max.. I have been pretty lucky in my life with my dogs, I have only had ONE bad dog, but that poor lil guy came from a puppy mill .
What about going to a dog pound where all those homeless dogs are at,, let Con see them ( they are always behind a gate or fence and can not get to him )
But maybe talk to a PROFESSIONAL about his phobia,, Poor lil guy give him a big old hug from his silent Aunt J:wub:
will pass you hug on hun, im sure hell be pleased for it little bubba has sore throat and bad head today!
thought about going to RSPCA but they get all excited and bark at you as you go through and i dont know ho he would cope with it.
There are no pet shops near us that actually sell dogs, so cant even do that!
samantha nixon
09-07-2006, 20:28
going to a resuce centre is a good idea as some let you play in the fields with the dogs just to give them some exercise so if you let him pick a dog he would like to do it with and if you start with small little tthings like standing next to the dog and over a few visits you could build up and take the dog in the fields or for a walk
~*~Leanne~*~
26-07-2006, 21:17
border collies would be a good dog for him to meet as they are quite calm dogs (well i think any way) but i don't think labs are good as my frined has one and they are really jumpy but rescue centres could help but make sure they no that he dosn't like jumpy dogs as if they get excited they might jump at him hope he gets over his fear soon he hopefully would grow out of it
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