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.
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.
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!
