|
The bad memory you have of being bitten by the neighbor’s dog when you were a child is having a horrible effect on your entire family. Your spouse and kids want a dog. The kids have already begged you to adopt a male dog named Bosco they met at the shelter. You have intellectualized this and know that your fear of dogs isn’t fair to keep your kids from knowing the love of a dog. You can’t keep putting off the decision about whether or not you will let the family dream become a reality, so you decide that you have to overcome your fear of dogs, which is also known as cynophobia. That is easier said than done, but with a little work, and many baby steps, you can reach your goal of overcoming your fear of dogs. Meet a Puppy Puppies under the age of two months old are usually very cute. At this young age, they aren’t likely to do any damage to you. Find someone who has a litter of puppies. Explain your fear to that person and ask if you can meet a puppy away from its mother. When you get to meet a puppy, take the time to enjoy rubbing its fur. While this won’t necessarily make you fully overcome your fear, it is a good place to start. Watch Adult Dogs If there is a dog park in your area, spend some time watching the dogs play. You don’t need to actually go into the park. You can sit in your vehicle and watch the dogs. After doing this for a few days, get out of your vehicle and go somewhere outside to watch the dogs. Don’t go into the dogs’ play area and don’t walk right up to the fence. Your goal is to just enjoy being in the same general area as the dogs without putting yourself in any dangerous or frightening situations. As time progresses, move closer to the area where the dogs play. Meet an Adult Dog If you see the same dog owner returning to the park on several occasions, explain your phobia and find out if meeting his or her dog is possible. Make sure it is a dog you have observed not to be a jumper and who shows signs of being well trained. Be sure to take it slow and ask the owner to keep the dog on a leash. For the first few encounters, you shouldn’t even try to touch the dog. Simply try to carry on a normal conversation with the dog owner while the dog is near you. Once you become comfortable with the dog, reach out and let the dog sniff the back of your hand. When the dog is comfortable with you, try petting its back. Be sure to follow the owner’s instructions and dog’s cues as to what you should do. If the dog lets you, rub around his chest area. This is a calming signal to dogs. Find a Canine Good Citizen Many dog trainers know of dogs in the area that meet the criteria to be considered Canine Good Citizens. These are dogs that have been highly trained to deal with all sorts of situations. Canine Good Citizens follow commands under every circumstance imaginable. If you just can’t bring yourself to meet an adult dog at the dog park, contact a dog trainer in your area and ask if he or she knows any Canine Good Citizens. You may have to leave your name and phone number with the trainer so that he or she can give it to the family of the Canine Good Citizen. When the family calls you, explain your phobia and talk to them about whether or not their dog is a good candidate to help you overcome your fear. When All Else Fails If you can’t overcome your cynophobia using the above methods, you may need to get professional help. A behavioral therapist may be able to help you overcome your fear of dogs so that your family can go pick out your new best friend! Puppy City has been around for over 50 years, we pride ourselves in being the home for quality puppies for sale in Brooklyn, New York. We also have all of the supplies you will ever need, from dog food, to wee wee pads, to all the treats you will ever need in a lifetime. Visit us at http://www.PuppyCityNY.com
Related Articles -
fear, dogs, puppy, dog, memory, bite, cynophobia,
|
