I want a dog but

[Anonymous]

My daughter is terrified of them, as in she will start crying when one comes next to her on the street. She’s never had a traumatic or bad experience with a dog so sure where the fear is coming from. Do you think getting a dog will help her with this fear? What else do you recommend to help her get over it? When we visit family who have dogs, they have to lock the dogs in a room or my daughter will lock herself in a room, its uncomfortable for all involved.

[Anonymous]

It is a terrible idea to get a dog. Likely you will just have to give it back up and it’s not fair to your daughter or the dog. Work on the fear first.

[Anonymous]

We got a dog when my son was 7 because his best friends dog was a nightmare. He was getting petrified of dogs.

We took him to a private breeder and introduced slowly. Pediatrician said it could go either way. Honestly we were lucky.

[Anonymous]

How old is she?

My DD was scared of dogs until we were picking up her older brother from his friend’s house one day and the friend had a new golden retriever puppy, who proceeded to give DD kisses. After that she started begging for a puppy.

[Anonymous]

well I think you should take professional advice from a therapist not from a bunch of pro-pet loons on DCUM.

Having said that my son was afraid of dogs and we got a puppy who grew up to be the biggest dog in the neighborhood with the deepest bark. He has no fear of dogs any more.

[Anonymous]

Getting a dog is a sure-fire way to get over fear of dogs.

[Anonymous]

Any psychologist will tell you that the best way to confront a fear is to confront it head on. Start with a puppy or if you rescue, make sure it’s a very calm dog who is already good with children. Go for it, op. My oldest was terrified of dogs and the best thing we did was to NOT keep her away from them. She got better with dogs before we got one, but if I could have done it sooner I would have.

[Anonymous]

Op here- she is 10. I think she just needs exposure to understand fully that nothing will happen to her and that she has nothing to be scared of. She was also scared of our cat but is not anymore so im thinking exposing her to a dog might help with this phobia. What breeds would you recommend that are mild and not aggressive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here- she is 10. I think she just needs exposure to understand fully that nothing will happen to her and that she has nothing to be scared of. She was also scared of our cat but is not anymore so im thinking exposing her to a dog might help with this phobia. What breeds would you recommend that are mild and not aggressive?

it has much more to do with their background than their breed. I'd say something in the 15-20 pound range would be good. Maltese, cockapoo, maltipoo, westie, etc.
I would take her to a dog shelter to have her ease into getting to know dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:well I think you should take professional advice from a therapist not from a bunch of pro-pet loons on DCUM.

Having said that my son was afraid of dogs and we got a puppy who grew up to be the biggest dog in the neighborhood with the deepest bark. He has no fear of dogs any more.

+1

[Anonymous]

I would not do this, and I am as pro pet as they come. Most shelters/rescues/breeders will not place a dog unless every member of the family is on board. This is like adoption, OP.

[Anonymous]

Are you crazy, OP? What kind of a mother are you?

[Anonymous]

Can’t you find a friend or a trainer with an ultra calm dog rather than bringing a dog into your house? What if it goes badly and she hides in her bedroom everyday to avoid the dog?

[Anonymous]

You have to get a puppy. You can’t get a rescue. They’re so adorable when they’re small that she’ll fall in love before she realizes that she’s afraid of dogs. I am a huge proponent of dogs for kids. When my sons became teenagers our dog really was support for them. The dog was not allowed in their beds, yet every morning I seem to find him cuddled under the sheets. When we had to put our dog down, my boys cried like babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any psychologist will tell you that the best way to confront a fear is to confront it head on. Start with a puppy or if you rescue, make sure it’s a very calm dog who is already good with children. Go for it, op. My oldest was terrified of dogs and the best thing we did was to NOT keep her away from them. She got better with dogs before we got one, but if I could have done it sooner I would have.

Uh, no. Exposure therapy is carefully managed exposure, which allows the person to stay within reasonable limits of cortisol. It is NOT immersing someone in their fears to the point where provoking panic and inducing a possible traumatic experience is possible.