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How to overcome the fear of dogs, in 4 steps

How to overcome the fear of dogs, in 4 steps

March 28, 2024

The fear of dogs is one of the most common forms of fear . Being very common domestic animals there is someone who really goes through the simple fact of crossing with one going down the street or passing in front of a house where there is one barking.

In this article we will see different clues about how to overcome fear of dogs, and how to apply these tips on a day-to-day basis.

  • Related article: "What is the use of fear?"

Why does this fear appear?

There is no single reason why a person can develop fear of dogs. Different aspects that may be influencing this , as for example the wild appearance of this mammal (which in the end is of the same animal species as the wolf), its propensity to bark (a sound that sometimes gives scares and can express aggressiveness), its relatively unpredictable nature ( if we compare it to that of a human being), etc.


In general, the fear of dogs is something acquired, learned involuntarily, although this learning brings more inconveniences than advantages. In fact, in the most extreme cases can even talk about dog phobia , or cynophobia, which is what happens when this anxiety and feeling of discomfort are so powerful that it significantly erodes the quality of life of the person on a daily basis.

It should be noted, then, that if the fear of dogs is extremely intense, it will probably be most useful to go to a mental health professional. Resorting to psychotherapy is necessary for those people who experience a level of fear that prevents them from even exposing themselves in the least to the dogs and that they believe that this harms them severely (it is possible to present that strong fear learned and that nevertheless lives in a place free of dogs, with what, unless the fact of residing there is imposed by fear, does not have to be a serious problem).


For the rest of people in whom the discomfort is not so intense and it is possible to take the first steps necessary to be close to a dog while maintaining control of oneself , which is what happens in most cases, the tips that follow can be useful.

  • Maybe you're interested: "Dog phobia (cynophobia): causes, symptoms and treatment"

1. Evaluate the degree of fear you feel

First of all, it is important to make an estimate about the extent to which this fear of dogs is intense or not, which also helps to know first of all whether it may be a phobia or not.

For example, if you can stay in a place having a dog resting about three meters away from you and you know for sure that, beyond feeling bad, you will not lose control of the situation while the dog is not talking to you or not make sudden movements, it is most likely that a fear of dogs normal, not pathological (In fact, even if you do not meet that condition, you may not have a phobia.)


Once this is established, trace a hierarchy of situations that give you fear in relation to the dogs, ordering them according to the discomfort they produce. From there, assess what are the different stages that you will have to go through, taking into account those aspects of the interaction with dogs that are most afraid of you.

For example, it is possible that for some people the level of fear does not depend so much on the proximity of these animals , like the odds of them barking, or maybe this fear does not exist if the dogs are small. Knowing this will help not to lengthen the process of overcoming this fear.

2. Recognize the symptoms of fear

When you are experiencing in first person the effects of fear of dogs, see what the concrete manifestations of this fear are when it reaches its maximum or when it is close to reaching its maximum. Do you tend to run away a few meters losing control? Do you feel that you stay on the site and prefer not to move? Knowing this will help you prepare the right measures for the next phase.

3. Expose to fear in a planned manner

The first thing you should do is try to go through the situations linked to the fear of dogs that give you less fear, to become resistant to them. When you have passed this phase and you notice that you can not make significant progress in it, you will be exposed to another situation that usually gives you more fear than the previous one, and so on.

Also, it's good that you have prepared strategies to avoid that the symptoms of fear are a problem . Sometimes this can be simple, like having a bottle of water nearby if your mouth normally dries, but in others you may need someone to help you, especially if you tend to run away. This helper may have the task, for example, of preventing you from running backwards, since flight feeds fear.

It is also important that you make sure that in this phase of training to overcome the fear of dogs do not use a dog characterized by being aggressive. Do not put yourself unnecessary obstacles.

4. Learn about dogs and their kind nature

In addition to intervening on the way you react in real time to dogs, It is good that you act on your beliefs . Part of the fear can start from the ignorance of these animals.

Dogs are just a lineage of canines artificially selected to make the most kind and collaborative individuals have offspring. Everything that makes a dog a dog has to do with its clear tendency not to attack and its propensity to involve itself more in tasks of protection of human beings.


How To Get Over A Fear Of Dogs in 11 Simple Steps (March 2024).


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