Fear of dogs (Cynophobia)

Seamus357

Does anyone have any advice on overcoming a fear of dogs? My wife is terrified of dogs and she wants to be cured of her phobia. Small dogs, big dogs, almost all dogs frighten the bejeebees out of her. Any thoughts?

Seamus

togster

Seamus357 wrote:

Does anyone have any advice on overcoming a fear of dogs? My wife is terrified of dogs and she wants to be cured of her phobia. Small dogs, big dogs, almost all dogs frighten the bejeebees out of her. Any thoughts?

Seamus

Hypnotherapy. Or buy a small cute puppy for her and make her get used to it.

Tar.Aldarion

Gonna have to face a dog and the root of her fear.

rubyred

I used to be afraid around dogs. My bf bought me a puppy the size of my hand (hard to be afraid of it!!!) and I never really noticed it growing. Now she is medium sized and I'm in love with every dog I see!!!!

Canis Lupus

Blindfold her.

Push her into a room filled with dogs big and small.

Obviously ensure the dogs have been fully fed and watered and she ha provisions.

Lock her in overnight and by the morning she should have overcome her fears.

To be honest..... I'm fairly sure this would actually work but for some reason it'll probably be frowned upon.... Talk to your GP I suppose and get a list of pyschologists/hypnotherapists who may help.

randombar

Ya seriously the puppy is the only way to go! Neighbor of mine was terrified of my dog until he got a pup of his own! All about getting used to them! Does that mean I should get one of the lads a pidgeeon since he's terrified or birds though

Owen

Cute Andrex Lab Puppy FTW.

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PYREU/PP30340~Sad-Puppy-Posters.jpg

biko

Canis Lupus wrote:

Blindfold her.

Push her into a room filled with dogs big and small.

Obviously ensure the dogs have been fully fed and watered and she ha provisions.

Lock her in overnight and by the morning she should have overcome her fears.

To be honest..... I'm fairly sure this would actually work but for some reason it'll probably be frowned upon.... Talk to your GP I suppose and get a list of pyschologists/hypnotherapists who may help.

It's called Flooding and does work. There are gentler therapies though, like desensitization.

Oryx

Be careful if going down the puppy route. Puppys are yappy and jump around and bite, and can be offputting if youre really phobic! But maybe introduce her to a friends dog if you know someone with a placid small breed. When she is comfortable around that kind of dog, work your way up to the bigger breeds. If you know someone with a quiet golden retriever (some are boisterous) they are a wonderful, friendly dog, which would be easy for your wife to get used to.

When she first 'meets' the dog, have the owner control and handle the dog at first. No formal introductions for a bit so she wont be faced with an excited dog! It will give the dog time to get used to a new person and calm down. Then she can take her own time approaching and petting the dog etc.

Gary ITR

ned78 wrote:

Cute Andrex Lab Puppy FTW.

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PYREU/PP30340~Sad-Puppy-Posters.jpg

A lab will chew and bite the bejaysis out of ye when it's a pup. Wouldn't hurt you or anything, probably wouldn't help the fear of dogs tbh

fits

Gentle introduction to a sensible dog, combined with education about what to do when a strange dog approaches should help.
You might get good advice in the animals/pet issues forum as well.

Whereabouts are you OP?

af_thefragile

I get intimidated by dogs too...
Had a few instances in past where i was chased by one...

But then i dont have any phobia towards em. I just stay clear of em and they dont do anything...

And if you wanna get a dog to get over yer fear... Get a lab...
Yup, only a lab will do. They are one breed of dogs that hardly ever charge or bite!!

Don't get the small dogs, they are usually the more violent ones...

NeMiSiS

West Highland Terrier pup. The are beautiful see here : http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/88713621_870e6f7edb.jpg
or google image search "westie pup" .

TK

the_syco

NeMiSiS wrote:

West Highland Terrier pup. The are beautiful see here : http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/88713621_870e6f7edb.jpg
or google image search "westie pup" .

TK

Agreed. Used to have a fear of dogs, and even though it gradually subsided by me avoiding certain areas, it never went away.

We got a small westie, and got used to being around of a dog, and am no longer afraid of dogs.

Also, if you do decide to get a westie, try to get two females from the same family. They are really loveable dogs, but as someone isn't here during the day, she's gotten lazy, and has taken to sunning herself

WindSock

NeMiSiS wrote:

West Highland Terrier pup. The are beautiful see here : http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/88713621_870e6f7edb.jpg
or google image search "westie pup" .

TK

oh my god. my uterus just skipped a beat! How does she react to pictures of cute puppies? surely she thinks some of them are adorable? if she does, then introduce her to a few pups.

Oryx

Someone here mentioned about being chased by a dog. The general rule is DONT RUN! Unless of course its a slavering rottweiler guard dog or something. If a dog sees you run its in their nature to chase. They may think its a game. So stand your ground, hard as that may seem.

Exactly how scared is your wife? Would she need to cross the street to avoid a dog, or does she just not like to get too close?

fits

Actually, contrary to advice here, the labrador retriever is statistically more likely to bite than any other dog breed... but they look cute so the Sun doesnt publish scary looking photos of them...
If a dog runs up to you and you're scared, avoid eye contact and fold your arms. Do not run and do not look at the dog, then you wont be much fun for them to play with.
Do not buy a dog unless both of you really want one and are prepared to commit long term to one, they are not disposable...
If OP lived near me I'd be willing to introduce his wife to one of my dogs slowly (they've won over nervous children before). Mine dont jump up and they're not at all boisterous.

Deadevil129

Introduce her to a very old docile dog. I used to be terrified till my boyfriend got me used to his own dog. She's ancient, doesn't bark and hardly moves apart from the odd shuffle to the other side of the room. With a dog like that there's no chance of it getting over exited to see a new person so you're wife could approach it when she wanted to and wouldn't have to worry about it leaping up on her. If you want to go down the puppy route I've heard of a breed called the bichon frise, they're very small and apparently they don't bark or shed, but I've only ever seen one, and it was a puppy at the time.

Oryx

Deadevil129 wrote:

I've heard of a breed called the bichon frise, they're very small and apparently they don't bark or shed, but I've only ever seen one, and it was a puppy at the time.

Bichon frise look like a small poodle.

Scuba_Scoper

My wife had this phobia X 10. She could not go to her sisters house for visits, her fear got so bad. She would cross the road to avoid any dog and when out for a walk she would leave marks on my arms she would hold on so tight.

About March of this year she went to a hypnotist near Nassau St. Guys name is Sean Flanagan.

That same day she went over to her sisters house and the dog never bothered her in the least. My bro has a Staff. Bull. My wife has no problem patting the dog or being in the same space as the dog now.

Hypnotherapy I was sceptical about until I saw the change it brought about in my wife.

_blank_

Dogs frighten me senseless. Even reading this thread has put me on edge.

I have no compulsion to have this fear eradicated though, at the moment.

evad_lhorg

no way could she be frightened of this
http://www.petmeister.com/Labrador_Puppy.jpg

squishywishy

I too am terrified of dogs and the thoughts of someone giving me a puppy to "get me over" my fear makes me feel ill!!!!

Interested in the hypnoterapy......was it costly???