DOGPHOBIA, can I ever overcome this, how if so

[yeawutever]

Like the many types of phobias, such as claustrophobia, hydrophobia, I called mine dogphobia. And it's been say many times that it's a man's best loyal friend.

 

I feel this affects me everytime I go walking and either see a median-big dog, even the smaller ones many occasions that I instantly picture it attacking me and tearing me to pieces, thus another reason why I don't like dogs that much, other than the barking part, the fear itself.

 

Not sure if this a terrible problem. Also have no idea where did this phobia originated, since no dog ever attacked me whatsoever, always had this fear even as a 6 year-old or younger.

 

My b/f told me once it was ok and normal to have a fear but I feel it's too much exaggearated. I never got over that fear, if there's a way out of it, how???

[hers]

Come meet ny dog. You'll never fear a dog again. Maybe just tell yourself you can do it & let yourself get clse to a happy dog wagging its tail. One that won't jump. Letit sniff you. Don't act scared or you'll scare it.

[Crazyaboutdogs]

Well, I think many of us have irrational fears. Mine is bridges. Every time I drive over a bridge I have this irrational fear that somehow I am going to turn the wheel wrong and drive off the bridge. I literally get panicked when I am driving in the right lane on a bridge. No matter how much we try to tell ourselves it is just an irrational fear, the panic still wells up. So your fear is dogs. One thing you could try to do to overcome your fear is to volunteer at an animal shelter...in a capacity which gives you some but limited direct exposure to the dogs.

[yeawutever]

Yes I guess I can try that hersmudders. Did recall coming to a french teacher's house one time in Halloween, yea she was cool with her students, giving away extra credit points, thus raising your letter grade. Anyways she has a huge and super heavy wolf-like dog, needless to say I nearly wanted to faint but it end up being quiet and docile. Still maybe I gotta keep reinforcing it, that not all are aggressive.

[jcrisph]

Well, I think many of us have irrational fears. Mine is bridges. Every time I drive over a bridge I have this irrational fear that somehow I am going to turn the wheel wrong and drive off the bridge. I literally get panicked when I am driving in the right lane on a bridge. No matter how much we try to tell ourselves it is just an irrational fear, the panic still wells up. So your fear is dogs. One thing you could try to do to overcome your fear is to volunteer at a dog shelter...in a capacity which gives you some but limited direct exposure to the dogs.

 

I was just going to say that.

[yeawutever]

One thing you could try to do to overcome your fear is to volunteer at an animal shelter...in a capacity which gives you some but limited direct exposure to the dogs.

 

That's a great idea, just hope they're nice to me though.

[laisla]

expose yourself to the dogs little by little. start off by reading stories of dogs that have saved people. think about the good that they bring to the world. then look at pictures of dogs online. really look at them and don't turn your eye away from it. do that until you are comfortable with looking at them, and they don't scare you.

then go to the toy store and look at the stuffed dogs that are there. look at them, see how big they are, touch them, feel the material. imagine it's a real dog. the real dog could be sitting there on the ground as well.

then gradually work up to meet another dog. make sure the dog is a calm one, and not one of those that jump around a lot. that won't help. pet the dog. then walk it with its owner.

you'll realize that there's nothing to fear. you can control the situation because dogs are pretty predictable, they won't just growl and bite out of nowhere, you can stop them from attacking if you just don't let the situation escalate. dogs are good creatures, they are not there just to attack people.

 

you may not be able to do this by yourself, you might need a counsellor.

[hers]

I used to be terrified of small dogs as a kid. I'd freak out. Big ones weren't a problem but I'd nearly panic if I were near a small one. Big dogs are usually the ones w/ less attitude so that's why they never bothered me. Just don't start out near a dog with attitude (chihuahuas for example--theyre good dogs but bark & growl a lot).

[Clementine orange]

The actual technical term is "Cynophobia"

 

link removed

[Siriana]

hm....interesting one.

I am afraid of bugs, and I hate elevators.

Now the problem starts if you can not control the fear when needed.

 

Example:

Bugs - If i have a roach in the kitchen I do not run away to my bedroom (just to make it clear I did that before) I vacuum it.

 

Elevators - Or I do not enter elevators unless absolutely needed. If I had to go into elevator with a business partner I would.

If i am visiting my friend on the 10th floor I'll walk.

 

So do you run away when you see a dog and end up in panic even if on a leash or you just have no wish to pet them and you don't like seeing them approaching you out of the blue?

 

If you can't ignore them (dogs) it would be vise to learn how to control it (again, you don't have to start loving them, petting them, just be able to ignore them despite your fear like I do with bugs and elevators).

 

Feeling fear of dogs is nothing terrible.

But it is bad if you show that strongly on the outside.

 

 

p.s. there is a chance you've been learned to be afraid of dogs - maybe your mom or dad were afraid of them?

Thats the way I learned to be afraid of roaches and elevators.

 

So you could make that a motivating factor in case you are showing your fear on the outside.

[yeawutever]

So do you run away when you see a dog and end up in panic even if on a leash or you just have no wish to pet them and you don't like seeing them approaching you out of the blue?

 

I try walking the other way, basically avoiding bumping into any of them but at times they just approach you with their owner. Many of their owners have told me (yes I make my fear obvious, lol) that it won't do nothing. Even on leash, I still fear them.

 

p.s. there is a chance you've been learned to be afraid of dogs - maybe your mom or dad were afraid of them?

Thats the way I learned to be afraid of roaches and elevators.

 

That's what I'm trying to find out too, I don't know how this fear originated. Nope my parents act normal around dogs, they're ok with them but me, I nearly panic, the closer the come the worst.