Helpful tips to help you cope with your fear of dogs

Many people at different stages of life think: “How to stop being afraid of dogs?” Useful recommendations from dog handlers explaining dogs' reactions to human behavior, and advice from psychologists can dull the fear of these animals. In general, you need to fight your fear of canines as early as possible. It makes life difficult in both cities and rural areas.

After all, no matter how much a person wants, he encounters four-legged animals every day. Moreover, among them there are both socialized domestic dogs, which rarely show aggression or increased interest in humans, and stray dogs. Domestic and wild dogs have different behavioral patterns, but the basic tips on how to deal with the fear of them are the same. It remains to figure out how to apply them in practice.

Symptoms of cynophobia

The main symptom of cynophobia is constant internal tension in the patient without objective reasons.
He constantly seems to be expecting a dog attack, and is haunted by obsessive thoughts about a potential threat. Sleep disturbances are also a concomitant symptom of most anxiety-phobic disorders. Nightmarish dreams, insomnia at night and drowsiness during the day, interrupted sleep, a long time to fall asleep - a typical clinical picture with increased anxiety.

The film phobe often turns pale, blushes, and may feel hot or shuddering for no objective reason. The desire to constantly change body position, fussiness and languor, involuntary movements indicate akathisia. The following somatic symptoms are characteristic of a cynophobe:

• muscle spasms;
• increased sweating;
• cardiopalmus;
• tightness in the chest;
• heart pain, arrhythmia;
• strong thirst;
• increased diurination;
• disorders in the gastrointestinal tract.

Mental symptoms are no less diverse:

constant nervous tension; excessive caution; fixation of attention on negative phenomena; aggression, irritability; attempts to control your every action and thought; “soul-searching”, the desire to analyze the past; pessimism, obsessive thoughts about bad premonitions -

Here is an approximate description of the psychological state of a cinemaphobe.

In severe forms of the disease, panic attacks periodically occur. During an attack, the patient experiences uncontrollable horror of the object of the phobia, as well as the fear of death from a lack of understanding of what is happening to his body. All this is accompanied by extensive somatic symptoms, as well as depersonalization (loss of division of the world into “one’s own self” and “others”), unrealization (biased vision of what is happening). In addition to panic attacks, vegetative crises and situational nervous breakdowns may appear against the background of fear of dogs.

A kinophobe’s pronounced symptoms manifest themselves not only in the presence of dogs. Sometimes just the thought of fear, a bad feeling, or imaginary apprehension is enough to trigger an attack. In this case, the following physical symptoms are present:

• arrhythmia, tachycardia;
• asphyxia, feeling of suffocation;
• hyperhidrosis;
• pressing headaches;
• vomiting, nausea that does not bring relief;
• aggression towards others without objective reasons;
• intense anxiety;
• slurred speech, disordered thoughts;
• thoughts of suicide, fear of dying.

Main manifestations

When you see dogs, you may experience pain in the heart, tightness in the chest, and sometimes numbness.

1. Feeling of pseudo-threat. In a situation where a person’s life is not in danger, he may experience uncontrollable fear, even at the sight of a small puppy.
2. Bodily discomfort. Chest pain, chest tightness, and muscle tension may occur. Moreover, even the barking of a dog that is at a distance can provoke a panic attack.
3. Fear even of pictures of dogs.
4. Psychopathological condition. Characterized by alertness and increased irritability. A person is afraid to even go out into the yard, because there you can meet stray dogs.

Treatment of cynophobia

If the prerequisite for the phobia is an objective reason - psychological trauma from a dog bite, from an attack by a pack of animals, then psychotherapy is very effective in this case. There are many techniques specifically developed by psychologists to treat fear of dogs.

In the absence of timely treatment, cynophobia can cause antisocial behavior: a person “falls out” of social life, stops going out into the street, to work, and reduces communication with other people. Most often, it is not difficult to remove a phobia through working with a psychologist. But sometimes a course of psychotherapy is not enough to treat a phobic disorder in a severe stage. In this case, additional drug treatment is prescribed. Today, a course of SSRI antidepressants is considered the most effective.

In the presence of phobic disorders, the dog also suffers from somatic and mental symptoms, and in particular from sleep disorders and nightmares. So remember: the object of your phobia is afraid of a lot himself!

Causes of fear

Most often, fear of dogs develops in childhood or adolescence. Without psychotherapy, fear can remain for life.

Interestingly, people who have been attacked by dogs do not necessarily become film-phobes. They, of course, take a long time to recover from their experience. They may need help from a psychologist. But they have no pathological fear of these animals.

People who have been bitten by dogs experience fear mainly of large and aggressive animals. At the same time, they treat puppies or small friendly dogs with tenderness and trepidation. They do not feel anxious when they see pictures of dogs or hear dogs barking.

Cinemaphobes are afraid of absolutely all dogs and everything that reminds them of them. It doesn't matter the breed, age or size of the dog. Even a dog barking or a video recording of these animals causes panic horror in a film phobe. At the same time, he is well aware that this animal cannot harm him, but he still experiences fear.

I will list the main reasons for the development of cynophobia.

1. Traumatic incident. This includes an attack by a dog or an entire pack that occurred in childhood. In adults, such situations rarely provoke the development of a phobia.
2. Predisposition. Psychologists have found that if at least one parent suffers from a phobia, then the children will be significantly predisposed to developing a similar anxiety disorder.
3. Features of the nervous system. Phobias arise very quickly in people with an unstable emotional state, with a set of complexes and a feeling of inferiority. For such people, sometimes one unpleasant incident with a dog is enough for them to develop pathological anxiety.

I advise you to watch a short video of a guy talking about his fear. It will help you better understand exactly what cinephobes feel.

Getting rid of fear

If cynophobia arose as a result of psychological trauma due to an attack or a dog bite, then psychotherapy will be the most effective way to cope with fear. Without contacting a specialist, a phobia can provoke a person into reclusion. The film phobe will stop going out.

In addition to psychotherapy, in especially severe cases, the patient is prescribed a course of medications. Antidepressants from the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have proven themselves well. Indications for their use include panic disorders, depression, and increased anxiety. But they can only be used as prescribed by a doctor!

For those who do not suffer from cynophobia, but are simply afraid of dogs, I would like to offer some advice from psychologists.

If you only have fear of a certain breed, then try to find someone you know who has such a puppy. Play with your baby, take a walk with him

Then you will understand that this is an ordinary child who needs love, care, attention and affection. If you often have to visit places where there are a lot of stray dogs, then buy yourself, for example, a stun gun. Possessing such a means of self-defense in itself already gives confidence and a sense of security. Start socializing with dogs of the breeds that cause you the least fear.

Ask the owner for permission to pet the dog, play with him, and treat him to something tasty.

You need to overcome fear gradually. Make yourself a step-by-step plan. Describe the situations and actions in it from the least frightening to the most panic-inducing. A sample plan might look like this.

1. Look at photographs of dogs.
2. Watch videos and films about them.
3. Watch the dogs in the yard through a closed window.
4. Look at walking dogs through an open window.
5. Look at dogs on the street walking in a muzzle and on a leash.
6. Be in the same room with the animal.
7. Pet the dog.

Moving from point to point, you will gradually stop being afraid. You may even fall in love with these animals and want to get a pet yourself.

According to animal psychologists, some dogs are also susceptible to phobias. These include, for example:

• fear of loneliness and separation from the owner;
• fear of certain loud noises.

Many street dogs are afraid that people will hurt them. This fear arises because some people kick them, throw stones and sticks at them. Even aggressive dog barking, which scares us so much, is associated precisely with cruelty on the part of people. The dog senses danger from a person and tries to protect itself.

In general, the one you fear so much is himself afraid of a lot.

What to do if a child is afraid of dogs?

It is easier to overcome the fear of dogs as a child than as an adult. To overcome cynophobia in a child, you can even get him a pet. But it is important that he appears in the house from a very early age. This will give the baby the understanding that he is in control of the situation. Classes with child psychologists, watching dogs while walking, watching cartoons and films about these animals also help in the fight against the disease. The most important factor for success is the correct behavior of parents. They have to:

• do not scold the child for the emotions he experiences;
• don't make fun of him because of his phobia;
• show empathy, support;
• calmly talk about the causes and consequences of fear;
• Do not force anyone to meet dogs.

Root cause

However, if the above situations did not find a place in your life, and the dog still experiences such phobias, it is worth thinking about the root causes. If a dog is afraid of a person, and not only of strangers, but also of its own owner, it means that it has a very susceptible and, at the same time, traumatized psyche. All fears that arise in an animal when it sees a person are divided into two categories.

1. These are the ones that have a reason.
2. And the reason for which, unfortunately, is impossible to see.

Let's look at the first category. If fear has its basis, it means that the animal received negative emotions, was in a dangerous situation or experienced pain. Most often, fear is a consequence of life experiences. Thus, dogs that once happened to be caught by dog ​​handlers, experienced rough treatment and bullying, are rarely inclined to communicate with humans. Those people who have a similar structure to the torturers will remind the animal of what they have experienced.

The cause of fear of people may be a traumatized psyche

Fears that have no reason are often recorded by veterinarians. For example, an animal becomes afraid when a baby cries. Or he begins to be afraid of any family member for no reason, while the person has never done anything bad to the animal. If you can determine the cause of the phobia, it will be much easier for you to fight it.

The dog needs to be helped to overcome uncertainty, but in no case should it be supported. Sometimes animals are insecure due to the fact that they are weak in front of their relatives. This feeling of weakness carries over into the home, where the animal feels vulnerable in the presence of people.

Options for fear

A person may be afraid of dogs, even small or decorative breeds

1. Fear of small dogs. At the same time, a person calmly treats healthy dogs, but he is stressed by small mongrels, from whom you don’t know what to expect. It is believed that the smaller the size, the more aggressive it can be. This happens because the small animal is afraid of everyone around her.
2. Fear of decorative dogs. Cinemaphobes explain it by the fact that secret aggression may be hidden under the guise of a cute animal.
3. Fear of large dogs. Most often observed. When any person sees a healthy dog, the instinct of self-preservation is triggered. People may even develop associations with sharks, crocodiles or piranhas.
4. Fear of stray yard dogs. These animals found themselves in the wild and learned to survive. For them, aggressive behavior may become the norm.
5. Fear of dogs on a chain. It is believed that animals that are deprived of their freedom become aggressive.

How to deal with a dog's tantrum on the street

If your pet is not yet used to walking, he may stop in the middle of the road, whine and resist. What should the owner do? It is generally not advisable to encourage cowardly behavior. In this case, this is acceptable. You must learn to balance: not to turn your pet into a hysterical person, but also not to leave him completely without support. You can calm it like a dog: gently squeeze the puppy between your legs to let him know that he is under protection. Babies can hide behind their mother like this. They feel warmth and reliable protection.

Sometimes it's wise to give it a break. Stop for two minutes and let your client get used to the new environment. Continue on your way and observe. If the attacks are repeated too often, it's time to stop. There is no need to walk until you are exhausted. It is acceptable to carry your pet home in your arms if you accidentally crossed the line.

Independent measures to combat cynophobia

How to get rid of the fear of dogs yourself:

1. Review your diet. An incorrect menu leads to disruptions in the balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, which provokes disruption of the functionality of the central nervous system and brain. Physiologically, this is expressed by anxiety. A diet for fear of dogs is aimed at increasing the number of carbohydrates in the diet. They secrete tryptophan, which is converted to serotonin.
2. Normalize sleep and rest patterns. Mental fatigue is no less dangerous for the brain. You need to sleep 8–10 hours. If mental work predominates, then physical activity should be introduced in your free time. It is better to avoid delays at work and additional work at home.
3. Workout. The type does not matter, it can be swimming, gymnastics, athletics or any other. Sports walking in the fresh air also helps eliminate anxiety and improve central nervous system activity.
4. Find a hobby. Doing what you love improves your mood, self-esteem, and distracts you from bad thoughts.
5. Take time for self-discovery. Daily training in this field can bring considerable results. Self-improvement and knowledge of your spiritual self allows you to find harmony of body, soul, mind, reveals hidden talents, and brings you closer to the world around you.
6. Work on your consciousness. You need to try to imagine yourself as the owner of a dog. By gradually cultivating it in your imagination, you can raise a large and strong pet, but with good thoughts and morals.
7. Find a weak point in the subconscious. In psychological practice, this exercise is called the “Achilles heel.” The principle of working on yourself is to compare associations in the presence of fear. That is, a person must explain what exactly he is afraid of when he sees a dog, and what he feels at that moment, what he wants, who in his mind can help solve the problem. Having understood these principles, a scenario is built for a meeting between a film-phobe and a loved one with an animal. Moreover, in this case, the four-legged one experiences fear, and the “guard” present in the thoughts provides support and protection to the client. Sometimes long training is required before a person can overcome his problem. If you concentrate on your own fear of dogs, then stop the exercise and repeat it at another time.

A phobia of dogs is expressed in a vivid panic fear of a pet. Cinemaphobes avoid not only animals themselves, but also all possible reminders and associations with them. You can overcome fear on your own by changing the principle of life, diet, and playing sports. In case of advanced pathology, a psychologist-hypnologist will help with this. If you ignore the problem, it will unbearably infringe on the person and lead to his isolation from society.

How to get rid of cynophobia

In most cases, a person, one way or another, realizes the need for change. Many make attempts to combat this phobia. Some even find themselves willing to deal with fear every day, using all available methods. It is important to understand that treatment must be competent, aimed at restoring internal balance. How to get rid of cinephobia? Let's try to figure it out.

Sedatives

Contrary to popular belief, fear of dogs is far from harmless. Sometimes a person may need special help. Taking sedatives or medications in this case will not be superfluous at all. It is necessary to take into account the dosage of the drug taken so as not to overdo it. Otherwise, the opposite effect or any negative manifestations are possible. Sedatives can relax the nervous system. Then it will be easier to make a timely decision and decide on the next steps. It is important to act consistently, without trying to free yourself from fear at once.

Communication with animals

To stop feeling fear of dogs, you need to learn to live it. Usually a person runs away from an unpleasant situation and refuses to notice that the problem lies not in the animal, but in himself. You need to change the very way you respond to the situation, and then it will be easier to solve emerging difficulties. To free yourself from the fear of a dog, you need, in principle, to help yourself make friends with the animal. To do this, it would be absolutely nice to get yourself a pet that will become a close friend for you. Communication with animals can bring a person a lot of positive impressions. When you have your own personal dog nearby, it will hardly occur to you to be afraid of other representatives of the canine world.

Acceptance of the situation

There is no need to be ashamed of yourself or consider your problem to be unique. In fact, it only indicates that a person has accumulated too many negative emotions. For them to come out, it is necessary, first of all, to realize them, and then let them go. If an individual does not accept the situation, then in the future it will be difficult for him to cope with the difficulties that arise. Fears can haunt a person for a long time because the person does not work with them. Even seeing a small dog on the street, a person can become so frightened that he loses control of himself. Such manifestations of panic can lead to uncontrollable consequences, since the individual will not be able to reason logically at such moments. When emotions take over, the mind shuts down and frustration comes first. In most cases, it can be defeated with the help of a psychologist.

Specialist services

When a situation gets out of control, immediate action is required. It is imperative to understand the problem and not let everything take its course. If a person does not act actively, he will not be able to get rid of the problem that worries him. Currently, the services of a competent specialist cannot be cheap. This must be understood when deciding to work on yourself. However, the efforts made will certainly be crowned with success, since high-quality work is aimed at overcoming a difficult situation. You just need to be patient, have the courage to admit the problem, and show a willingness to act despite significant obstacles.

Thus, cynophobia is a form of mental disorder that definitely needs correction. If you don't work on a problem, it won't go away on its own. It is necessary to carefully analyze your actions and strive for constant self-improvement. It should be understood that it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of the problem in a short time. It will take a lot of time and patience to resolve an unsatisfactory situation. If you cannot cope with the problem on your own, then you can seek help from the Irakli Pozharisky Psychology Center. Work with a specialist will be aimed at working out the underlying sources of the negative situation.

Adaptation for a Shy Puppy

It's good if you noticed the problem in time. Cowardly dogs are incredibly difficult to train

They may be smart, but fear is stronger. When training pets with a weak nervous system, “kickbacks” often occur. Just yesterday the puppy was calmly walking on the street, and after meeting a cyclist he is afraid to leave the house? Typical situation. Be patient.

What should be done? Adaptation program for a shy puppy

1. Take a walk.

Take a long walk at least 2-3 times a week. Yes, the baby will panic a lot, but it is necessary. In the process of walking, the puppy will get used to the street, and you will establish a close bond. Focus not on physical activity, but on studying the world around you. Walk along the streets, parks, bus stops... Always praise and give a treat for showing curiosity. This way, you will reinforce the normal reaction.

2. Be friends.

It is important to get to know the owners of adult, well-trained dogs. The younger ones follow the example of the older ones

It will be much easier for the puppy if he has company.

3. Train.

Cowardly pets need to be given mental exercise. During training, the animal concentrates, is distracted and calms down. This will provide better control in the future and help prevent scares.

These are the main, but far from the only points. Pay more attention to your relationship with your dog. Try to make her more confident, stroke and caress her more often. Make your pet feel like part of the family. Don't shout or scold.

Don't expect instant results. The effect will accumulate gradually. Most often, the program takes 6–12 months. Be prepared for the fact that you will have to struggle with certain problems throughout your life.

Causes

Psychological trauma and negative experiences

Naturally, the most basic reason for the manifestation of cynophobia is the traumatic situation of an attack by a dog, or maybe a whole pack of dogs. They might not even bite, but only bark, thereby scaring you half to death.

The psyche of children is not yet able to withstand stress, so any fear threatens to manifest itself in the future as a phobic disorder.

So, if in the presence of the baby the pet began to behave aggressively, for example, defending the territory, and for him this turned out to be a surprise, then the reaction is quite predictable.

Upbringing

If, from birth, parents scare their baby with dogs, not allowing them to pet them or even approach them, then it is likely that he will really be wary of them, despite the lack of aggressive behavior.

Let’s say that while on a walk, an anxious mother drives away any animal, scaring it, throwing branches or stones at it. The child will think that this is normal and will repeat after her.

After all, parents are authoritative figures in the lives of young children, thanks to whom they learn to contact the world around them.

Heredity

If a close relative suffered from any type of mental disorder, this means that such a person is at risk. One day his psyche may not be able to cope with the load and phobias, or other diseases will make themselves felt.

Personality Features

Sensitive, vulnerable and impressionable individuals, even after watching news about attacks by pets on owners or passers-by, can become so frightened that they begin to avoid them.

The only way to avoid trouble is to not make a mistake when choosing a puppy.

Chat with the breeder. If he has nothing to hide, he will kindly answer all your questions, show his parents and conditions. Defects of the nervous system are transmitted genetically, so observe the behavior of the mother of the puppies.

One way to test temperament is through tests.

• Check your babies' reaction to noise. For example, the sound of keys falling. The “correct” puppy may be scared, but he will quickly adapt and go to see what is lying there.
• Try taking the baby to another room or outside if you have a fenced yard. See how he will behave without his brothers, sisters and mother. Bring a toy or some object. Observe the reaction.
• The baby should not bark, hide or just sit. A normal puppy is friendly and moderately curious. Of course, everyone is individual, but some reactions go beyond the norm.

Many choose the most timid and unfortunate one, because it becomes pitiful. Are you absolutely sure that you can cope with such a test? If yes, then let's find out what to prepare for.

Recommendations

In order not to think about the question of how to stop being afraid of animals, it is better to take care of your health in advance, not only physical, but also mental.

• It happens that others advise radical methods, which are likely to bring more difficulties than benefits. This refers to an offer to buy yourself a pet and get used to it while it is small and does not pose a threat. Except, of course, for spoiled bitten things. Be careful if you decide to use this method. Because if it doesn’t work, even at home you will no longer feel safe. And this will only strengthen the development of cinemaphobia without giving an answer on how to overcome it.
• Add foods to your diet that trigger the release of serotonin, the pleasure hormone. This way you will relieve your nervous system at least a little.
• Sport. Do exercises, push-ups, run, swim - in general, everything that you are allowed for health reasons. Exercise helps cope with anxiety and relieve tension.
• Meditate and practice breathing techniques to relax.
• Communicate with those who do not want to upset you, anger you, or hurt you. If there are toxic people in your environment, minimize contact with them.
• Find a hobby that brings you pleasure. Such activities will help you realize your accumulated energy, relax and improve your quality of life.

Socializing a pet that is afraid of people

How to deal with a fearful dog:

1. Remember that during times of fear you should not feel sorry for your pet, nor should you scold it. He becomes disoriented and will continue to be afraid next time, in the hope that he will be pitied.
2. You are a strong master leader and remain calm. Pretend that you are not afraid of anything, let the dog take an example from you.
3. Socialize your dog gradually. First, meet new people.

New acquaintances can come to visit you at home or invite old friends for walks

At the same time, do not focus on your pet. Don’t let him start to be a coward ostentatiously and think that this is necessary, since there are guests in the house or an old acquaintance is with you on a walk.

When the dog gets used to a person, you can ask him to talk to him affectionately, and then bring your hand to his muzzle (hold your palm up), let him sniff and carefully try to stroke him. Gradually begin to communicate with other people, then walk the dog on a leash in the company of its old friends

If you adopted a dog from a shelter, which is noble, but he is very shy, then even a year may not be enough for him to get used to it and begin to trust people.

A good way of socialization when you take a puppy into a home where there is an older dog. On the street you, and then an acquaintance of the older dog, pet him. The younger one will observe that he likes it and sooner or later he will allow himself to be stroked. The main thing is that the dog is among people every day. Isolation will lead to even greater fear of a person.

Every day 2-4 times or even more, take your pet for walks among people. Start walking in less crowded areas and gradually move to busier ones. As the fruit of your long psychological work on behavior correction, you will soon be able to walk with him even around the market, examining and choosing goods.

When your pet gets comfortable in a city or village, even take him to exhibitions, even if only as a guest. There he will see many relatives.

Passive behavior of a pet when fear appears

Fear can provoke a passive reaction. In this case, the dog, frightened of a stranger, tries to run away, hide, or hide in a secluded place. This is what phlegmatic, melancholic animals do. The owner needs to wait until the dog moves to a safe distance. If she is not going to stop and continues to walk in search of a secluded place, you need to command: “come to me,” calling her nickname.

When the pet stops, you should calmly approach him. If the dog’s feeling of fear has passed, he has calmed down, you can fix the leash and give the command “near”. You can play with the dog to distract it, order it to bring a stick, etc.

Pets who do not feel confident in their abilities behave passively. The owner should know that the best educational tool is personal example. In such a situation, you should not fuss, be nervous, or make sudden movements. You need to show the dog that everything is fine, there is no reason to worry. The pet will copy the owner's behavior.

What absolutely should not be done

There are many ways to raise a hysterical, cowardly and potentially dangerous dog. In addition to outright cruelty and boundless indifference, the following can lead to this:

1. Shouting, insults and physical abuse in various situations. It doesn’t matter whether the pet misbehaved, didn’t follow a command, or the owner is simply in a bad mood. You cannot take out anger and irritation on an animal, and screaming has never been the right method of education.
2. Limiting your pet's communication with other animals. If isolated, the dog will perceive both a huge St. Bernard and a tiny duckling as a threat. The result is a desperate coward with a shattered nervous system.
3. Lack of training and regular walks. The dog must receive new information. In addition, it is natural for her to relieve herself in nature, and not in a tray or on a diaper. Isolation has never made anyone brave.
4. Prohibition for pets to communicate with pets. In this case, he will perceive everyone as strangers. Of course, dogs of guard breeds should not fawn over strangers on the street, but friendliness will not harm decorative dogs at all. In addition, they will not perceive people as a threat.
5. Reluctance to visit a veterinary clinic and grooming salon. This is also a type of communication when a dog finds itself in an extreme situation. Soon she gets used to it and is no longer afraid. For her, a visit to the doctor or a wash, haircut, or nail trimming cease to be stress triggers, so they do not provoke the appearance of fear. If the dog is completely unprepared for such a situation, then his reaction can be unpredictable, which will have a bad effect on the state of the nervous system.

To adapt an animal to everyday life, you need to communicate with it, and not shake it like a porcelain doll. Such treatment can do him a disservice.

Factors that shape fears in dogs

The main reason for fear of people on the streets is rough treatment of a pet at an early age. Fear can be expressed in different ways. The dog clings to the owner, tries to hide behind his legs, or rushes and barks at everyone he meets. This behavior is formed in puppies who, during the period of socialization, did not see strangers and communicated only with the owner.

The cause of fear may be a weakened nervous system. This is an innate character trait. As these pets grow older, they begin to develop various phobias. Eliminating such pathologies is extremely difficult; you will have to spend a lot of time and effort.

In some cases, it is impossible to determine the cause of fear or phobia. For example, a dog is afraid of one of the family members who has a loud voice or is tall. The dog is afraid of strangers with such qualities.

What is the fear of dogs called?

What is the correct name for fear of dogs? This concept comes from the Greek κυν - dog and φόβος - fear. Cynophobia is characterized by an inexplicable, uncontrollable fear of dogs.

This pathology has subtypes:

• adactophobia - fear of being bitten;
• Rabiephobia - fear of contracting rabies.

The fear of dogs appears not only in close proximity or contact with an animal, but also when watching films, pictures, videos with it. On average, there are 1.5–3.5% of film phobes worldwide. For the most part, this figure consists of children and young people under 30 years of age.

If the pathology is not treated in a timely manner, then the phobia of fear of dogs progresses. Cynophobia is often observed in hypochondria, senestopathy, and schizophrenia. The risk of getting sick increases with significant overstrain of the nervous system, neuroses, depression, and breakdowns.

What is “cinephobia”

Cynophobia is the fear of dogs, both street and domestic. The object of a phobia can be not only the animals themselves, but also pictures, photographs of dogs, stories and any mention of them. This type of phobia has 2 subtypes:

• adactophobia – fear of being bitten;
• Rabiephobia – fear of getting rabies.

According to the World Health Organization, about 3.5% of the world's population suffer from cynophobia. Children and people under 30 years of age are most susceptible to it. In rare cases, fear of dogs accompanies a person throughout his life.

Psychologists distinguish between true and false cynophobia. Some individuals with mental disorders try to justify their carnage towards dogs, hiding behind fear of these animals.

True cinemaphobes are predominantly non-aggressive. When meeting animals that cause fear, they prefer to walk around them a kilometer away or run away.

How to behave when meeting a dog

To understand a dog’s mood, you need to study its habits. By the behavior of an animal, you can determine what is “on his mind.”

Basically, dogs only attack if provoked. Although there are exceptions to the rule. Dog handlers do not recommend doing the following when meeting a stray dog:

• wave your arms;
• shout loudly;
• throw stones or sticks at the dog;
• look the animal straight in the eye.

Such human behavior will only cause aggression in the beast. Here's what to do if you encounter a stray dog ​​or a whole pack of unfriendly animals on your way.

1. Try to pass by as calmly as possible. Dogs are great at sensing someone else's fear and are great at recognizing false confidence.
2. Lower your eyes down and press your hands to your body. So, the dog will see that the person is not dangerous.
3. Don't smile. Your smile may be perceived as a grin. And this is already a signal to action: we need to defend ourselves.
4. Don't run away. This makes absolutely no sense if you cannot quickly hide in an entrance or other room. The animal is almost always faster and more resilient.
5. Don't turn your back on them. They will definitely attack from behind.
6. In a pack of dogs, always look for the leader. If you can scare him away, get rid of everyone else.
7. Try to distract a dog that is about to attack. To do this, throw her some, preferably edible, object. The animal will switch to him and forget about the person.

Dogs guarding private homes feel at home in their territory. They are the protectors of the house and its inhabitants. Therefore, the animal will definitely bark or growl at a stranger passing by. Take her barking as a kind of alarm. Calmly pass by, observing the animal with peripheral vision.

If the animal is not on a chain and rushes after you, then stop and turn to face it. Try to remain calm. Although, of course, in such a situation it is very difficult. Most likely, the dog will simply sniff you and return to his booth. You can give him the command: “Ugh!” Just do it in a confident and firm voice. Almost all pets understand this command.

For inner peace, carry one of the following self-defense means with you:

• stun gun;
• gas cartridge;
• ultrasonic dog repeller.

They will help protect yourself in case of an animal attack. If suddenly the dog attacks you, and there are no devices at hand, then hit him in the nose. This neutralizes the beast. A dog's nose is the most vulnerable spot.

A dog is a pack animal. She senses hierarchy and submissively submits to the one who is higher in this hierarchy. And at the top it is always the most confident - the leader of the pack. A little earlier I wrote that if you are afraid of dogs, then do not look them in the eyes. Otherwise they will take it as a signal to attack.

However, if you are a person who does not allow doubts about his superiority, then your direct gaze into the eyes of the animal will make him obey. The dog will lower his eyes and begin to whine. So cultivate confidence in yourself, and no dog will be afraid of you.

Manifestations of cynophobia

Recognizing cynophobia is actually quite easy. To do this, you need to start listening to yourself more carefully. As a rule, a person himself is aware of its presence and tries to take some steps to get rid of fear. The fact is that such fear greatly complicates life and creates many obstacles that prevent an individual from feeling truly happy. A person often withdraws into himself, begins to avoid others, and avoids the possibility of even a chance meeting with a dog. As a result, it turns out that a person is often left alone with a problem and does not know how to cope with it. Let's take a closer look at the signs of cynophobia. What are they?

Feeling worse

Constant stress certainly has a negative impact on the human body. At some point, physical health begins to suffer. A person may begin to feel a deterioration in well-being precisely because he is under constant psychological stress. To bring yourself into a state of harmony, you need to start purposefully working on yourself. Constantly living with fear of dogs provokes the development of numerous ailments: from mild colds to serious damage to internal organs. Most often, people drive themselves into strong experiences because they do not understand what is really happening to them. Very often, an individual tries not to notice the problem until the last moment, so as not to take responsibility for eliminating the unpleasant situation. It is much easier to blame others than to try to solve the existing difficulty, because this will require a significant change in behavior.

Obsessive states

With developed cynophobia, a person is haunted by obsessive states. It happens that he develops fears associated with the appearance of animals. Such an individual generally tries not to keep any animals in the apartment, because he associates them with something unpleasant, certain painful conditions. A person may be haunted by fears, which are especially pronounced at night. Obsessive states often cannot be overcome by willpower alone. They capture the consciousness of the individual and force him to live as carefully as possible, without adventures or new discoveries. As a rule, a person is afraid to let something new into his life because he fears the possible consequences.

Fear of encountering horror

In a situation of developed cynophobia, there is a fear of experiencing fear. A person becomes so fixated on his feelings that he stops noticing the surrounding reality. Sometimes it seems to him that only bad things await him ahead. He sees unpleasant consequences for himself in any actions. The individual is not ready to devote enough time and attention to considering his internal state. A personality stops developing because it constantly runs away from an unsatisfactory reality and looks for easy ways. Each approaching dog is associated with horror, which the individual tries to avoid by all means available to him. When someone tells him that there is really nothing to be afraid of, the person gets angry and begins to think that they simply do not want to understand him. He can show aggression and speak extremely negatively.

Waiting for an attack

Meeting an unfamiliar dog on the street can turn into real hysteria for a cinephobe. In most cases, he will try to run away from the dog, to be safe as soon as possible. Moreover, this often happens instinctively, there is no understanding of the ineffectiveness of the chosen method. Sometimes a person freezes in one place and waits for terrible consequences for himself. Anticipation of an attack is an anxious feeling that haunts you. An individual can bring himself to the most unpleasant consequences if he constantly scrolls negative thoughts in his head. If you constantly expect something bad, you can inadvertently attract it to yourself. A person suffering from cynophobia often does not realize that he himself is ruining his life. He is so immersed in imaginary fears that he cannot realize how much he limits himself, trying to minimize the risks of a possible “catastrophe.” To many, it seems absolutely unrealistic to prevent the threat posed by an animal.

Aggressive behavior

In some cases, people suffering from cynophobia experience uncontrollable attacks of aggression. The fact is that subconsciously they want to protect themselves from their own fear, because in many ways it interferes with their lives. It becomes impossible to make responsible decisions, or to influence your destiny in any way. Aggressive behavior often becomes an action that allows you to cope with your own negative emotions. Overcoming unpleasant impressions sometimes seems like a very difficult action. It may take a long time to free yourself from the oppressive feeling of hopelessness. But the effort is definitely worth it.

How to help your child stop being afraid

Young children are very impressionable. The reasons why a child begins to be afraid of dogs may be:

• a dog attacking a child;
• dog bite;
• sharp and loud barking;
• large sizes, especially when the dog is larger than a child;
• grin and angry growl;
• an animal attack on other people, which occurred in front of the baby.

Parents need to behave correctly to prevent the phobia from developing even stronger. You cannot do the following:

• calling a child a coward;
• make fun of his fear;
• criticize;
• force the child to face his fear.

Here are some tips to help your child overcome fear.

1. When passing a dog on the street, hold your baby's hand tightly. He will feel safe under your protection.
2. Watch movies and cartoons with your child in which dogs are depicted as friendly animals.
3. Go with your child to visit where there is a puppy. Let the baby play with the dog.
4. When telling your child about dogs, do not focus on the fact that she can bite. Better describe the positive qualities of the animal.

Be sure to teach your child how to behave correctly when meeting dogs, namely:

• do not touch her when she is eating or licking puppies;
• do not run away from dogs;
• do not look the dog directly in the eyes;
• do not approach stray animals.

Causes of phobia

The very sight of an animal, its grin, can be frightening.
If a woman began to be afraid of dogs, or a man, then, for sure, this event was preceded by some external factors. In rare cases, this phobia may be congenital; in others, it is provoked by one of the following reasons.

1. Misbehavior of parents. From childhood, a child may be prohibited from touching a dog, even a domestic one, with the argument that it might bite. Over time, the baby develops an understanding that dogs pose a danger to him.
2. The grin of an animal can greatly frighten a child or a weak-willed man or woman.
3. Experiencing an attack, either as a witness or as a victim, can even create a lifelong phobia.
4. Fear of rabies. In fact, the fear is directed at the disease that these animals may carry.
5. Being present at dog fights shows how aggressive these animals can be and what injuries they can cause. And this can give rise to severe fear when being close to a dog.
6. Watching scary films in which dogs play the main roles.

It is not always the case that a person who has survived a dog attack begins to experience strong fear towards these animals. My brother was bitten on the leg by a dog as a child, and quite severely. However, when he grew up, he did not dislike these animals and is not afraid of them.

When should you visit the vet?

Unfortunately, sometimes the reason for such animal behavior is not the lack of proper education from the owner. Weakness of the nervous system is a common reason why an animal cannot normally enjoy walks. Due to the fact that the nerve endings do not function properly, even adults behave differently, constantly on guard.

Such animals have a high risk of stroke and other diseases that lead to death. They may be frightened by rustling noises, a crying child, or sounds that are somewhat louder than normal. The main reasons that you should visit a veterinarian are involuntary urination during loud noises, fear and shaking if the owner raises his voice a little, and panicky fear of other people. The veterinarian must examine the animal and take tests if necessary. If it is determined that the dog has a weakness of the nervous system, and possibly other diseases, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

Weakness of the nervous system is one of the reasons for a dog’s inadequate reaction to people.

If a dog generally feels bad, it considers itself vulnerable and snaps at absolutely all strangers from whom it can receive a threat. For example, animals that suffer:

• diseases of the gastrointestinal system;
• hearts;
• feels weak;
• elevated temperature;
• dizziness and pain;
• become an easy target, and realizing this, they try to protect themselves.

Therefore, before learning commands with animals and trying to socialize him in any way, be sure to make sure that nothing bothers the dog.

What are the causes of cinemaphobia?

1. Traumatic situation.

Most often this is some kind of dog attack in early childhood, or maybe even a pack of dogs. In adulthood, when attacked by a dog, a phobia can also form, but much less frequently.

1. Family foundations and genetic predisposition.

Science has proven that if at least one of the parents suffers from phobias, there is a high probability of developing similar anxiety in the offspring. In addition, the type of nervous system, way of thinking, ways of perceiving the environment and responding to stressors are transmitted to children. A child, like a sponge, absorbs parental behavior, both positive and negative. And unconsciously he strives to imitate his authorities - his parents. If they were afraid of dogs, or if it was customary in the family to avoid them for religious reasons, a similar behavior pattern will be adopted by the child.

1. Personality characteristics and complexes.

A sensitive, unstable nervous system, as well as low self-esteem, a sense of inferiority, and all kinds of complexes become fertile ground for the development of phobic disorders. An unpleasant incident associated with a dog and the associative series caused by it in the individual’s own imagination is sometimes enough to cause pathological anxiety.

What is cynophobia and why does it occur?

Cynophobia is an irrational fear of dogs that cannot be explained logically (like other phobias). This is not that uncommon: 1.5 - 3.5% of the population is terrified of dogs, and as a rule these are young people (under 30 years of age). Within the framework of cynophobia, a distinction is made between the fear of being bitten and the fear of contracting rabies.

It is worth distinguishing between true cinemaphobia and pseudophobia. The latter occurs quite often. Pseudo-fear of dogs is often characteristic of psychopaths (including sadists), who use fear of dogs as a reason to harm them or their owners. For example, a significant part of the so-called “dog hunters” belongs to this category. And knacker tendencies are covered up by illness.

Representatives of Islam who consider dogs “unclean animals” and avoid them also cannot be called suffering from cynophobia.

Cynophobia may be part of another mental disorder (such as schizophrenia).

As a rule, real cynophobia does not include aggression towards animals and their owners - such people only strive to avoid contact with dogs as much as possible. If you are dealing with a psychopath hiding behind pseudo-kinophobia, then manifestations of aggression on his part are possible.

Photo: google

Cynophobia is diagnosed if the following criteria are met:

• Manifestations of pathological fear that are primary and not caused by delusions or obsessive thoughts.
• Anxiety occurs only in the presence of dogs and in situations associated with them.
• The patient avoids dogs and everything connected with them.
• No other psychopathological disorders.

As a rule, panic fear of dogs arises in childhood and, without adequate help, can persist into adulthood. But, contrary to popular belief, dog attacks are extremely rarely the cause of this disorder. I have already written about how fear of dogs develops in children and whether it is possible to help a child cope with it, so I will not dwell on this in detail in this article.

How to learn to understand a dog's mood by its behavior?

Advice from dog handlers on how to stop being afraid of dogs always involves studying their behavior patterns. Understanding the non-verbal signals of the animal allows you to prevent aggression, retreat in time or, conversely, take a dominant position, which perfectly protects against aggression of a domestic or wild dog. The basic rules for safe interaction with animals are:

1. If a dog wags its tail, sticks out its tongue slightly, and turns its head fearlessly, it is friendly.
2. Confidence is indicated by a high chin and a straight neck.
3. Ears that stick out and fur that stands on end signal mistrust.
4. Licking the nose and raised hair on the back of the neck indicate stress.
5. A lowered head indicates that the dog is ready to accept the leadership of another animal or person.
6. Barking, yawning, tail tucked between legs and ears pinned back are signs of fear.

Aggressive response to fear

Impulsive natures, choleric people, sanguine people do not run away when a feeling of fear appears. On the contrary, they immediately rush to an object that evokes negative emotions. If a dog not only barks at strangers, but also uses its teeth, it will not be possible to cope with such a pathology without a dog handler. Professionals know how to correct the behavior of such dogs.

If the pet barks, growls, but does not take active actions, you need to calmly and confidently approach him, take him by the collar and lightly pull him, give the command “quiet”. If this measure does not have the desired effect, you should squeeze the dog’s sternum with your knees and hold it until the object that caused the dog’s aggression leaves. Then you need to sit him down, sternly but calmly say “ok”.

You cannot pet or praise your pet when it is aggressive. If such inappropriate behavior appears, it is necessary to begin intensive socialization. Regular walks will be an important point. Gradually, you need to change walking areas from deserted ones to areas with active traffic, so that the dog gets used to it and understands that strangers do not pose a danger to it. A prerequisite is a friendly attitude towards the pet, calm, confident behavior in all situations.

The nature of fear of people

Most dogs experience panic fear of a specific person, a representative of a certain group of people. This feeling, for example, can be caused by representatives of a certain profession, dressed in a uniform, having a certain smell. This is a consequence of pain caused in the past, resentment from such a person.

Pets are often afraid of veterinarians, since a visit to a veterinary hospital was associated with discomfort and pain. If your dog has ever been hit by a bicycle, he may be afraid of this type of transport.

Dog-human interaction

It is not a dog's nature to be afraid of people. Thousands of years have passed since the domestication of the beast by man. Dogs are faithful companions in hunting, recreation, long trips and in life. Today there are special animals that help sick people, so-called guide dogs or animals that distract from stressful situations.

For a dog, interaction with a person is also of great importance. Firstly, an animal that has its patron in the form of a person is self-confident, not subject to stress and anxiety, and easily socializes among its relatives. In addition, close interaction with people provides the basis for the development of the animal’s mental abilities. The dog takes actions in order to express its emotions, desires and feelings to the person. For example, at the moment of a strong impulse of tenderness and love, he begins to lick the owner, when he wants to eat, takes the desired position, and when the phrase “let's go for a walk” he waits at the door. An animal that has a close connection with people is highly trainable and responds to a huge number of commands without any problems. And animals that get along with people live longer. This is shown by various sociological studies.

Dogs are faithful companions to humans

Videos on the topic of cynophobia

Program “Session with a psychologist - how to overcome cinemaphobia.”

Other phobias related to fear of animals:

• insectophobia - fear of insects;
• arachnophobia - fear of spiders and arachnids;
• herpetophobia - fear of reptiles;
• ophidiophobia - fear of snakes;
• ailurophobia - fear of cats.