We're trying to figure out how to help Peanut overcome his fear of dogs without having to adopt a family pet of our own. I always thought young kids were naturally supposed to have this affinity towards animals. Peanut loves looking at photographs of dogs (he even kisses them) and excitedly points them out when they walk by, but he does not like it when they're within an arm's reach. He doesn't cry, but immediately gets a panicked look on his face and will try to find a person or object to wedge between him and the canine.
I guess I should give you some background on Peanut's first encounters with man's best friend. The first real life dogs he met were our neighbors' two Labradors. Wait, two 80 lb incessantly barking Labradors. (My mother-in-law who sleeps in the bedroom nearest them when she visits can attest to this.) The second was my cousin's chihuahua who took a bite out of Peanut's leg just seconds after we arrived in Houston. Of course, Peanut freaked out both times and I can't be sure, but I believe it might have triggered his doggie-phobia.
He does OK around dogs that are smaller than him, as long as they're not jumpy, but wants nothing to do with the others. We're slowly introducing Peanut to sweet dogs when we meet them, but so far, Peanut prefers his two-legged friends over the four-legged ones.
1 comment:
Yeah, I definitely say those two incidences had triggered his fear. I say he'll grow into liking them later. Not now though because of the memories of getting bitten and also the loud bark.
I didn't like dogs as a kid because they barked and it scared me as a kid. Now I like them because they are fun and playful. But do get territorial around their owners or a stranger who they deem is a threat.
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