We have a retired greyhound who is 7 years old and a big softie! He does take part in "meet and greet" sessions which involves standing around in shopping centres and such like allowing members of the public to pet him and fuss over him, all to put across how good greyhounds are in a home enviroment, so he is used to being fussed over. He is also used to our grandchildren.
We live in Kingstanding, which is only down the road, so pehaps we could meet up somewhere so they can meet each other, and we also have a lurcher who is smaller and very appealing but she is only 2 and can be a bit boisterous.
If you are about this Sunday, starting about 11 (but we wont be there until about 12)there is a dog show in Cooksey Lane Playing Fields (very near Kingstanding Circle) and the local Retired Greyhound Trust will have their Gazebo there. We will be there with both Jay and Amber and would willingly bring them to your car or if your little girl is brave enough then may be she could come and see us. There will be other greyhounds there and of course dogs involved in the Dog Show.
This is the address:
Kingstanding Playing Fields
Cooksey lane
Kingstanding
Birmingham
B44 9QS
I will happily bring the dogs out if it would make things easier.
My email is simon.bursey at sky.com please feel free to email me and see what we can sort out. I could send pictures of Amber and Jay and make a game of it to see if she can pick them out....
This is a very useful for teaching children how to behave around dogs. It can be hard teaching children the right way to interact with dogs without frightening them. These are posters to print off.
First of all a huge thankyou for all your input - feeling confident that I can help her overcome her fear with all your help.
Fluffydogs02 - It is a very kind of you to offer the book and I'd love to take you up on it. Perhaps you could email me and I'll send you my postal address lynne.wearing at googlemail.com
dad1uk - I would have loved to have brought her there but she is at a birthday party 1-3pm. What time do you think it would finish? And do you think the dogs might be bit hot and bothered if we got there later in the day? It's a great idea though - maybe there is another event coming up?
K9Wendy - I'll print off the posters too.
I really do appreciate you all taking the time to give advice.
Lynne, if you would like to meet Sunday morning somewhere before we go to the dog show I am happy to help.
I hate to see children frightened of dogs, because they can be so rewarding......
This might interest you, we will hopefully be there as well, work permitting, but if you have the holiday booked then sooner rather than later would be better.
I would suggest going to the kennels but I think the dogs in kennels would do more harm than good in this situation, but at a later date they are always greatful of help walking the dogs, so once her confidence has been built up then this may be an option......
Quote: Originally posted by K9Wendy on 10/7/2013
This is a very useful for teaching children how to behave around dogs. It can be hard teaching children the right way to interact with dogs without frightening them. These are posters to print off.
Find out if your local rescue centre needs volunteers for walking or feeding etc. and take your daughter along so she gets used to seeing and being around all different types of dogs. Ask the centre to only walk small dogs / puppies to start with to build her confidence up.
My youngest was frightened of dogs, so I got a dog. A big one.
She isn't afraid of dogs any more.
------------- "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." In memory of Bear. 06/03/06 - 25/01/12 Izzie 23/09/07 - 25/03/13
If she has phobia of dogs its going to take a long time if you push her it will make it worse in the long run. If she is just nervous of dogs it won't be as bad. I would find a camp site without dogs. If you don't like something do you put your self through hell or do you avoid things. I don't like snakes so I would go in to a room with them so why is a dog any different. We have the same problem with are girl. We hate it when dog owners look at you and say it won't hurt her. People don't understand stand she doesn't like dogs end of story. You mit not like everything I do but I would expect you to do it. Why can't dog owners understand some people don't like dogs.
Quote: Originally posted by bexamy on 13/7/2013If she has phobia of dogs its going to take a long time if you push her it will make it worse in the long run. If she is just nervous of dogs it won't be as bad. I would find a camp site without dogs. If you don't like something do you put your self through hell or do you avoid things. I don't like snakes so I would go in to a room with them so why is a dog any different. We have the same problem with are girl. We hate it when dog owners look at you and say it won't hurt her. People don't understand stand she doesn't like dogs end of story. You mit not like everything I do but I would expect you to do it. Why can't dog owners understand some people don't like dogs.
It depends upon the child's reaction as too why dog owners can't understand or look at you in askance. If a child is screaming and flapping about it is likely to cause a negative reaction from the dog particularly in a young dog. I agree dog owners need to be aware that not everyone likes dogs, but its nice that they are reassuring you and your daughter that their dog is friendly, you need to build on that.
Perhaps you could use these encounters with friendly dogs and owners to your advantage ask if you child who is afraid of dogs could watch the dog from a distance without any physical contact. Praise your child for watching quietly and gradually over weeks she will get used to the dog.
I would be happy to do this if anyone asked me especially as she has a few charming tricks that would win a smile from a child.
I commend you for trying to resolve this issue before going away, my experience on sites is that dogs are usually on leads and heading to the dog walk, so if you ask for a pitch away from that area it will help.
There is also a group of Staffordshire bull terrier owners trying to improve the image of the breed by touring the country with pat tested dogs in city centres doing meet and greets. I will post the cities for you.
Bexamy it shouldn't be end of story it should be start of story to improve your phobia. You would expect a dog owner whose dog was afraid of children to work on the problem.
I'm terrified of spiders but my son who is studying zoology has found one of his areas of fascination and perhaps future research is Arthropods. I'm having to work on my phobia so that I can visit my son
Quote: Originally posted by madz on 13/7/2013
It depends upon the child's reaction as too why dog owners can't understand or look at you in askance. If a child is screaming and flapping about it is likely to cause a negative reaction from the dog particularly in a young dog.
That's very true, especially with highly reactive breeds like my lakies.
I can't take my dogs to family do's when the youngest lot of nieces and nephews are there. They do nothing but scream, screech and run about, and I'm terrified that one the dogs will get excited and join the chase, and a nipped ankle will result.
My dogs are great with kids otherwise and have represented the breed at Discover Dogs on many occasions, where they have displayed great tolerance for being prodded, poked and fussed by kids.
On one occasion, there was a sobbing toddler in a pushchair being ignored by her parents and siblings, and I asked her if she'd like to cuddle my little dog. She nodded, so I plonked Lola on her lap and she snuggled right up to the child's neck and licked the tears from her cheek. The child responded with a beaming smile and everyone around ooohed and aaahed.
Children can get so much joy and fun from dogs, and learn a lot about responsibility too. I really hope OP manages to help their girl get over this.
Of course, you might then get pestered for a puppy!
Even dogs need reassurance that children are not to be afraid off, as well.
I was walking my dog at my usual spot, Came across a child who was frightened. Popped him on the lead and chatted, with the parents, We managed to encourage the girl to stroke my dog.
Which was a great exercise for him. He just laid there, being petted.
We gave the instructions on how to approach a dog correctly, how to behave around them.
Not to scream if one approaches,
Success, It became an enjoyable experience for both of them, as he needed positive reinforcement as well.
It can be done.
Good luck
heath63
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Topic: Frightened of dogs..
