to not understand people that are afraid of dogs

[Josico58]

Is it not an extremely debilitating and irrational fear? Based on how many dogs there are about in public, how do you go about daily life? And to think they’re all about to attack you for no reason?

I can understand people feeling nervous of a big dog hurtling towards them/their small children, but regular, well behaved dogs in public places. Really a problem?

Don’t mean to sound harsh but it just comes across as a bit pathetic to me.

A friend’s little girl is terrified of my dog. It’s a Cavalier puppy, hardly scary! I admit he can be excitable and full on, and we’re training him not to jump up or lick people. But the mum kind of enables it, picking DD up and saying “it’s OK, he’s not going to get you”. I’m left feeling a bit “Er, get a grip!!”

AIBU?

Sorry, as an animal lover I just can’t understand this seemingly common fear.

I suspect popular opinion will be that I am and I’m ready for the backlash!!

I think it's sensible to try not to teach your children to have irrational fears. I hate rats but when we went to a sort of show and tell affair at the zoo they produced a rat to pass around. I held it. It nibbled my nose. It turned out to be quite a nice rat. I wasn't going to deprive the children of a chance to learn due to my own personal aversion.
I also once held a tarantula at another such occasion. I really really hate spiders and if it had run up my arm I would have gone mad. But I did it. And so did my daughter.
Not a fan of snakes either but I've held them several times at parks/zoos.
Children need to be taught to be sensible around animals.

YABU. Plenty of fears aren't rational. Also just because you love animals doesn't mean that it has to be a universal thing that people must love them jumping up/licking them.

I'm fairly scared of dogs. It doesn't have an impact on my day to day life and I do try not to show it in front of my kids. I'm not going to go into what or why I'm scared of because I don't think you really care that much about why people are scared of them, otherwise you wouldn't be saying things like "pathetic" or "get a grip".

Out of curiosity how would you like people to react to their children being scared? Comforting them and reassuring them that nothing is going to happen seems fairly common sense doesn't it? I really don't see how thats "enabling" a fear, and I'm assuming most parents are a bit more articulate and kind with their young kids than telling them to get a grip.

Yes actually I rescind my comment about it being irrational. A lot of phobias are. But there are some very dangerous dogs about. I spent the first 20 or so years of my life being terrified of all dogs because a German Shepherd knocked me over when I was 3. So actually, a totally fucking rational fear/dislike.

God this thread has pissed me off.

I love dogs...

But I’m terrified of spiders and dentists - which makes no sense at all, so...

Fears don’t have to be sensible...

And the licking, I forgot the licking. Shudder. I'd be happy if I never saw another one.

Oh and YABU and totally lacking in empathy.

Are you for real????
Animals with sharp teeth and a tendency to growl at you. Get a grip.

Don’t mean to sound harsh but it just comes across as a bit pathetic to me

I think it’s a bit pathetic that an apparent grown ass adult can’t empathise with another persons fear. Fears are generally irrational, great that you don’t suffer from a fear of dogs but are you scared of anything? Heights? The dark? Cabbage? All of those are irrational but that doesn’t make it any less real to the person suffering.

You can't help having a phobia. I have a phobia of salad cream which I'm often told is completely irrational but it doesn't stop the panic attack's if I'm near if

What a pathetic thing to say. Some people are afraid of tiny spiders or birds and have to encounter them every day. No one wants to live with a phobia, it's hell. A bouncy, yappy, growling dog that you don't know or trust, especially if you are not used to being around them? Get some empathy.

Dogs have got teeth in them. It’s not an irrational fear. You may not share that fear but you can’t say it’s irrational. There are obvious reasons why someone might be scared of dogs. They’re unpredictable and sometimes bite.

That said, I’m not scared of dogs. I like them. Just...you know...it’s something you have to accept. Not everyone likes dogs.

He's excitable and full on and you're 'training him' not to jump up and lick people but you can't understand why a child might feel afraid of him.

Shaking my head sadly.

Don’t mean to sound harsh but it just comes across as a bit pathetic to me.

Pathetic?

My 55 year old partner saw his sister mauled by a dog as a child, he still can't talk about it without crying.

If you cannot control your dog, then perhaps you shouldn't have one.

Stupid iPad

Also agree that a fear of dogs isn't as irrational as a fear of other things.

Twice my son has had a dog knock him over at the park and one burst his football.

But even irrational fears are entirely understandable.

Try to learn some empathy.

Really? You can't see why some people are wary around animals that can, at the drop of a hat, become unpredictable and cause serious damage if they get their teeth into you?

It's your responsibility to keep your dog under control and not have it jumping up at people/children. It's the Mum's responsibility to keep her child safe.
Sounds like she's keeping up her end of the deal by picking her DD up and reassuring her. But what are you busy doing while this is happening? Apart from sneering about how 'pathetic' the child is

I don't like dogs at all but it's kinder to people who do to pass it off as a fear, I'm not afraid as such. I hate their slobbery mouths and heavy breathing and unpredictable movements. My brother was knocked over and into the road by a neighbours' Alsatian that escaped when he was 18 months, I was 3. I expect that didn't help!

I'm a dog owner and lover but there are certain dogs I'm scared of
Keep your dog in control and away from people who are afraid otherwise you could land yourself in serious legal trouble.

Don't be ridiculous. People can be afraid of anything. Loads of people (including me) are frightened of totally harmless spiders. Others are scared of (even non-poisonous) snakes, birds, cats etc.

I love dogs, and own a large one, but I don't find it at all odd that some people are afraid of them. Even a small dog can give you a nasty bite. Dog owners who disregard or mock other people's fear of dogs are inconsiderate twats imo.

I sort of understand people who are scared of big dogs, but don't really see how someone can be scared of a puppy, or a something small and fluffy.

Then again, some fears are irrational, some are cultural, so I keep my dogs close and watch them all the time.

I've had two dogs come up and bite me for no reason, so yes, I am nervous around strange dogs. I never know if they're coming up to say hello or to bite my hand off.

My son has autism and is terrified of dogs (well, all moving creatures, but dogs are more likely to come close to him) and no amount of telling him to stand still and keep quiet has worked. He will scream and run.

If your dog was jumping up to my toddler too damn right I'd be picking my child up out of the way.

As someone who was attacked by a dog as a youngish child I can tell you it’s not an irrational fear.

I don’t hate dogs, but I fucking hate their owners when they say “but MY dog won’t hurt you”. Just have a bit of empathy will you?

Has to be dm bait as no one can be this stupid. People have fears..some based on facts some not.... a fear of dogs i totally understand..they unpredictable have teeth claws and jump and bark loudly. Im a dog lover by the way. What you frightened of op...spiders, the dark, ladybirds, bubblewrap, heights? Yabu

Lol.
I had a colleague so dense that she did not believe that I was allergic to cats because she wasn't.
Your post ain't a million miles away from that.
Give your head a wobble.