A close incident with a dog with toddler DC

[scaredofdoggs]

I was almost attacked by my best friends dog some years back as a teen.
The dog pounced on me, I kicked it and it bit my shoe off.

Ever since I have been petrified of dogs.

Whilst on the way to the park with DC a German Shepherd just ran towards us.
The house it came from had the door wide open and it was just wondering around on the street.

It made DC scream and it came pretty close.

I immediately turned back round.

When I turned back I could see it just running up and down the street off a lead.

I was extremely nervous at the park today with DC and has brought back my anxiety.

I just get so scared when I see a dog of a lead, especially in parks.

Anyone experienced anything similar?
Any advice much appreciated x

So you were “almost attacked”
and DS had a “close incident”

but no one has actually been attacked?

Maybe do some phobia therapy?

Otherwise your son will grow up also with this phobia

I’d get some therapy for this op.

The dog should not be off a lead roaming the streets, however it also doesn't sound like there was any 'close incident' either. The dog came towards you and then presumably left you alone as you then saw it running up and down the street.
Did it appear to have just got loose or is this a regular occurrence? I have a German sheperd and if it got loose from the garden (it never has) but if it did it would probably go up to people too as he loves everyone. However I understand this would be scary from an unknown dog to most people.

I was walking in a park when a dog off its leash saw me and immediately turned into “attack” mode and ran straight for me. Turns out it was just an over enthusiastic puppy. Another time i was growled at by a huge bulldog and got shouted at by its owner for keeping my distance. I’ve been very cautious of dogs and their owners ever since, especially with DC.

there are too many untrained dogs and bad dog owners out there.

Nobody was attacked by the dog was very agitated.

I definitely don’t want DC to have the same phobia.

Well you need to sort some therapy op as sounds quite debilitating

I walk this route most days and have never seen this dog.
The front door had been left open so I assume it had somehow got out, or a kid may of left the door open.

The dog then walked to a car on the opposite side of the road and started growling at some dogs in a car.

It did growl as I walked past the dogs house but then I crossed off and walked the other way.

Op doesn’t need therapy because she was afraid when a big dog ran up to her and her toddler in the street. This shouldn’t have happened. It would have scared me too and I love dogs.

Get some therapy OP - it sounds like your phobia is now being projected upon your DS. Nobody had a ‘close call’, a dog just got loose, was likely excited and ran up to you. You’re far more likely to be attacked by a little terrier than a German shepherd

Op you say that you are spiralling again and feel fearful when you see a dog off lead.

I think you need to get some professional support with this

It's reasonable to be alarmed. In some areas it's helpful to carry a big walking stick or golf umbrella just in case.

Get some help for phobia whether it be counselling or hypnotherapy so that you are not terrified at the sight of a dog, which will make your life a lot easier as dogs are in most places you take children to and it will also help you passing it on to your child and your child getting upset.

It is an extreme reaction for a child to start screaming just because a dog walked past.

I'm similar to you - dogs make me nervous and it's worse since having a baby (now 3 years old). It's a very normal human response to feel alarmed or scared when a dog, especially a big one (but I don't think the size is the only factor) comes running towards you. And protective instincts can make reactions or feelings even stronger.
We don't know the dog, or the owner, and even if we did - animals can be unpredictable and it's like we don't get a say in deciding whether to take the risk or not. This is what I've started to say to people when they tell me the dog is friendly/fine - I don't know you or your dog so that doesn't mean anything.
I don't agree someone should have to have therapy for this. Maybe if it was preventing you leaving the house or you were getting anxious every time you saw a dog from a distance.
It's unfortunate the dog had escaped from the house - that's careless of the owner. Hopefully something like that won't happen again.
My advice is to try and be assertive and tell people if you feel their dog is making you nervous or to keep it away.

Hypnosis is brilliant for curing phobias with a good hypnotist.
However, see if you can get some personal recommendations as some of them have minimal training and are quite mediocre. You really need a good one.

I absolutely hate it when dogs are off lead and running up to everyone. Unfortunately if I have ever said to a dog owner that I'm not keen on dogs I don't know approaching me their reaction is "he/she is just friendly".
I'm teaching my toddler to not approach or touch dogs when we're out, even though owners regularly say "oh it's a friendly dog, have a stroke", as not every dog is and it's impossible to tell.