How do I deal with DS 3.5years animal phobia?

[woodforthetrees]

DS is terrified of dogs, cats, small animals so most animals that people would keep as domestic pets. When he was about 18 months old he was nearly floored by an overexcitable dog on a beach who was just being friendly but I wonder if this was the real start of it. If you take him to a petting zoo he wouldn't pet the rabbits/guinea pigs etc. He's scared of birds coming towards him/pigeons etc in the garden. If we go on a family walk, it's hampered by the fact that if he even sees a dog in the distance he starts to get scared so we do our utmost to distract him so we can carry on. Invariably he'll ask to jump in the buggy at that juncture whihcmeans we always have to take the double (we have DD 1 years too)...

Question really is how do we tackle this or do we let it run its course?

I'd be grateful for similar experiences and how you dealt with it.
Thanks in advance....

Sorry, no real advice but just to say I have exactly the same problem with my 3.5 yo DD - again, related to an incident with a very friendly dog when she was 2.5.

I'll watch with interest, hope we you get some useful advice

Sorry ! It's hard for them isn't it. I hate to see him so upset. It was all brought to a head this afternoon when we were at a friends house who had a cat (friendly one) and he absolutely lost the plot with it and wouldn't go off and play off the sofa. It was a nightmare and my lovely friend in the end put it outside (poor cat!).....He was all bravado when we went in as he knew she'd just got a cat but when he was faced with the reality of it he couldn't cope

my DD was just the same as this and then one day she was comfortable with animals again it was like she woke up and decided not to be scared anymore she is 4 now btw and was terrified of all furry and winged creatures for about a year it may just be a phase but maybe buy him a stuffed animal that looks quite realistic- we bought a sandy coloured dog from ikea for DD for £6- and treat it like a 'real' dog/animal to ease him into the comfort zone it helped DD look at dogs with less terror

Thank you for those helpful tips - Pixie - I think those sound like great ideas - in fact we have a friend with a guinea pig which is the smallest I know ! Will have a word. Unfortunately I'm horribly allergic so will have to take a large dose of Piriton first but I think he needs de-sensitising to the point where as you say he can walk past a dog without losing the plot!