Helping 4yr old with fear of dogs after witnessing attack

[Teenytinytempo]

My daughter is 4yrs old and has developed a fear of dogs. She used to go to a childminder who had two dogs and she was absolutely fine and comfortable with them and then a year ago when we were out at a park her Grandad got bitten by a dog on a lead sitting near a cafe doorway. The dog attacked him and bit him twice on the leg as he walked into the cafe. We had to take him to the hospital where he got X-ray, stitches etc.

Since then we have all become more wary of dogs but my daughter has become increasingly terrified to the point where she has twice lost all sense and gone to run into a road to get away from a dog (luckily I ALWAYS have hold of her hand!). I think this is more than a phobia. It’s a trauma response and I’m wondering what we can do to help her.
is it worth asking our GP?

I just don’t want this to overshadow her childhood where she can’t relax in parks and playgrounds and in general life and I’m seriously concerned she’s going to put herself in danger to get away from a dog.

I grew up terrified of dogs, as was my mum. They sense it and the more aggressive dogs definitely react, possibly due to body language cues coming from me. I worried about walks where there were dogs, houses with dogs and if pubs had dogs in them. When I had children I didn’t want them to experience those issues so I adopted a puppy (a decent sized one). I am still nervous but my dc are very confident.

In your situation is there any way you could spent ALOT of time with a friendly good sized dog? Or even get one? My dog was used by lots of friend’s nervous dc to get them comfortable with dogs, some even got dogs after a few years. It is desensitisation and understanding dog body language that you are after. Hope it works out.

I know quite a few children who are scared of dogs.
A few of my friends have borrowed my cocker spaniel to take for a walk with the children and let the children throw the ball for him. My dogs lack of interest in the child and the child having the action of throwing the ball to concentrate on seems to have a really positive impact on the child.
Do you know anyone with a not too big friendly but not jumpy dog?
We live in an area with lots of badly trained Australian shepherds and Belgian Malanois’ so I’m not surprised so many children around us are terrified of dogs.

The dogs trust has some great resources to help with this.

Do you have anyone that you know with a dog that can be trusted to totally ignore a child?

Start slow, don't force interactions directly with the dog your Dd just needs to be comfortable that dogs are going to be seen when out and about and be confident enough not to run off.

Arrange a walk where you are on the opposite side of the road but going in the same direction as them.

They sit at a bench in the park and you sit on the next one maybe have a conversation but maintaining the distance.

No interaction with the dog at all to begin with just learning to be neutral around them.

Speak to some local dog trainers as well, they may be willing to speak with your Dd about how to appear boring to dogs giving her some confidence with how to act around dogs.

There are Therapy Dogs groups in various places that have a number of dogs and owners that are very suited to being comforting and gentle - some can be booked to visit homes for the elderly, youth groups, or hospital therapy units, for example. I'd recommend making contact with one if you can either for advice or for some help.

Although it's not for fear of dogs (but intended for anxiety about hospitals), I love this video that has been made by a group near us: