ds is afraid of dogs. is there anything simple I can do to help him overcome this?

[Abelia]

he is 4 and has developed a fear because of two english setters belonging to my best friend. they are not very well trained and when we last stayed with her they jumped and barked and sniffed and harrassed him. He was literally climbing me, squealing with fear and they were taking this as an invitation to sniff and lick some more. Did quite a bit of loud barking too.

Since then he has been afraid of dogs, if he hears a dog barking in the street he worries that he will be chased / eaten by it.

We visited another friend today who has a big, gentle, dog. This one also barked and was curious, but was put outside straight away when friend saw that DS was shaking and trying to put as much space between himself and the dog as he could. Though he eventually plucked up courage to go outside, past dog.

I think this friend would be happy to help with a bit of socialising but hers isn't massively well trained either though. A neighbour has an older Lab, but we don't know her well enough to spend a lot of time going over, though ds is much less tentative around this one when we meet them in the street.

Any thoughts? We don't see dogs close up much though lots being walked in the local park, but I am sad for ds that he is afraid of dogs now and would like him not to be. But it's not worth us putting in hours and hours of work on it right now.

Or maybe it's ok for him to be scared of big dogs that bark? Better than the kids I see going up to dogs they've never met and stroking / patting them, sometimes coming up from behind too so the dog is surprised!

Wow sorry this has turned into an essay...

No solutions I'm afraid but I have almost an identical problem with my ds aged 4. I try to rationalise his fear but will still get screaming and clinging when a dog approaches. I'd love some helpful suggestions.

Have a google of Pets as Therapy dogs, they should be able to help.

As in be able to put you in touch with someone in the scheme locally who has a PAT dog your DS could be introduced to gradually without fear of being bounced and barked at.

I second the idea of a PAT Dog. Also, have you anyone at school/playgroup who takes their calm dog on the school run? If so, ask them if you and DS can walk with them a bit and see if DS will hold the lead with you or the owner hanging on too. To be "in control" of a dog like that might give him much confidence.

Do that a few times and then perhaps ask if you might meet in the park where the dog is offlead... get DS to get the dog to sit for a treat and then lead dog up and walk him. take it slowly, at DS's pace and give him the idea that HE is in control but that YOU and the owner have ultimate control and are able to take the lead and remove the dog if he becomes anxious.

My logic is that if you meet a calm dog owned by a fellow mum the dog will be a child friendly dog so YOU are confident and relaxed too, which will show to dog and DS.

HTH and good luck. :)

My DD is nearly 9 and she has s-l-o-w-l-y improved over the years.She used to scream hysterically when she saw a dog, even on a lead at the other side of the park.
As she's got older (tried the friendly dog approach) she's still very wary and will literally step into a main road to avoid a dog.DS 11 is the opposite but knows to ask the owner first.My biggest fear with him was that he would dive at a dog for a hug, but we've drilled into him not all dogs like children.
I ask the friendly dog owners in the park when I'm walking back from school about their dogs so that I can point out Fluffy/Billy/ Goldie and hopefully she'll be too interested to be scared.Works in part,she chats quite happily about them just not to them.
I really don't mind if she doesn't like dogs, just as long as she can ignore them and appreciate that people are allowed to take their dogs out in public.
So no great help,I'm still working on it!!

i would second approaching a dog walker in the local park who has an obedient, calm dog. i have been asked a few times over the years to help children who are scared of dogs, by people i dont know as well as people i do know. i really dont mind and i think it helps children learn to respect dogs eg ask owner first before touching dog and it helps children not to be scared.
take it slowly. children seem to particularly enjoy walking mine on the lead. i always ask the parent if the child would like to give dog a treat (when kids are confident enough). this is a big confidence builder as kids are putting their hand near dogs mouth
also teach your child basic dog body language as that will help them understand how dogs communicate

should add unless owner is absolutely sure dog wont pull then best if owner holds end of dog lead and child can hold lead further down

That's what I meant about DS holding the lead but owner/OP doing so too, chick. You made sense of what I was trying to say in my fog of tiredness!

Thanks everyone. Will look out for a nice child friendly dog on our school run and see what we can do. It is only big dogs he is afraid of, though he doesn't like any dog barking.