Dogs are lovely animals, and they can help many people feel calm and loved. However, some may also develop a fear of dogs. Hence, it is a type of fear that can stop you from enjoying life, especially outside your home. Also, a person suffering from it may experience serious fear by just hearing a dog’s bark or sound.
Cynophobia is very common, and it is already included manual of mental disorders under animals. People who seek help from a doctor are either afraid of cats or dogs. The following are other interesting facts that you should know about this type of fear.
1. How it Start?
People may have it as early as childhood stage. One of the common reasons is a bad experience with a dog or animals. Another reason is a family history, with one member of the family having the same fear or other types of fear. However, some pope just does not like dogs because of different reasons. Hence, one is health reasons. Some may have allergies to pet dander. Also, the scent of a dog is not good for some people.
Moreover, you may fear dogs if you always avoid going to places where you can see some. Also, if you feel serious nervousness and anxiety just a sight of dogs, you may have it.
2. Possible Signs
Signs of Cynophobia are different from one person to another. Hence, some people may start feeling the signs even just thinking about the dog. However, some may only feel serious signs after seeing an actual dog. Usually, it starts with worry and anxiety, just the thought of being close to a dog. Also, a person will try their best to avoid situations when they will be around dogs. The following are some of the common signs that one may feel instantly.
Physical signs:
- Fast heartbeat
- Trouble breathing
- Shaking
- Chest pain
- Stomach upset
- Hot flushes
- Dizziness
- Heavy sweating
Emotional Signs:
- Panic
- The escaping situation that causes the fear
- Detaching feeling
- Loss of self-control
- A feeling of passing out
- Serious fear
Signs in Children:
- Continuous crying
- Wanting to be close to their parents
- Unusual behavior
For instance, children do not want to leave their parent’s side whenever they see a dog.
3. Possible Causes
Many cases of phobia in dogs start at a very early age. However, it is easier to treat when parents are aware of it. A child with an unpleasant encounter with a dog will surely develop it. For instance, being bitten, chased, or threatened by a dog is not a good experience for a child. Also, seeing that someone is hurt because of a dog may trigger fear. Lastly, a child with a parent who is afraid of a dog can pass it on to their child.
Moreover, there is a study that this fear came from way back many years ago. It is when wild dogs are dangerous to people.
4. Who is at risk?
The reasons for your fear may or may not be able to find out by a doctor. Hence, some factors can make a person more prone to having it. Therefore, the following are things that can increase your chances of having phobia in dogs.
- Experience- Any bad experience in the past can start your fear. A situation that is very hard for you to forget may develop into a serious fear.
- Age- Fear can develop at any age. Some people may have it as early as ten years old or even during the elderly.
- Family background- A family member of the family with fear may also influence your way of thinking. For example, parents who are afraid of dogs may encourage the same to their children.
- Emotions- People with very sensitive emotions easily gets hurt or frightened. Therefore, they have a higher chance of having any fear.
- Wrong Information- Today, it is very easy to get wrong information, especially on the internet. Likewise, reading false stories about bad dog behavior can negatively affect a person. For example, reading an article about a badly hurt person by a dog can trigger your fear.
