I think Jamie may be curing my fear of them - at least when his around. I've been so busy pretending that I like them so Jamie doesn't pick up on it that I just seem to have forgotten to be scared. I don't flinch when I see them anymore and have been stroking them as well when his around

I really dont like dogs but I awlays make a big fuss when Amelias ther like 'oh what a lovely doggy' I think I'll be a nervous wreck when shes walking properly and can go over to them though. Does Jamie like dogs? x

He seems to. Sometimes his a bit wary of them to begin with (certainly with my fil's dog but she's small and full of energy and he loves her by the time we leave). His started running up to them which does mean I have to stop him fast because I want to teach him that he always has to ask the owner if he can stroke the dog first. My aunt has just got a new dog and he sees her quite a lot and loves her

My FIL has recently got a black lab pup and Amelia loves him adn is always asking for pup but when she sees him she likes to be in herhighchair or held so she can look at him and he cant get her lol

We've got a dog and I'm really glad because Stephen doesn't get scared when he seems dogs in the park but he knows not to go up to them or anything. It's really hard to not pass on your fears to your kids!

I am so glad I don't have a fear of dogs, I would be so sad cos I absolutely love them

I always had a fear of dogs as a child and the best thing my mum did was buy us a labrador puppy. She was my dog, I had to name her and walk her etc which when a puppy isnt a chore its fun
As I've got older I'm fine with certain dogs but german shepherds/alsations and pit bull/staffy type dogs I cannot stand and will cross over the road to get away from them.

I also hate irresponsible owners that allow dogs to jump at kids. An old man down my road always says "its alright she wont bite" one day the dog jumped up at Owen and headbutted his nose causing a nosebleed and every time I see him I now have to pick Hayden up as he saw Owen get "hurt" and Owen goes across the road

I don't see how anyone can say they won't bite anyway. What if your kid pokes them in the eye or something. Surely then their natural instinct would be to react

No-one can ever be 100% their dog won't bite. No matter how placid, well behaved etc they all have it in them to bite

liberty wrote:

I don't see how anyone can say they won't bite anyway. What if your kid pokes them in the eye or something. Surely then their natural instinct would be to react

Totally agree!

My dogs are the softest daftest buggers about, and tiny too...but Izzy got nipped by Denny (the youngest and biggest) 3 times it happened!

I was so upset, not cause of what he did to her as such cos it didnt even break the skin, just a faint red mark as he was warning her...and every time it was when i was out of the room and she admitted she had kicked him (he nipped her foot) or she smacked him or hit him. At one point I was considering sending him away to the dogs home (although everyone who knows him wants him cos he is such a lovely dog)

It was MY fault that it was happening though, so I had a stern talking to Izzy, actually upset her to the point she was crying cos she thought poor Denny was going to have to pack his little suitcase and leave to go and live in the dogs home with no mummy and no nice food.

It got the point over though and now she doesn't do it, I still have to remind her not to try to get things off him (like his toys) and not to go near when they are eating

Unfortunately most badly behaved dogs (or just dogs with bad manners like jumping) are like that because the owener has not stopped them doing it, cos they think its cute/clever or whatever...erm nope its not!

See you sound like kind of dog owner I like. I know I've been scared all my life so its influenced my views but I hate it when owners let their dogs come running up to you and jumping up. Our neighbours just let their dog wander around in the street which really winds me up. If nothing else it isn't fair on the dog. We live right in the centre of town and there's a fair number of cars going up the street