The fear of dogs is a natural emotion, because dogs are potentially dangerous. The abnormal fear of dogs, i.e., a specific phobia related to dogs, is called cynophobia. Emotional redirects here. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog Canis lupus is a type of canine, a mammal in the order Carnivora. ... Dog attacks on humans have become common news items in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Specific phobia is a generic term for any kind of anxiety disorder that amounts to an unreasonable or irrational fear related to exposure to specific objects or situations. ...

A 1992 research of fear of dogs among children and adults ^[1] reported that actual dog attacks do not make any difference for a person to be fearful of dogs. On the other hand, early harmless exposure to dogs seem to hamper the conditioning which can lead to cynophobia. Small children are more succeptible to acquiring the fear of dogs simply because many things are more frightening to them, and dogs who make loud noises and abrupt moves can terrify many children. pediatrical psychologists explain how a gradual exposure to dogs may prevent the occurrence of irrational fears of dogs while teaching the healthy awarenes of potential danger from unfamiliar animals. Pediatrics (also spelled paediatrics) is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents (from newborn to age 16-21, depending on the country). ... A psychologist is a scientist and/or clinician who studies psychology, the systematic investigation of the human mind, including behavior and cognition. ...

If a person has already developed a cynophobia, this may be treated by various methods common for many specific phobias. Specific phobia is a generic term for any kind of anxiety disorder that amounts to an unreasonable or irrational fear related to exposure to specific objects or situations. ...

Safety advices

Traditionally dogs are hunters, guardians and warriors, rather than pets, therefore a certain amount of healthy fear is reasonable, and dogs, especially unfamiliar ones, must be approached with precaution.^[2] Pets and humans often contribute toward the happiness of the other in a pet relationship. ...

• It is not advised to come close to unfamiliar dogs, even if they are small and tied. A large tied dog may reach farther than you may expect, while a small one may feel threatened and cornered (being tied, it cannot escape) and hence can bite in defense. Small kids must be absolutely forbidden to approach to unfamiliar dogs (even small ones) without most immediate supervision. Small children may rush to a dog and try to grab it (especially having and experience with a home pet), and thus trigger a defensive reaction from a dog.
• One must be aware of kinds of behavior a dog may perceive as threathening: direct eye contact, touching it over is head, approaching it too quickly, taking from a dog something valuable to it, e.g., a bone or a dog's toy, standing over a dog.
• Signs of dog's agitation iclude growling, raised hackles, shown teeth, erect or slightly vibrating (as opposed to wagging side to side) tail.
• Don't run away from a dog you accidentally run into: this will trigger the predatory response and most probably you will be chased. Stand still, don't wave your arms, don't make eye contact and turn slowly away.

The hackle is a feather plume (most plumes are made of horsehair) that is attached to the headdress. ... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ...

References

1. ^ Doogan S, Thomas G. V. "Origins of fear of dogs in adults and children: the role of conditioning processes and prior familiarity with dogs.", Behav. Res. Ther. 1992 Jul;30(4):387-94. PubMed
2. ^ Scary Dog Situations