First off, if you listen to Gareth Cliff you will enjoy this blog post, I thought it was great!
Then, I would like to say that I have to hang my head in shame once again. I need to apologise to each and every parent and child that is scared of animals that I have ever smirked at. In my defence, at the time I blamed the parents for making their children scared of dogs.
People, my girls are living proof of the fact that some children just ARE afraid of animals.
Some background: we have a Labby (very old and very sweet and very lazy) and a cat (all of the above, bar the sweet). We also used to have a beagle as a mate to the Lab, but she passed away when Daniel was small and we just haven’t gotten around to getting another dog. Partly because hubby and I cannot agree on what to get.
Labby and beagle used to spend a lot of time in the house and Daniel was very used to them. When the girls arrived, the labby was by himself and it was just too crowded and he freaked them out from the start.
So now, 2 years down the line, they are scared of anything that lives and breathes and walks on four legs. Even the friggin springbokkies on the farm that are behind a fence. Mignon is not so bad, but Isabel goes completely nuts, she literally tries to climb into your clothes.
They freak out when they come across the cat in the passage. The Lab can be lying on the grass, minding his own business and they will not walk past him. They will scream until we remove either them or the dog.
We were at a friend’s house on Sunday and they have miniature Daschunds and you should have seen the drama!
What can we do to remedy this? I really want to get an indoor doggy, but not if it going to cause so much stress!
My older boy was exactly like that. We didn’t actively do anything to remedy it and he basically just outgrew it. He can handle dogs and cats now (only for the past year or so) but he is still creeped out by spiders and crawly stuff. My younger son is exactly the opposite and loves all animals. I was advised a couple of years ago to just get a dog or a cat and that he would get used to it after a couple of weeks or so. I ended up not following that advice. Can’t remember why. But it could very well help you. Good Luck.x
We got a kitty a month before T’s 2nd birthday. He seems to be coping well. They have a really cool bond and even though some tails are pulled and legs and arms are scratched and bitten, there’s generally a ‘skietstilstand’ in place most of the time. He’s not too keen on small jumpy dogs but he loves big slumpy dogs. Shame man, hope you guys find a solution. Would going to an SPCA or something like that be too much for them? Just to see – maybe they just need time to ‘thaw’ before the dogs come close. Maybe dogs in cages are their thing!
And there I thought all kids love animals! Minki loves any kind of animal, from dogs, cats, birds, frogs, anything. The only thing that freaks her totally out (like in hysterical screaming freaked out) is the moths that fly in through the bathroom window and lands in the bath with her.
Planning to take her to the Zoo this week-end, think she will enjoy that.
maybe they will be ok if you let them be a part of choosing a puppy and they see how small and helpless they are initially as opposed to scary?
They should be fine if they have the dog from puppy on.
agree with deblet and Diva … a puppy should be different cos its so tiny and helpless … good luck with this!
Connor started doing the climb in your clothes trick when he sees a balloon. He has absolutely no fear of our dogs – totally opposite of Tristan.
Maybe if you take the girls to the place where you’re going to buy the puppy and let them touch, feel & play with the pups. I was going to say let them choose the one they want, but you may end up with 3 pups! (Don’t forget Daniel)!
Lucky you, enjoy!
I’ve also been given taht advice, but I don’t want to get an animal, end up freaking out the kids and the animal and then have to give the animal away. Don’t think I would survive that..
SPCA would freak me out more than them. All our animals except the beagle have been from the spca, but it breaks my heart to go there!
I’m very nervous to get an animal and end up freaking it and the kids out more.
LOL, we’d probably end up with 4!
I hear you, sister! D is terrified of dogs ever since he witnessed DH being bitten by a dog. He will literally climb up you as if you are a wall if he sees a dog. Makes visiting people who have dogs very difficult. When you find the cure, let me know.