What do I do If i'm seriously scared of dogs, and my neighbors dogs' chase me?!!!!!!!!!!! Please read details.

Question

Help!!!!!! I have a neighbor with dogs. She has tried to teach me not to be afraid, but I still am!!!!! She lets her dogs run amuck and they are not on a leash. I am so scared, what can I do?!!!!! I know that I shouldn't run or scream, but I can't help it. 3 days ago, she had one of her dogs not on a leash, and it barked at me so loud and started running that I screamed on the top of my lungs and ran like crazy!!!!!! I NEED HELP!!!! The one whose advice helps the most will get the 10 points for best answer. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

First of all dogs sense fear. Second of all if that person cared about her dogs she would make sure they were leashed or fenced in. Check into your local leash laws. Report her. You shouldn't have to live in fear. She shouldn't be trying to teach you not to be afraid. She should be putting them on leashes.

Answer 2

There isn't anything wrong with being afraid of dogs. Each person has their own fears and it sounds like you have every right to really be fearful of your neighbors dogs. I'm not aware of anywhere that doesn't have a leash law when a dog is outside of a fenced in yard. You should feel save in your neighborhood. I would report the owner for allowing their dog(s) to run around w/out a leash and having control of the dog(s). I am an owner of 3 dogs. 2 Pitbulls and a Cocker Spaniel. My dogs spend most of their time inside but do go outside in the fenced back yard which also has a second invisible fence. Dogs that run around are the ones then end up hurting someone so please take the appropriate action now before it's too late. Good luck

Answer 3

Do NOT act scared towards a dog. The dog is a pack animal, and it is trying to assert it's dominance over you. If you act all weak, thing it will walk all over. also DO NOT RUN. They say not to run because dogs like to HUNT. This is the same for many animals, but especially dogs... if they see something running away and screaming bloody murder, they go after it like a meal, because that is exactly what their prey would do.

As for the owner.. you NEED to talk to that owner. Having any dog (even a "nice" dog... dogs can act totally different without their owner [the leader of the pack] watching over them and especiall if they are in a group.. they become a PACK!!) run amuck is DANGEROUS... for people, people's pets (especially cats!!!), wildlife, and of course the dog (it could get ran over, abused by sick people.. ect). This owner is being INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE!! Sure, sometimes my dogs accidentally get out of the fence by accident, but I don't LET them out. If they are out, they are always on a leash!! Have a serious talk with the owner, and if they do not comply call animal control.

Answer 4

Dogs are programed with a chase instinct. If you run they will chase you. DON'T RUN! If a dog comes up to you barking. Look away, don't move. If they continue there are a few things you can do to show that you mean no harm to them. Yawning is a pacifiying thing to dogs. Yawn really big and exagerated. Do not show fear. They can sense your aggitation. Never look a aggressive dog in the eye. Look away to the horizon. Pay no attention but don't move. If you run it will cause the dog to chase and bite. In extreme cases, curl up in a ball on the ground with your hands covering your neck and arms accross your face. let out little wimpers. This is what pups and submisive dogs do to siganl that they are smaller and weaker which means that they are no harm. If this is an extrem problem, inform the owner that if she does not take proper care of her dogs and has them on a leash you will call the athorities. If she doesn't listen, CALL THE ATHORITIES. There is no excuse for her behavior in this matter.

Answer 5

Call animal control if her dogs are running loose - that's against the law almost everywhere now.

Carry an open umbrella to keep the dogs away from you. Running and screaming are the ABSOLUTE worst things that you can do. That will make even a nice dog chase you and bark at you. See if you can find a counselor to help you with your phobia before you get seriously hurt.

Answer 6

As everyone else has said, this person is irresponsible for having her dogs off leash outside of her property. Call A/C and report her.

There are two products I suggest you buy - one is a spray called DirectStop. It is a citronella based spray that will scare the dog off if it is chasing you. You can usually buy this at pet stores or Wal-Mart. The second product is animal urine. Go to a hunting supply store. They usually sell various types of animal urine in a spray bottle (around me the most common is deer urine - the hunters scent their areas to attract the real animals so they can shoot them). Ask the people who work there which type of urine they carry is the stinkiest. Then whenever you see this person's dogs off leash you can spray them with urine. Maybe if the start coming home smelling like p**s then the woman will stop letting them wander all around.

Answer 7

first of all, you have every right to enjoy your property, if the dogs enter onto it then the neighbor needs to tie them up, if the dogs run beyond the owners property then you can contact the local government, they can tell you if she must have an electric fence or somthing to confine the dogs. second if you want to leardn to deal with and not be afraid of the dog then you need to ask your neighbor to tie the dogs up untill they get used to you and you get used to them. then when you are comfortable then you can ask the owner if she/he can show you the dogs while on a leash maybe this way once you have seen the dogs tied up and when you can get close to them without being afraid then she may be able to let the run free. just make sure that the dogs are not dangerous, they may not be to her but maybe so with anyone else.

Answer 8

First of all, only an irresponsible owner allows their dogs to run amuck. Loose dogs can get hurt, hit by vehicles, etc., they pick up parasites from the droppings of other animals and the ground cover they travel, and they might injure a person, child, or other animal (no matter how friendly they might appear).

You should thank her for attempting to teach you to be unafraid, but tell her it has not worked and you request that she restrain her dogs at all times. Show her my note if you wish. If this does not work, the only other option is to alert the authorities.

Answer 9

You should not have to feel afraid because your neighbour is lazy and an irresponsible dog owner. I would report her to the local council, or the relevent authorities in your area and put the onus on her to become responsible and have the dogs leashed when in a public area and put behind a secure fenced area.

You have the right to walk down the street without fears.
She is not doing you any favors, she is just being selfish and ignorant.
Good luck with your fear of dogs.
But if you want to beat your fear it should be in a controlled situation not out in the street!

Answer 10

ignore them act like there not even there if you don't bother the dog most likely the dog wont bother you. but they do need to be put on leashes or in a fence. its the law in most cities. in time the dog will learn to not come near you. when you show no attention to the dog the dog shows none to you. unless the dog has reason to hurt you it wont. but if it scares you that badly and i know what it feels like kuse i'm scared of labs. look at your local dog laws. if it says that they are to be on a leash or in a fence then tell your neighbor that. this will give them a warning to do so. if it gets to a point where you have no other chose call a cop. they will give them one warning to do so if they do not do so in so many days the dogs will be taken away from the people. to fix your fear of dogs i sagest going to your local shelter or to a friend that has a small dog and spending time with that dog. go from small dogs like puppies first then to little dogs then to a little bigger dogs then to a big dog. as you progress the dog will seem less scary. most dogs what nothing more than to be petted and played with. and at some point you might even get a dog of your own. i would suggest you get a little dog. they love to be with you and you can put them in your lap and pet them. good luck and if you have any more questions just ask me [e-mail] i have 4 dogs and have lived with them all my life. and i have been bitten 2 times. so i can help you to get over your fear of dogs i was scared of dogs as young girl then we got a little dog and now i have a full grown boxer and help to save dogs.

Answer 11

When you see the dog take a deep breath. Take several deep breaths in order to calm yourself down. If the area you live in has a leash law, your neighbor is obligated to follow that law. If she doesn't, then you can call the animal control department in your town on her, and they will come and get the dogs. I used to be very afraid of dogs too. Not sure how I got over it, but now I just ignore them, and they usually leave me alone.