My son was bit by a dog at a young age will a puppy help him overcome his fear of dogs?

Answer 1

It depends on how bad his fear is now.
If he is terrified of dogs getting a puppy and forcing him to be around it is not going to make hte situation better and may in fact make it worse.
Puppys are jumpy and they nip and they are un ruley and can be quite a pain in the butt they also lack all the social skills of an older calm dog.
Your son should be exposed to an older calm dog like one who does pet therapy in the hospitals or something like that. A dog who has earned his CGC title would be a good choice as they are very well behaved.
That will show him that dogs can be calm and quiet and sit to be petted by a person. One who does pet therapy would be best and that way he can see and pet the dog some and then do something else.
Just getting a puppy is not a good idea.
Slow exposure building over time like desentisizing a horse is a better way to get your sons fear under control.

Answer 2

It will depend on his age and the puppy.

I would recommend having him exposed to MANY adult, calm dogs and learn to be comfortable with some dogs before introducing a puppy into the household.

Puppies bite, jump, claw and pull things out of your hands---scary for a kid who is frightened of them--and even a kid who isn't.

I was bitten on the face, arms and neck as a toddler---I still have some scars. (I was sitting on some steps eating when a loose dog tried to take my snack and attacked me for it.)

I think the reason I didn't grow up to be afraid of dogs is because I spent so much time at my grandparents' house with their well-trained, adult dogs.

If you do get a pup, right away teach it to sit for children. Get this book: Before and After You Get Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar. In it he explains how to teach a young pup to sit when approached.

I used Dunbar's methods with my pup and he sat for kids at an early age, which made my next door neighbor's kids who were terrified of dogs accept my wild puppy.

I would also research breeds and breeders to find a calm puppy. See if they do the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test on their pups. See if the parents are mellow or wired :)

Good luck

Answer 3

Not a good idea to get him a puppy till he is over his fear...if you bring one home & he spends the next couple days terrified, what will you do? Uh-huh, one more dog at the shelter. Not fair to the child or the dog!

Take him often to places where there are friendly dogs: the park, for instance. When he is completely over his fear, that is the time to decide. Here is a list of kid-friendly dogs - research them and pick a breed that fits your family's lifestyle best:http://www.petplace.com/dogs/top-dog-breeds-for-families/page1.aspx p.s. you can also find an older, mellower dog that needs a 2nd chance home by going to www.akc.org & clicking on the breed's rescue group.

Answer 4

My son was mauled by a pit bull when walking home from school,The owner opened their door and the dog ran out. My son was just a little guy and the dog out weighed him knocking my son down ,broke my sons glasses ,broke my sons front teeth and grazed my sons face with its teeth.thank god the owner was there to pull the dog off.
I can tell you I thought the same thingas you
and when the people across the street were moving and were giving way a german shepherd pup .my son felt sorry for it and wanted it.so we took it in and he loved it to the day it died years later .But my son still now at16 loves dogs but is cautious around strange or loose dogs and as they say would be true and would apply "Once Bitten twice shy"

Answer 5

I had my thumb bit off when I was 5 and had to have 37 stiches to sew it back on, that was 40+ yrs ago. From that day foward I still went up to stray dogs and currently own 6 healthy dogs. I think it is going to be totaly up to your son.

Answer 6

I would think you should gradually get him accustomed to dogs first before getting a puppy. They tend to be really excited and jumpy and can make the problem worse. Instead try bringing him to a pet store and just showing him dogs. And slowly take it further letting him decide if he wants to pet a dog and how close he wants to get.

Answer 7

I would think so, get a friendly family-type of dog, like a Lab or Papillon. Puppies are great I think that's a great way to help your son. Good Luck :)

Answer 8

since puppies jump on people it might scare your son. I'd say not get a puppy, just a young mellow dog that is known to be calm.

Answer 9

youthful ones %. up on our fears regardless of if we do not propose them to, and countless father and mom are understandably in contact about canines with all the thoughts interior the media about canines attacking. I skinny it would hep that you'll make an effort to be ok your self round animals - probable commence with small ones. I artwork with youthful ones and performance a gentle canines. countless the little ones are quite frightened of her so I keep her out of how at the same time as they are round, yet i imagine the most important problem that helped became them seeing her after she became lately spayed. She became very subdued and they were in a position to stroke her with out her making any of those unexpected moves which may make youthful ones jumpy. that's complicated, yet you even might want to attempt now to not 'reward' him at the same time as he acts up about it. surprisingly its an same with preparation a domestic dog, in case you convenience and pamper at the same time as they tutor concern, thye sart to work out that because the perfect reaction, and are more desirable in all probability to react that way. attempt to stay calm and make stronger that he's not in any chance.

Answer 10

Yes.