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Specific phobia is one of the most common anxiety disorders, marked by an intense, persistent fear of a particular object or situation, such as dogs in the case of cynophobia.

In this post, we will explore the official diagnostic criteria for a specific phobia of dogs as outlined in the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 diagnostic manuals.

The ‘gold standard’ psychological treatment for animal phobias, like cynophobia, is a type of behaviour therapy known as exposure therapy.

In exposure therapy, the individual is assisted by an experienced clinician to approach the object or situation that they fear while being coached on how to deal with their anxiety.

Most parents recognize that helping their child overcome a fear of dogs involves guiding them to face that fear. However, this can feel overwhelming for parent and child alike.

Here are 11 impactful strategies designed to make facing the fear easier, more compassionate, and ultimately more effective for your child.

For someone with a fear of dogs, the idea that, no matter how calmly you behave, a dog can detect your emotions, and will act aggressively towards you if you feel afraid, is a truly terrifying thought.

So, can dogs smell fear, and is there any truth to the notion that dogs will be aggressive towards a person who is feeling afraid?

Rebecca got in touch to find out about getting treatment for her severe phobia of dogs, which was causing her a lot of distress and negatively impacting on her quality of life.

After completing the cynophobia treatment program, she was able to walk comfortably in an off-leash dog-park and interact confidently with dogs for the first time in her life.