Dogs, along with cats, are one of the favorite pets for humans. They offer great company, make themselves loved and, in some cases, even serve as therapy. Those of us who have or have ever had a dog know that these little animals end up being part of our family and can even become our best friends.

In fact, 74% of the Spanish population states that the presence of dogs in their homes makes them happier . This is what the Affinity Foundation’s scientist on the Link between People and Companion Animals concludes. This study had 6,000 volunteers.

However, despite the fact that these animals are very often adorable, some people suffer great panic and discomfort in their presence, and avoid being near them at all costs. This is known as cynophobia or phobia of dogs .

Dog phobia, more common than we think

Almost 43% of Spanish families have pets in their home, and the dog is the favorite pet. According to the Affinity Foundation study, for 31% of their research subjects, their dog is almost more important than their friends. Strangely enough, 71% say they communicate regularly with their pet.

That’s why, for pet lovers, it’s hard to imagine anyone being terrified in the presence of a dog. Now, cinophobia is more common than many people realize. According to the results of a study carried out by psychologist José Gil Martínez, professor at the University of Valencia, 10% of individuals suffer from excessive and irrational fear of dogs . Not all of these people present this type of phobia, as this terror should be so intense that it damages their quality of life, but taking into account this proportion, it is estimated that the number of people with cynophobia is relatively high.

Symptoms of cinnophobia

People with dog phobia feel extreme anxiety when they are near the animal or when they think about meeting it .

The main symptoms they experience are panic and fear, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, tremors, and a strong need to flee or avoid the feared stimulus. The symptoms are therefore no different from those of any specific phobia, but individuals with this type of phobia not only fear being harmed by a dog, but are also afraid of the panic response that accompanies an encounter with these animals.

Like other phobic disorders, cinophobia often presents physical, cognitive and behavioral symptoms . They are the following:

  • Disorientation and lack of concentration.
  • Feeling of shortness of breath and hyperventilation.
  • Excessive sweating.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Intense terror.
  • Intestinal discomfort and headache.
  • Tension in the muscles.
  • Avoidance behaviour.
  • Distress.
  • Rapid heartbeat and increased heart rate.

How phobias develop

Most phobias begin in childhood or adolescence , and the most common cause is the presence of a traumatic event that the person associates with a dog. From then on, this fear is generalized to all animals of the species by a process called classical conditioning.

There are several scenarios that can lead to the development of the phobia. A direct experience can be a dog bite . However, sometimes a phobia may arise due to an irrational belief. For example, if a parent repeats to a child that dogs are dangerous and that they attacked their grandfather in the past.

The person experiencing this phobia may also be unaware of its onset, for example, when it is caused by a minor incident while watching a horror movie with dogs or by a feature-length rabies movie.

Some experts say there is a genetic predisposition to develop phobias. However, others, the great majority, think that it is a phenomenon purely learned in the interaction with the environment , beyond the fact that certain people have a greater predisposition to anxiety.

Treatment of cinophobia

Phobia is an anxiety disorder, and like other phobic disorders, it responds well to cognitive behavioral therapy. One of the most widely used techniques to treat this problem is expository techniques, more specifically the method of systematic desensitization . This technique is designed to help eliminate fear gradually and encourage more useful coping skills.

As the therapy sessions progress, live dogs can be used, although in the initial stages photographs, audiovisual content, cuddly dogs and even imaginative display are often used. It should be remembered that dog phobia is an irrational fear and patients often suffer from phobic symptoms even when the animal is not present.

Overcoming it can be a slow process

As the person overcomes the fear, he or she is encouraged to engage in positive behaviors such as approaching and petting a dog. Overcoming a phobia can be a slow process (a matter of months) and achieving it requires patience, effort and the ability to overcome.

If the phobia is severe, the psychologist may work with a psychiatrist who prescribes drugs for the patient. Although medications should never be the only treatment option , they can help significantly reduce anxiety symptoms.

Cinophobia can create enormous discomfort, especially since dogs are animals that live with humans and are frequently crossed with . Luckily, like any type of phobia, it can be overcome, although in most cases the anxiety it produces does not disappear completely.

Apps to help with anxiety

New technologies are also present in the treatment of phobias, and in recent years it has become possible to develop various apps that help you overcome the pathology if you suffer from it.

Some expose you to the dreaded stimulus of virtual or augmented reality, while others simply provide you with information to help you better understand what is happening to you . If you want to know more about these applications, you can read this article: “8 apps to treat phobias and fears from your smartphone”.