Why is my four year old afraid of the dog

eryone in my family love dogs. But when we go over to my brothers house, my four year old little girl gets scared out of her mind. My brother has a 260 pound English mastiff, the dog is really sweet. But for some reason my little girl doesn’t want to be anywhere near the dog. From day one, she has just been terrified of the dog, she was really hesitant to meet the dog the first time, she did it. But then I noticed that she was afraid.

why is this? We have a border collie at home and they get along and play together just fine. When my brothers dog starts barking or stands up, or just walks near her, my daughter will run to me wanting to be picked up. She doesn’t even want to be in the same room as the dog, even when I’m holding her In my arms, she doesn’t want me to go anywhere near him.

of course I respect my daughter and I make sure she feels safe. But why is she like this?

My brothers dog has done nothing wrong. Why is she acting so scared of him? Like I said we have a border collie at home and they play together.

I’m new to parenting, is my kiddo doing this on purpose because she wants attention? Why is she acting this way? Because I know she loves animals.

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DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

Will relate a story of my own when I was around four at the babysitters place. Yet it could happen just about anywhere. Perhaps preschool.

One of the first babysitters I remember having, let me be a free soul of a tot. I got into trouble a lot there as well because of that.

Yet I was allowed to play in their front yard with other kids near my own age. While playing in the yard, I forget why I cross the street, yet I did. It wasn't something that I was allowed to do, yet I did so anyway.

Across the street the neighbor had a big German shepherd. I didn't even know the dog was on that property, much less that it was lose.

So as soon as I got to the tree across the street, I was bitten right in the mouth. Had the sores for years.

The thing is the babysitters never even knew. I was too scared to tell them, I was where I shouldn't be. Yet for many years I was afraid of large dogs. Not small ones. The next babysitter had a dachshund which I played with often.

It might be just large dogs in general. Like I was afraid of for years. Yet I was more afraid of getting into trouble than saying what had happened with the dog. Crossing the street was strictly forbidden!

That's how kids think. Perhaps she is scared of more than just the dog. The other thing, to her mind, could be worse by her thinking.