Kids Around Dogs – Overcoming their fear

This certification supports the years of work Hanne has undertaken helping families and their dogs to set them up for success, studies in the pre- and post-partum owner-dog relationship, as well presenting to numerous primary and secondary school children about safety around dogs and how to keep pets happy & healthy in support of the Blue Cross.

If you would like some support, please get in touch, or book a KAD programme for your child

See the short video below for an overview of why educating children about dogs, about their behaviour and body language can be beneficial to them, especially those that are fearful. Duration: 2.14 minutes.

Feedback from the mum of a little girl Hanne worked with who was scared of dogs.

Mum told Hanne that her daughter would try to get away from dogs in any way possible, even by stepping on the road, putting herself in danger.

In the feedback from the family, the mum recalled a particularly upsetting event, which shows how the fear of dogs can be debilitating to all party involved, which was when her daughter was very nervous to go on a school trip to the park, as she was aware that there would be dogs off their leads. She was crying the night before, saying she did not want to go and begging her mum to go with her. After completing the protocol, mum was asked if their -family- life was changed in any way by their child overcoming her fear of dogs, and this was the reply:

“I no longer feel worried for my daughter, if she is not with me. For example, on a school trip. A huge change is that my daughter had a sleepover at a friend’s house and they have a cockapoo! The family kept an eye on their dog for my daughter but at one stage, my daughter was on one sofa and the cockapoo was on another, with no lead! I was so shocked but very proud to hear this! Not only have you changed how my daughter behaves around dogs, you have changed how she behaves around cats too. She is now in love with a cat (Ben) that is always loitering around her school. If she sees Ben, she insists on stroking him for ages. I don’t think that would have ever happened, had she not attended your course.”

And mum even went on to say (about Hanne and the protocol) :

“I think your process is brilliant – first meeting you and feeling comfortable over Zoom, focusing on theory. You have a great way of letting the child the correct answer to a question, if they answer incorrectly, without making them feel like they got it wrong. When you slowly introduced Hattie and your cats in the Zoom background, it was done so seamlessly, my daughter loved seeing them. I feel like this prepared her so well, for finally meeting Hattie in person. My expectation of your course, was simply for the fear to be alleviated enough so that my daughter did not step out on the road when she passed a dog or cat. I had no expectations of my daughter touching Hattie or getting close to her. When my daughter stroked Hattie in the final face-to-face session, I wanted to cry with happiness and pride.

I cannot thank you enough for your support and I would recommend anyone with children who are frightened of dogs (or cats), to attend your course.”

Watch the video of an example from one of our KAD kids – Genevieve, aged 11 years, during her programme with Hanne.