Cynophobia (fear of dogs): what is it, causes, symptoms and treatment

Many people consider dogs to be faithful, kind, friendly and unconditional pets, among other qualities. However, not everyone thinks the same, as some associate them with aggressive and evil animals. The alarming news about dog bites and deaths in the media, as well as the information circulating about certain breeds, has also influenced seeing them as a danger. However, it must be taken into account that these cases constitute a very small percentage and in many Sometimes they have to do with their upbringing and lifestyle, factors that condition the character of the dogs.

It is understandable that we have a certain fear of dogs if we have experienced an unpleasant situation with them in the past and that does not have to mean an obstacle in our daily performance. However, when that fear is intense, persistent and prevents us from living our lives normally, then it could be cynophobia. In this Psychology-Online article we will talk about the Cynophobia: what is it, causes, symptoms and treatment.

Index

1. What is cynophobia
2. Causes of cynophobia
3. Symptoms of cynophobia
4. Treatment of cynophobia

Cynophobia, better known as dog phobia, is a anxiety disorder characterized by a excessive and irrational fear of dogs. In other words, cynophobia corresponds to certain thoughts, emotions and behaviors linked to the persistence of a state of tension caused by the fear of dogs. Taking these qualities into account, it is possible to include this condition within the group of specific phobias of the DSM-V^[1].

To make an adequate diagnosis of this pathology, a series of diagnostic criteria must be met:

• Fear or anxiety about a specific situation or object.
• Avoidance of the situation or object.
• Fear and/or anxiety disproportionate to the real danger posed by the object and/or the specific situation.
• Duration of six months or more.
• Significant deterioration of social, work and family relationships due to fear or anxiety.
• The alterations cannot be explained by the presence of another mental disorder or the intake of medications.

Determining the possible origins of this picture offers the advantage of developing appropriate strategies that allow a remission of the intensity caused by cynophobia. In this section, we will display the most frequent causes of this anxiety disorder:

Environmental factors

As a general rule, unpleasant experiences affect personality. In this sense, the phobia of dogs may be related to having been the victim of a traumatic situation in which a dog was present. When the person cannot overcome the sensations caused by what they experienced in the past, an intense fear persists over time.

On the other hand, the imitation of behaviors It is also part of the origin of this painting. If any member of the family has been diagnosed with cynophobia, it is possible that he has taken as a reference the behavior patterns that he has contemplated all his life.

Genetic factors

The gene transmission marks different ways of coping with situations. Likewise, there are various areas of the cerebral cortex that are linked to the processing of stimuli from the outside. For this reason, neural connections can be more frequent and intense because they trigger fear responses to the world.

In this case, dogs would be part of those feared stimuli. If, in addition, a parent has this disorder, there are great chances that their child will adopt the same mechanisms.

How can I know if I have cynophobia? In order to more accurately detect this problem, it is very important to know the manifestations that occur at the level of emotions, behaviors and thoughts of people who suffer from cynophobia.

Next, we will point out the main symptoms of this disorder:

• Intense fear of dogs.
• Constant avoidance of situations linked to dogs.
• Catastrophic thoughts about death.
• Unsafety.
• Low self-esteem.
• Distress.
• Hyperintense anxiety.
• Palpitations.
• Excessive sweating.
• Palpitations.
• Incrise of cardiac frecuency.
• Shortness of breath.

It should be noted that the isolated presence of any of these symptoms does not necessarily represent a picture of cynophobia. It is essential that the diagnosis be carried out by a mental health professional who evaluates the clinical characteristics of each person, taking into account their particularities.

How can I stop being afraid of dogs? Despite the obstacles caused by cynophobia in the development of daily life, there are specific approaches that have been shown to have good efficacy against this clinical condition. Below we explain the most important treatments in the treatment of cynophobia.

psychological therapy

The purpose of this approach is to resolve conflicts by working on the emotions, thoughts and behaviors that give rise to the symptoms. On the one hand, duration therapies focus on seeking coping strategies for fearful situations and/or anxiety in a more pleasant way. The best known brief therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy.

On the other hand, long-term therapies try to find the source of the symptoms from the memory of traumatic childhood situations. Finding the origin of the fear will allow the patient to adopt other ways of dealing with situations where they have to be with dogs. As a general criterion, the most effective long-term therapy is psychoanalysis.

pharmacological medication

In cases of considerable severity that prevent the development of daily activities, one of the symptoms to treat cynophobia is to resort to the use of medications that decrease the intensity of symptoms. Specifically, anxiolytics are psychoactive drugs that inhibit some neuronal receptors associated with the emotion of fear.

However, it must always be borne in mind that the supply of psychoactive drugs must be done by a mental health professional.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Cynophobia (fear of dogs): what is it, causes, symptoms and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.

1. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington: Pan American Medical Publisher.

• Diaz Berciano, C., Garcia Jimenez, M.V. (2000). Treatment of a case of dog phobia by counterconditioning. Psychothema Magazine, 12 (2), 187-191.
• Olivares-Olivares, P., Soler Fernández, N., Sánchez Regadera, M. (2017). Evaluation and treatment of a case of cynophobia. Behavior Analysis and Modification Magazine, 43 (167-168), 1-18.