Comments on: Who let the dogs out? http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/ A first-grader destined for a career as a lawyer, a pre-schooler whose screams can shatter glass, a bouncing baby boy who evaded an IUD, a man who can drink his weight in Natty Light, and a woman who has long since given up caring about the condition of her kitchen floor. Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:10:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Becky http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5681 Becky Tue, 08 Aug 2006 01:33:59 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5681 I think this is my first comment. Since I also read your other entry wondering how random people find you...I found you through another blogger who I found on BlogHer. LOL so there ya go. I liked what I read and stayed. Simple, eh? I never had a dog fear. Grew up always with one or two present in my life. My husband, however, was majorly scared of dogs. So I switched to cats just before I got married. Now our son (age 4) is just starting to show an interest in having a pet of his own. He mentioned a dog. He got fish. LOL Not sure if the hubby will ever break down on the dog issue. Probably not. Oh, and a side note about small world; my parents (and 8 month old me) were stationed in Okinawa in 1966 too! We left when I was three. My dad was in the Air Force. Maybe our parents knew each other? I think this is my first comment. Since I also read your other entry wondering how random people find you…I found you through another blogger who I found on BlogHer. LOL so there ya go. I liked what I read and stayed. Simple, eh?

I never had a dog fear. Grew up always with one or two present in my life. My husband, however, was majorly scared of dogs. So I switched to cats just before I got married. Now our son (age 4) is just starting to show an interest in having a pet of his own. He mentioned a dog. He got fish. LOL Not sure if the hubby will ever break down on the dog issue. Probably not.

Oh, and a side note about small world; my parents (and 8 month old me) were stationed in Okinawa in 1966 too! We left when I was three. My dad was in the Air Force. Maybe our parents knew each other?

]]> By: Mayberry http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5639 Mayberry Mon, 07 Aug 2006 01:30:32 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5639 It sounds like you are doing the right thing. I wonder what it is that changed when you moved? It could be just an age/phase thing, as Stacey mentioned. Great advice from Suebob too. It sounds like you are doing the right thing. I wonder what it is that changed when you moved? It could be just an age/phase thing, as Stacey mentioned. Great advice from Suebob too.

]]> By: TB http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5609 TB Sun, 06 Aug 2006 03:43:36 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5609 I'm with Roo, maybe Tacy will outgrow this fear if you don't make a big deal out of it one way or the other. Chances are she will go to friend's houses that have dogs and maybe you can just warn the parents so that her interaction with them is friendly. Being a mother is hard work. So many things to consider all the time. I think you're doing a great job. I’m with Roo, maybe Tacy will outgrow this fear if you don’t make a big deal out of it one way or the other. Chances are she will go to friend’s houses that have dogs and maybe you can just warn the parents so that her interaction with them is friendly.
Being a mother is hard work. So many things to consider all the time. I think you’re doing a great job.

]]> By: Jenny http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5597 Jenny Sat, 05 Aug 2006 18:34:03 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5597 I love this post. The line between respectful, healthy fear and unhealthy phobias is so fine I worry about how to walk it with Hailey. She teaches me to be brave more than I do her I think. I love this post. The line between respectful, healthy fear and unhealthy phobias is so fine I worry about how to walk it with Hailey. She teaches me to be brave more than I do her I think.

]]> By: roo http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5590 roo Sat, 05 Aug 2006 02:31:16 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5590 I worry a lot about passing on my fears to my someday kids-- especially when it comes to little creepy crawlies or my continuing issues with the dark. But I don't think fears are necessarily passed down from parents. I mean, my mom is absolutely terrified of thunderstorms-- she wouldn't let us sit near windows or talk on the phone during a storm, and sometimes even made us get our pillows from our bedroom so we'd have something to shield our heads with if there was a tornado (I grew up in Massachusetts, which isn't exactly Tornado Alley.) But I love, love, love a good storm-- bring on the lightning! Maybe Tacy is afraid of dogs now because she's close to eye level with their teeth. Maybe when she gets older, they won't scare her so much. Either way, you shouldn't feel like you're to blame. Besides, having a healthy respect for the wilder tendencies of any animal isn't a bad thing-- imagine how much worse it would be if she were running up to strange dogs and pulling their tails, or any of the other dumber things I've seen kids do. I worry a lot about passing on my fears to my someday kids– especially when it comes to little creepy crawlies or my continuing issues with the dark. But I don’t think fears are necessarily passed down from parents.

I mean, my mom is absolutely terrified of thunderstorms– she wouldn’t let us sit near windows or talk on the phone during a storm, and sometimes even made us get our pillows from our bedroom so we’d have something to shield our heads with if there was a tornado (I grew up in Massachusetts, which isn’t exactly Tornado Alley.) But I love, love, love a good storm– bring on the lightning!

Maybe Tacy is afraid of dogs now because she’s close to eye level with their teeth. Maybe when she gets older, they won’t scare her so much. Either way, you shouldn’t feel like you’re to blame.

Besides, having a healthy respect for the wilder tendencies of any animal isn’t a bad thing– imagine how much worse it would be if she were running up to strange dogs and pulling their tails, or any of the other dumber things I’ve seen kids do.

]]> By: Suebob http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5586 Suebob Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:40:17 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5586 Hints about dogs: Dogs do not like to be stared at. Dogs do not like stiffness. Dogs do not like it when your posture is upright and locked. If you think a mean dog is looking at you, let your body be as loose and swingy as possible, keep your head down and just glance to see where they are. This is the best insurance against an unprovoked attack. If a dog rushes you anyway, which will be rare (usually they will rush toward you, barking, if they are protecting their property (house, car) but won't really attack if you keep moving smoothly away) then you need to get out your biggest voice and your absolute commitment. This has only happened to me when I was out with my dog, but usually one big HAH! Getout! causes them to veer off course. Hints about dogs:

Dogs do not like to be stared at.
Dogs do not like stiffness.
Dogs do not like it when your posture is upright and locked.

If you think a mean dog is looking at you, let your body be as loose and swingy as possible, keep your head down and just glance to see where they are. This is the best insurance against an unprovoked attack.

If a dog rushes you anyway, which will be rare (usually they will rush toward you, barking, if they are protecting their property (house, car) but won’t really attack if you keep moving smoothly away) then you need to get out your biggest voice and your absolute commitment. This has only happened to me when I was out with my dog, but usually one big HAH! Getout! causes them to veer off course.

]]> By: Her Bad Mother http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5570 Her Bad Mother Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:45:27 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5570 You are so thinking along the right lines (props to Mrs. Chicky for her two cents, too!). And I so love that you care about this. You are so thinking along the right lines (props to Mrs. Chicky for her two cents, too!). And I so love that you care about this.

]]> By: Catherine http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5551 Catherine Fri, 04 Aug 2006 05:53:32 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5551 I'm with these guys. You're gut feelings are right on. I'd love to get a family pet, but two of my kids are terrified of any living thing who's movements can't be predicted. It's a toughy. And I love what you've done with the place! I’m with these guys. You’re gut feelings are right on. I’d love to get a family pet, but two of my kids are terrified of any living thing who’s movements can’t be predicted. It’s a toughy.

And I love what you’ve done with the place!

]]> By: Mommy off the Record http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5550 Mommy off the Record Fri, 04 Aug 2006 05:00:31 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5550 Oh. my. God. Is that a Goldendoodle puppy in that picture? SOO cute! Had to say that first. My mom is also deathly afraid of dogs and I know it can be hard to NOT transfer that fear to one's children. But I think it's smart of you not to buy a dog if you really don't want one right now. I have one and I wish we didn't (that sounds bad but it's true.). They are a ton of work and not all dogs are great family pets. We have one who isn't, unfortunately. Lucky for you, you have a neighbor with a dog so you can bring Tacy over to see THEIR pet. That would be good enough for me! Oh. my. God. Is that a Goldendoodle puppy in that picture? SOO cute! Had to say that first.

My mom is also deathly afraid of dogs and I know it can be hard to NOT transfer that fear to one’s children. But I think it’s smart of you not to buy a dog if you really don’t want one right now. I have one and I wish we didn’t (that sounds bad but it’s true.). They are a ton of work and not all dogs are great family pets. We have one who isn’t, unfortunately. Lucky for you, you have a neighbor with a dog so you can bring Tacy over to see THEIR pet. That would be good enough for me!

]]> By: kim http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/comment-page-1/#comment-5546 kim Fri, 04 Aug 2006 03:16:38 +0000 http://mothergoosemouse.com/2006/08/03/who-let-the-dogs-out/#comment-5546 I think it's great that you want to help her overcome her fears. But I wouldn't get a pet snake to help my children overcome fear of snakes. Tacy might not like dogs in addition to fearing them which could be a result of coming in contact with Golden Retrievers. We now have our second Golden and he like his predecessor is OBNOXIOUSLY hyper. I've never feared dogs, but I have an extreme (and rational) fear of birds. I think it’s great that you want to help her overcome her fears. But I wouldn’t get a pet snake to help my children overcome fear of snakes. Tacy might not like dogs in addition to fearing them which could be a result of coming in contact with Golden Retrievers. We now have our second Golden and he like his predecessor is OBNOXIOUSLY hyper.

I’ve never feared dogs, but I have an extreme (and rational) fear of birds.

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