Dogs have always been part of human existence, mainly because of their loyalty, intelligence, and good-naturedness. No wonder they are called man's best friend. Is your best friend a dog as well? Dogs are so popular that every time you associate pets with any definable medium, the first thing you will probably envision is a canine image; however, having stated humans' love for dogs, there are still those who fear them. Cynophobia is the clinical name for an abnormal fear of dogs. There are plenty of opportunities to become afraid of dogs, considering the natural behavior of dogs. They suddenly bark at strangers and seem too defensive. Dogs are fast moving and some are very big and really intimidating, which again contribute to a possible phobia. If you have been bitten by a dog or have witnessed such an occurrence, you may have been traumatized. In most cases, dog phobia is developed during childhood; however, there are cases when the person is not actually afraid of dogs, but due to an unfortunate event , he or she has engendered such fear. Symptoms of Cynophobia Here are the most common symptoms of cynophobia:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Fear of dying
• Feeling sick
• Heart palpitations
• Breathlessness
• Excessive sweating
• Shaking
• Dry mouth
• A sensation of detachment from reality resulting in a full blown anxiety attack
• Fear of becoming mad or losing control
• Inability to speak or think clearly

Getting Rid of Cynophobia Dog phobia is rather common, with people suffering from this condition even through their latter years. If your phobic reaction is severe, then it could be limiting because of the ubiquitousness of dogs.

• Understand the Concept of Conditioning. The good thing about this fear is that you are not chained to the original cause of the phobia. When dealing with cynophobia, the significant aspects are conditional responses and emotional reactions. The first moment you become afraid of dogs, the response to the sight or idea of a dog has become a habit. Conditioning, which often occurs unconsciously, evokes emotions—whether positive or negative. The pattern of emotions causes and maintains the response. When the pattern is negative, phobic techniques are employed to eliminate such fear. When it is positive, then the fear can completely be eliminated.

• Educate Yourself. Some admire the beauty of dogs only from a distance. You may be one of them if you are afraid to go near dogs or touch them, even though you seem to have a soft spot for canine creatures. Cynophobia can be the result of not being properly educated about the nature of dogs. You may feel threatened by them because of the uncertainty of the behavior of dogs. Maybe you were not taught the correct notion regarding dogs --- that they are excellent human companions. When you associate dogs with rabidness, that is when you condition your mind to fear them. It is important that you know something about dogs to give yourself a chance to admire them closer.

• Meet Them Eye to Eye. In order to eliminate any sort of fear of dogs, you must be able to face one. It does not mean you have to instantly hug a dog. You may take this approach gradually. By interacting with dogs, you will realize that they are not harmful creatures; however, not all dogs are willing to make eye contact. Make sure you choose a dog that a friend or family member owns, and not just any dog roaming around the wilderness.

• Familiarize Yourself Through Images. By watching films and viewing photographs that depict the good-naturedness of dogs, you can lessen your fear or completely eliminate it. Try to watch films with dogs as heroes or borrow photographs that show dogs being cuddled by humans. This approach may just surprise you on how influential impression and conditioning can be.

Safety Precautions to Prevent Cynophobia

• If the dog is unfamiliar to you, try not to come too close. You have no idea how dogs may react toward strangers, especially when they are trained to act that way. There is a chance that dogs may pounce on you if they sense danger. Dogs may be intelligent, but they do not have the judgment humans have. You may look harmless, but dogs may see you as someone insidious.

• Do not establish an impression simply because of size or appearance. A Labrador may be huge in size, but it is actually one of the gentlest dogs. On the other hand, a Pekinese may be small in stature, but it certainly packs a punch, or bark and bite for that matter.

• Regulate the interaction of children with unfamiliar dogs. Most children are immature and may find no difference between an artificial toy dog and a real one. They may approach any dog without caution. Remember, dogs are still animals. They have survival instincts and defense mechanisms that they employ when threatened.

• Dogs are great chasers. If you feel like being sized up by a dog, you may just have to remove yourself from that place. Just make sure to look straight into the dog's eyes and remove yourself slowly from the area. Stand as still as possible and do not wave your arms or do unnecessary body movements.

Remember: when you feel a sudden fear, it should not bewilder you and make you act stupidly. It may cause you a pair of jeans and a visit to the hospital. Dogs are lovable creatures that serve their masters for years; however, just like any other animal, they have a fierce side. That is probably the reason why some people are afraid of them. Remember that they only attack when provoked, which on the part of humans is avoidable. To eliminate such fear, you have to be knowledgeable, responsible, sensitive, positive, and careful. Treat dogs as humans and they will treat you like royalty.

* Once you've overcome your fear of what they call man's best friend, its time for you to learn stopping the barking dogs.