The author (not shown) said that before she had her own dog, she would often avoid other dogs.
Olga Serba/Getty Images
"Isn't he the cutest?" my college roommate said, showing me an image of a Doberman peeking over a fence. "My parents got a new puppy."I wondered if she mistakenly had the wrong picture. All I saw was an animal with claws and sharp teeth that could bite at any time. I mumbled he was adorable, relieved that her family lived across the state.I'd been afraid of dogs ever since I was a child, although I don't remember ever being chased or bitten by one. Even looking at a photo of one made me uncomfortable.My kids, it seems, did not have this fear. Instead, for them, it was quite the opposite. As a mom, I had to decide, was my fear of them greater than their relentless desire for one?I was always scared of dogsIt seems most Americans are canine crazy, and the data backs that up. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), more than 40% of U.S. households own at least one. My mom's favorite childhood memory was being pulled on a sled through the snow by the family's German shepherd.I hesitated to tell people about my phobia. Admitting I was petrified of an animal that was universally beloved was embarrassing. Instead, to hide my discomfort, I'd ignore dogs at all costs, turning away if they came up to me and never making eye contact.
