Over the weekend, we brought the little boy back to his daddy’s hometown to visit the grandparents. They’ve got a dog there and he loves that dog for no particular reason. He has never really touched that dog nor play with her, but yet he has never failed to mention her even when he goes on his routine wishing everyone in the family good night. The dog is always in his list.
So when we were back, he spent some time trying to get the doggie’s attention but at the same time feeling a litte wary of her. I think it’s because she barked at him a couple of times and he got a little scared. He would try to call out to her, offer her sweets and even the crumbs of his bread. But never once did he dare to venture near enough to her alone.
When he was younger, he was less scared of her. He used to enjoy looking at her scramble on her feet, running and hiding in between the outdoor furniture on the porch. He used to laugh when we made her run for something. But now, I think he would get a little scared. Perhaps this is all natural instincts of being possibly attacked by the dog?
I’m afraid of dogs, and this trait I see in him looks rather familiar to me. I would rather he grow up not having such fears and just enjoy himself playing with cats and dogs. But again, there’s always the danger of naive children being attacked by pets, however mild they may seem. So in a way, him being wary of them does give me some peace of mind, knowing that he won’t get near to them and provoke violence.
Maybe over time as he grows up he will learn to lessen the fear of the furry friend and at the same time have enough sense to never ever provoke any four-legged friends. You reckon?
