It’s an unfortunate catch-22: People who are nervous around dogs are the ones who tend to bring out their aggressive tendencies. Their anxiety transfers to the animal. Research has shown, in fact, that anxious people have a higher incidence of getting bitten by a dog.
A person who is afraid of dogs will probably not be able to become calm in the presence of one. But you can stay calm if your dog becomes unnerved by someone who’s afraid. You’ll be in a much better position to redirect your pet’s attention and make him feel secure and confident if you refrain from yelling and making exaggerated body movements. The other person may not like that you don’t appear suitably alarmed. But it’s the best way to defuse a fraught situation.
