Posted on Wed, May. 07, 2008

-- Q: We have a 1 and one-half year-old Lhasapoo. He's small, about 10 pounds, and he's terrified of children. I mean everyone under the age of 12. Instead of getting defensive or aggressive, Sammy cowers and runs in the other direction. On occasion, I've held him and let the neighbor kids pet him, but his eyes bug out and he shakes in fear. - A.D.

A: Don't force your dog to be around kids, says Ken McCort, Doylestown, Ohio, animal behavior consultant. "That's called flooding and it makes your dog's eyes bug out," he says. "That will never make it better for him. He has to have a reason for wanting to see the kids," so make sure things he loves to do, like eat, always happen around them. He will learn that when kids are around, good things happen.

After your dog accepts the presence of children, have them pour food in his dish, McCort says. When you're on solid ground there, have the dog go to the children to get food, but never let them touch a dog that doesn't put a paw on them or lick them first. Be prepared to reinforce this exercise faithfully. Dogs don't necessarily see people in groups. Each individual can pose new challenges.