I have trouble misinterpreting dog body language and that's why I'm afraid of them. When a playful dog comes to me I feel really scared and think it attacked me. Is this common in aspies or is it just me? My dad (also afraid of dogs) has anti-dog spray at home and I want to have it, but I don't know would he let me have it. I just can't stand an animal coming to me. I'm also afraid of cats and other animals when they come near me (I still like watching them from a safe distance). On the other hand, I like touching more primitive animals such as fish or snails (I let snail move on my hand).
I was EXACTLY where you are, dographobia I called it, boisterous playful dogs, "Will they bite"
I could not stand near a dog.
I got over my fear of dogs because I used to go to the house of a friend, who had two jack Russells, snappy little things that barked when the friend's door was opened.
They sensed my nervousness and fear and this is what set off the barking.
The friend and her family encouraged me just to come in, and once I was in, I was ok.
One of the Jack Russells was my friend's own dog and she slept in her bed.
We had a sleepover, "Yikes, a dog in my bed!" but, it was ok.
I used to drink, not anymore, I found I could be ok with dogs when drunk.
I love dogs now, they can lick my face, they can jump all over me, they can do what they like because their message to me is "We just want to say hello in our own doggy way"
I get depression and I noticed that when sat in the park with friends, dogs come over to me and sit by me.
Just the other day, as I am going through a particularly challenging time, a stranger was sat at the table outside of the coffee shop with my friends, she had a sausage dog.
The sausage dog kept onto my lap and licked me, which was ok, she sat on my lap, the owner noticed that she particularly liked me.
The dog did not greet anyone else who came after me this way.
As for cats, I did not know I was a cat fanatic until after 30 years of age.
I thought they were furry but I was scared as they are fierce and scratch, according to me.
Cats are different to dogs, they may be "too busy" to engage with you, or they may come to you and tell you that they want to "lead the way" cats taught me this.
I was never scared of spiders, but I am scared of webs.
I love animals now, but for most of my life I thought they were unpredictable dirty scary things that I could not relate to.