dogs+sj=unhappy moments

We went to a party this weekend. Our dear friend invited us over to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. SJ didn't want to go. "Why don't you want to go?" I asked him. "The dogs," said SJ. Oh, the dogs. I almost forgot they had dogs. Ever since last summer, SJ has been squeamish around dogs. He was playing in a neighbor's yard when their very energetic dog came outside. SJ was running from him and the dog thought he was playing. After a few minutes of SJ running, the dog got him on the bottom.

SJ came running home screaming that the dog tried to "eat his butt". The neighbor followed him to our house. She was very upset and apologetic for her dog's behavior. I told her that it was no problem and that I was sure SJ was fine.

I checked his bottom and it was bleeding a little bit. SJ is all up-to-date on his shots, so I knew I didn't need to take him for a tetanus shot. I cleaned him up and put on a bandage.

Ever since then, he gets so upset when he is around dogs. I assured him that our friend's dogs were nice dogs and wouldn't bite him. When we got to their house, the one older dog (a beagle) just sauntered up to smell SJ. He immediately got agitated and told the dog to get away from him. I told him that the dog just smelled him and wouldn't harm him. He seemed to settle down when the dog slowly moved into the next room. Then, the younger energetic dog (a mutt) bounded into the room. He wanted to jump up and kiss SJ. SJ wasn't going to have anything to do when him.

"Get away dog!" shouted SJ. Our friend's son got the dog to leave the room and SJ gradually calmed down. This dance went on all night. The younger dog would come near SJ, SJ would get agitated, someone would distract the dog and eventually SJ would calm down. At one point, I heard SJ yelling to the dog to stay away or he was going to shoot him between the eyes.

I heard my husband tell him that it is not nice to say you are going to shoot anybody or anything. We will have to keep reassuring him that dogs are nice and most dogs will not try to bite him. I just don't want him to go through life being afraid of or worse yet not liking dogs. We got through the night as SJ and the dogs got tired out. Hopefully the next time we are invited to their house, SJ will remain calm and be kind around our four-legged friends.