Helping Children Overcome Their Fear of Dogs
Helping Children Feel More Confident Around Dogs
For some children, encountering a dog can be genuinely frightening. Everyday activities like visiting parks, walking through shops or spending time with friends and family can become difficult when they're worried about meeting a dog.
As a Kids Around Dogs (KAD) Approved Professional based in Norfolk, I offer a structured, child-led programme to help children understand dogs, build confidence and gradually feel more comfortable around them.
The KAD protocol uses cognitive behavioural techniques (CBT), alongside games, activities and positive reinforcement, to help children explore their feelings about dogs and learn more about canine behaviour and body language.
Every child is different, so we work at a pace that feels comfortable for them, without any pressure to approach or interact with dogs before they're ready.
How the Kids Around Dogs Programme Works
Step 1
Getting to Know Your Child
We begin with a conversation about your child's experiences with dogs, what they find difficult and what they'd like to achieve. This helps me understand their individual needs before we begin.
Step 2
Learning About Dogs
The programme starts with seven short online sessions, using games, activities and conversations to help children learn about dogs, their behaviour and body language.
Step 3
Building Confidence
Between sessions, children have fun activities to try, with rewards chosen together with their family. These help reinforce what they've learned and encourage their involvement.
Step 4
Supported In-Person Sessions
The final three sessions offer carefully planned opportunities to spend time around a suitable dog, with plenty of choice and no expectation to interact before the child feels ready.
Meet Archie, My KAD Dog
Archie is one of my own Labradors and my KAD dog.
He's a lovely part of the programme, initially joining our online sessions so children can get to know him from the comfort of their own homes.
As we move through the programme, Archie can also join us for carefully planned in-person sessions, giving children the opportunity to put some of what they've learned into practice.
Everything is guided by the child's confidence and comfort levels, with plenty of choice and no pressure to interact before they're ready.
A Little About Me
I'm Vivienne, an Accredited Canine Behaviourist and Trainer and a Kids Around Dogs (KAD) Approved Professional.
I've completed specialist KAD training in helping children overcome their fear of dogs, along with additional training in working with neurodivergent children and their dogs, family dogs and children, and dogs in schools.
My background in canine behaviour and communication helps me support children in learning more about dogs and gradually developing confidence around them.
One of the most rewarding parts of this work is seeing a child who was once frightened of dogs begin to feel more comfortable and confident around them.
Programme & Pricing
Kids Around Dogs Programme - £395
A structured, child-led programme to help children understand dogs and gradually build confidence around them.
What's Included:
✓ Seven short online sessions (approximately 20 minutes each)
✓ Three carefully supported in-person sessions
✓ Games and activities to complete between sessions
✓ Rewards chosen by the child and their family
✓ Guidance and support throughout the programme
The programme is booked as a complete package, allowing us to work through the KAD protocol to overcome the fear of dogs together.