Meditation for fear of dogs or other animals

Sample session

If it’s safe to do so, stay still and avoid sudden movements. Do the physiological sigh: inhale through the nose, a second shorter inhale without releasing the air, then let it all out very slowly through the mouth. Now, instead of focusing only on your own fear, observe concrete signals from the animal: is it relaxed or tense, looking at you or elsewhere, what’s its tail or ears doing? These signals give real information about what’s likely to happen next, far more useful than the vague sense of danger fear produces on its own. Most encounters with animals that trigger fear end with nothing happening, precisely because the animal isn’t looking for conflict either.