Video shows brave man conquer his fear of dogs with the support of a kind owner

Cynophobia refers to the intense fear of dogs, which, as per the Cleveland Clinic, is more commonly seen in children and people with autism and sensory or intellectual differences. Just like any other phobia, people, especially those who have had a scary encounter with dogs in the past, are more likely to develop cynophobia, naturally making them extremely scared of dogs. On a related note, an incredible video shared anonymously on r/humansbeingbros' subreddit shows how a kind pet owner helped another young man overcome his phobia of dogs — a precious moment that turned a simple act of compassion into something unforgettable.

With anxiety hitting him every second, the man slowly approached the dog, but the moment he tried touching the dog, the pup moved, scaring him all the more. "Don't worry!" the dog's owner said, motivating the young man, as he saw him struggling. The man, somehow, mustered some courage and once again went near the dog — this time sure about triumphing over his irrational fear. Finally, the man kept his phobia aside and gently petted the dog as the pet parent kept on encouraging him for showing courage. At one point, the young man even removed his glove and again touched the dog, as if trying to feel her, and convincing himself that dogs aren't as scary as they seem to him.

Meanwhile, the video of the man trying to overcome his fear of dogs received an overwhelming response on social media, with people even praising him and the dog's owner in the comments. u/starfishy78 commented, "I try to do this anytime someone is visibly afraid of my dog. I always stop. I make the dog sit. I chat with the person and always offer them to pet my very calm, very kind dog. Even just the act of being around a dog that doesn’t seem scary can be a good interaction for someone who is fearful." Similarly, another user who goes by u/balder1917 on Reddit shared, "This is so sweet! What a chill dog, too. My dog would be trying to jump out of my arms enthusiastically, thinking it would get him more pets, haha!"

u/hopelesslysoulful revealed, "If I had a wholesome award, it would go to this post. Very, very sweet, and I’m happy for this guy. When I was little, I was petrified of dogs after the neighbor’s Rottweilers attacked me. It took a very long time for me to even pet a dog. Props to this guy for facing his fears!" u/tidytibs said, "That's a hard thing to do when you're afraid of something. The great thing is he was willing to try something he was frightened of, and that is true bravery. Glad he overcame his fears to do this." u/lang1010 commented, "Ahh! I love this. I met multiple people who were TERRIFIED of dogs when I had my husky. He was the calmest, well-mannered, and happiest dog when meeting people and other dogs who were unsure of strangers. I was always very proud and trusting of him to help others with their fears. He was the best."