Its clinical name is cynophobia.

Like most other phobias, dog phobia is irrational in that the cynophobic person is well aware that the vast majority of dogs pose no real threat. Even though they may fully realize this, the individual is powerless to control their often all consuming fear.

For the person experiencing dog phobia, even the smallest and most inoffensive of dogs is threatening and fearsome. In some instances, even the sound of a dog barking in the distance is enough to cause apprehension and fear.

In common with other phobias and irrational fears, what has happened to the individual suffering from a dog phobia is that at some time in the past, he or she has been frightened by a dog or has been influenced by another person's fear of dogs.

It may even have been the case that they became afraid when watching a television programme or a movie. Or they may simply have heard scary tales concerning dogs coming from others such as family members or friends.

Most often such an experience has taken place at some time in childhood, though in a minority of cases, it may have occurred when the person was considerably older.

Often the actual origin of the fear of dogs has been forgotten by the conscious mind and it feels as if it is a fear that they have had forever.

Such, however, is not the case, since the only fears that human beings are born with are the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. All other fears are learned.

A fear of dogs can affect the individual's life in many ways. Many of the things that most of us take for granted - visiting friends and family, holidaying, going for a walk in the park or even walking down the street, become real ordeals if there is or might be a dog somewhere in the picture.

A dog phobia can even affect the individual's career and ability to work. Nurses, postal employees and social workers can all be seriously affected and prevented from doing their job because of this irrational fear. The good news is that since this fear is learned, it can also be unlearned.

While many 'hypnotherapists' attempt to resolve this phobia with suggestion therapy, using some kind of 'one size fits all' script, such methods are rarely effective in the long term.

In order for a genuine dog phobia to be cleared so that the individual is permanently released from their irrational fear, it is necessary that the actual driver for the fear is neutralized. And this means going to its origin.

With Advanced Transformational Hypnotherapy, it is possible to reach deep within the subconscious mind, where the fear itself is held.

With the use of modern hypnosis and hypnotherapy techniques, the subconscious can be assisted in releasing and deleting negative programming and realigning itself with reality. And the reality is that the vast majority of dogs pose absolutely no threat.

There really is no reason why you or anyone you care about need continue to suffer from a fear of dogs or cynophobia. Most dog phobias can be effectively treated in as little as 2 or 3 sessions of brief transformational hypnotherapy.

Seek out a fully qualified and experienced transformational hypnotherapist and you can free yourself for good of your fear of dogs and get on with your life.

You will be really happy that you did!