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When dogs feel scary

A short cartoon about a quieter path, with your child as the hero. Watch it together at a calm time, then talk.

Try a story beginning

An example story beginning for this moment. It is not a cartoon of your own story.

Cartoons are made with AI. You preview each one before your child sees it. Automatic checks can miss things.

Illustration, made with AI: a girl and her grandmother pause on a park path while a small dog walks far away, and a glowing firefly points towards a quiet pond.
Illustration, made with AI

Let's imagine

Example, made with AI

Zara (4) walks in the park with Grandma. Far down the path, a dog trots on a lead beside its person. Zara pauses. "I'm scared of the dog," she says. "You don't have to go closer," says Grandma. They stand still and watch. The dog turns onto the grass, away from them. Zara lets out a breath. "There's a path by the pond," she says. They take that one. Grandma holds her hand.

The characters in this example are made up. Your child can be the hero, with or without a photo.

What happens in the story

In the example above:

  • Zara says what she feels, plainly: she's scared of the dog.
  • Grandma says she doesn't have to go closer, and she doesn't pull her.
  • They watch from where they are, and Zara picks the path by the pond.
  • The dog stays far away the whole time. Nobody asks Zara to touch a dog or to say hello.
Try a story beginning

Talk-after card

Here are three gentle questions to talk about after this example. Best watched together, then followed by a chat or a game.

  1. What did Zara see on the path?
  2. What did Grandma say when Zara paused?
  3. When you see a dog, would you like to watch from far away, walk another way, or hold my hand? You choose.

Use the ones that feel right. Skip any you like.

What a cartoon can and can't do

  • If you are worried about your child's sleep, eating, fears or behaviour, talk to your child's doctor, nurse or teacher.
  • Fears are common. If fear keeps stopping your child from sleeping or doing everyday things, talk to your child's doctor.
  • A cartoon can't tell you whether a real dog is friendly, and it doesn't ask your child to meet one.
  • Every family has its own pace.
  • Each Zubby cartoon is made to be talked about together. It can't do the work of routine, patience or your child's doctor.