Please Help Me Understand Why My Daughter Is Scared?

[Workno]

My brother came over today, and he brought over his dog, he has a 260 pound English mastiff, the dog is really sweet. But for some reason my four year old daughter didn’t want to be anywhere near the dog. they have met before at my brothers house, she was afraid then also.

why is this? she adores dogs, we have a border collie and they get along and play together just fine, even on day one when I first brought the dog home. My dog and my brothers dog are identical to him. . But she is just really scared of the mastiff for some reason. of course I respect my daughter and I make sure she feels safe. But why is she like this?

My brothers dog has done nothing wrong. Why is she acting so scared of him? Like I said we have a border collie at home and they play together.

My daughter is so small that she has to physically look up at the border collie, when they stand side-by-side, she is eye level with the very bottom of his chin. And she can stand on her tippy toes and she will just barely be able to see eye to eye with him. and he’s just your average border collie, he weighs in at around 40 pounds and is way stronger than my daughter. and even from day one, she didn’t let the height strength and weight of the border collie get to her. So why is she so afraid of the mastiff?

[johnk]

So called sweet dogs have attacked kids before, perhaps she senses something you don't. Be very careful.

[barry1010]

Border collies look cute and friendly with appealing faces and longer fur.
Bull mastiffs don't

[1ozzy]

//My dog and my brothers dog are identical to him//

A Border Collie and a Mastiff, really?

[wolf63]

I can't believe you really had to ask this question.

I love Mastiffs but they are huge, even in comparison to an adult. Think about how your small daughter feels next to it.

[KristalBee]

How old is your daughter? Must be very young to be only chin high to a collie, they are not big dogs. If the child is frightened keep her away from the mastif as dogs sense this and can become aggressive. Her stood next to a mastif must be like you stood next to an elephant, something to ponder on perhaps

[barry1010]

His daughter is 4 years old

[Workno]

KristalBee, what makes you think it is the size?

Our border collie is both taller stronger and heavier than my girl and even when they were strangers she didn’t let that bug her one bit. So why would the mastiff be?

[10ClarionSt]

Just get rid of the dog. They're nothing but trouble anyway. And costly.

[pastafreak]

You're asking why your toddler is afraid of a dog that weighs SIX TIMES the weight of her own pet dog??? I'd be afraid of that dog. She may not even have any concept of the actual difference...it may be the dogs appearance that scares her. Huge, not fluffy, possibly not friendly looking. Try to see it through her eyes.
Do you not have any common sense? You shouldn't even need to ask. I just hope you keep that dog away from your child...no matter how 'sweet' it is.

[Barsel]

I agree with Pasta 100%
I'm afraid I have no time for people who let their children near dogs of this type.
Use your common sense man.

[ToraToraTora]

Going by your last 2 posts you must be some sort of wind up merchant.
Why is my 4 year daughter afraid of 18 stone of teeth and muscle? Perlease no one is that thick. I only hope the kid is fictitious. When are you going to thrash her at arm wrestling?

[anneasquith]

The child is more astute than you and your brother .
Never leave that dog and your child together alone.

[Khandro]

The child doesn't fear dogs per se, just this one, - I'd probably fear it too, the answer is obvious; just keep them apart.

[Khandro]

To which I add;
'Research from Harvard Medical School has indicated that dogs are 4 per cent more likely to bite on hot days and 11 per cent more likely if there’s a high UV index.

Led by assistant professor Clas Linnman, researchers analysed 69,524 dog attacks in eight US cities between 2009 and 2018.'

[Tuvok]

2 daughters? one aged 4, one aged 6, both small?

[bobbinwales]

Is this daughter the one with extreme dwarfism

[barry1010]

No, that girl is six years old and wants a dog

[bobbinwales]

ok barry....