Herbert the greyhound was the winning treatment to cure little Aria’s fear of dogs

Since the Averillo family added Herbert the Greyhound to their home late last year nine-year-old Aria has overcome her fear of dogs.

For most, a dog is man’s best friend.

But not for nine-year-old Aria Averillo who would be filled with panic and anxiety every time she was near a canine.

Fast forward five months, since the Averillo family added Herbert the Greyhound to their home, and you’d never know Aria once suffered cynophobia, a fear of dogs.

Aria Averillo had been living with cynophobia, a fear of dogs ever since she could remember.

“I didn’t really grow up with a dog and when I was about two I think my mum first realised I was really scared of them,” Miss Averillo said.

“If I saw a dog I would really start to panic and hang on to my mum straight away.”

Aria’s family decided to seek professional help and in September 2020 visited psychologist Dr Anthony Berrick from The Cynophobia Clinic.

“Dr Anthony helped me with my fear by introducing me to his really well-trained dogs.

“It was really scary at first but he introduced me to a puppy and then we eventually let him off the lead.”

After two months of cynophobia exposure therapy Aria and her mother Deanna visited a Greyhound Adoption day run by Greyhounds As Pets NSW “just to have a look” but for Aria and 5 year old greyhound Herbert it was love at first sight.

Aria Averillo, 9, cured her fear of dogs thanks to pet greyhound Herbert. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“When I first met Herbert I was very nervous and wondered if he was going to bite me but he was so calm and I really liked him,” Miss Averillo said.

“Only a couple of days after bringing him home I wasn’t scared of dogs anymore and I didn’t need to see Dr Anthony anymore.”

Psychologist and The Cynophobia Clinic director Anthony Berrick said “exposure based therapy programs enable clients to feel safe and in control of their environment,” Dr Berrick said.

“Treatment is important now more than ever as dog ownership is so prevalent and if you have a phobia of dogs as a kid, it means no parks, no beaches, no friends houses, no birthday parties.”

“It’s not like a fear of spiders which other people can relate to, people with cynophobia can often feel very embarrassed and ashamed and try really hard to hide it but there’s far more people with a phobia than people realise.”

Originally published as Herbert the greyhound was the winning treatment to cure little Aria’s fear of dogs