boxerfamily

Thank you everyone for your replies. My husband and I have decided to go for the 2 pronged approach as suggested by some of you. I have tracked down and phoned Dr Guastella who was mentioned in the SMH article and he has put me in touch with the 'Australian Psychological Society' who have a list of psychs who work with kids and phobias. I am about to start calling them to try to find someone good. The other thing we will do is get a trainer to come over here and teach us all how to help Molly be as calm as possible and respond to our commands. She is pretty chilled out for a boxer pup (so I have been told by lots of people), but can still run around like a lunatic sometimes, and can be a bit Jekyll and Hyde sometimes, ie: a fun game can turn into her jumping up. She has never actually jumped up on Sarah though, because she has never been able to get close enough! Thanks again everyone, I really appreciate your replies. Now onto my next question... she seems a bit skinny, how can I fatten her up?, LOL. I think I will post this in the feeding section....

Thank you everyone for your advice, I really appreciate it. So many questions.. I think my hubby and I are pretty calm with the pup, but we are not professionals by any means, this is the first dog either of us has owned. We have read all the books, done puppy preschool, and planned on going to obedience from 6 months. I havn't wanted to think about re-homing Molly, but am now beginning to realise that we could have made a big mistake and maybe this is the best option for everyone. We naively thought that Sarah would just get used to having a dog and get over her fears, but this hasn't happened at all. Now Sarah is not comfortable in her own home, and Molly is not getting the family experience she needs or deserves. This is a horrible situation. I am really worried about our 3 boys who love Molly, and how they are going to feel towards our daughter if Molly goes, and the guilt Sarah will feel on top of her anxieties. I have actually toyed with the idea of rehoming her in secret and telling the kids she ran away??? but I don't really like the idea of lying to my kids. If we were to find a new home for her, how exactly is the best way to do that?? She is such a gorgeous dog who loves everybody (humans and dogs, and our chickens!).

sas, she is genuinely scared, her heart pounds and she gets so upset. saxonpup, thanks for the advice. Can you reccomend someone in Sydney, we are in the Hills District.??

Thanks flyingfurball. She is a bit jumpy, not really nippy though, but I don't think this is the problem, she won't go near her even when she's asleep, on someones lap, on a lead etc...

My 10 year old daughter has always been scared of dogs, we are not sure why as she has never been bitten, or had a bad experience. She can spot a dog 100's of metres away and begins to get upset, heart racing etc... No ammount of encouraging, pleading etc... has ever seen her go near a dog, let alone pat one. In our wisdom????? we decided to get a puppy in the hope this would help her. We decided to get a boxer pup. The breeder let us take the pup for a few hours and spend some time with her before deciding. Sarah miraculously wanted to cuddle and pat the pup, (we have the photos to prove it!), so we decided to buy her. Fast forward 2 months and Sarah will not go near the pup (Molly), she cries even if she has to be in the same room as her. This is a disastrous situation and is breaking my heart (for Sarah and Molly). I really have no idea what to do?? I am thinking a counsellor/psychologist who specialises in dog fears could be the way to go. Any advice would be appreciated. We are in Sydney. Thanks.