Anxiety around animals

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I have heard that people with autism LOVE animals and find them very soothing and calming. I am the opposite. They make me anxious!

Is this even possible? To have autism and not really be an animal lover?

I also find it really, really hard to read animal behavior. Especially dogs. People have been shocked at how poorly I read dog behavior, because I am OK with cat behavior. I would never want to therapeutic horseback riding or have a service dog.

I actually have major sensory issues around dogs barking excessively. This is really my only major sensory issue as well.

I am like you. I've always been afraid of animals. I can not predict their actions and when they touch me, if furry, it hurts me and they can be loud... especially high-pitched birds.

This fear has turned into hate but I'm starting to realize that I don't really hate them; I'm just afraid of them.

I've noticed long exposure to an animal makes you unafraid of that certain one if experiences are not bad... at least to the point of being able to have one in proximity without hiding.

Oh well, we're all different. Personally I love animals more than humans. You should read up about dog behaviour. I have a book on it and it helped me to understand my dog more.

Yes some people feel comfortable around animals and some don't, true also for NTs. My dad was always a little bit afraid of dogs because he got bitten when he was a boy, and my mom didn't like cats, both got used to my animals (I have 2 dogs and 2 cats) tho and as long as they got to know them they were ok around them. It was actually funny how one of my cats used all his charm to get my mother to like him lol and he succeeded. Personally I love animals, I think they are much easier to "read" then humans, I usually know when they may be aggressive, but sometimes it is hard to tell, my rule #1 is to let them come to me, when I was a kid tho I didn't even have the rule #1 lol.

I wouldn't like being around wild animals like lions etc tho, I definitely wouldn't feel safe.

Dogs tend to make me uncomfortable because they are loud, smelly, and overly affectionate. I don't dislike them or fear them. They just make me uncomfortable. For the most part, I love animals though.

I like animals a lot and I can find them calming. Animals don't generally make me nervous and they usually like me. Although, constant barking, clawing/meowing, or parrot squawks have a tendency to drive me pretty crazy.

I like cats, but that's about all - I'm scared of most other things, especially birds and dogs.

I love animals and I'm extremely curious about them. This is usually not a problem with house pets, but I'm the same way around wildlife, too, which has gotten me more than a fair share of bites, scratches, and worse over the years. When I was about 4-5 years old, I used to catch bees because I wanted to see them from up close and I got a kick being stung.

-o

I love my cat!! Her name is Tigger, she is a ginger tabby and she is 7

Not really, but I relate better to animals then to humans.
Cats are my favourite, I had a good bond with one as a young child.

Amen on the dogs, barking isn't my favourite sound - damn annoying too.

If you don't like being around animals that does not make you a bad person, ocdgirl123. If you prefer cats, stick with them. If a dog comes too close for your liking, just try to stay calm and do not look into its eyes (some dogs might perceive prolonged eye contact as a provocation). Most dogs will sniff your legs and run off again. In general, dogs are friendly towards humans. They sure can be loud, but that's just their nature.

As for an innate love of animals being typical for people on the spectrum, I reckon it is the same as with special interests or set routines. Most of us have them, some don't. I don't think you need to worry about not fitting all of the criteria.

i don't like big noisy animals either. especially dogs. i do like cows though, and they are big. i think of myself as an animal lover though. i especially enjoy small birds that are quiet, like finches, fish are my all time favorites and i have several tanks set up. they are so relaxing to watch and the water fall sound from the filter helps me sleep. i also like that i don't have to deal with them coming near me or messing up the house. they stay in their own spot. i also love hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats are ok too. i have some tanks with stick bugs in them and crickets that i am trying to breed as a food source for my frogs. i had a dog before and i loved him very much but i'll admit i don't really like other peoples dogs especially when they won't stop sniffing me and getting fur on me.