DEAR ABBY: My 5-year-old daughter, "Maude," is afraid of large dogs. In the past, my husband has publicly scolded her when she cowered away from them.
A friend of our family has a dog that Maude is especially hesitant around, and my daughter recently confided that she no longer wants to go over to this friend's house because of it. She made me promise not to tell her father why. When I told him privately about our conversation, he rolled his eyes and accused our daughter of having a "weak" mentality. Is he being unreasonable or is it just me? -- PHRUSTRATED IN PHILLY
DEAR PHRUSTRATED: Your daughter doesn't have a "weak mentality." She's afraid of dogs, and possibly with good reason. Find an animal rescue organization or shelter that encourages the public to spend time socializing with the dogs and cats. It may help to get her past her aversion. It has helped other children, and it's also good for the animals. Give it a try and let me know what happens.