My dog is afraid of children. What do I do? There are several reasons to why dogs become afraid of children. The dog might not have gotten an opportunity to socialize with children as a puppy, or it may have had negative experiences with children. Many things kids do – and many things parents find cute – are threatening or uncomfortable to a dog. For instance, many dogs dislike being hugged. The bond between a dog and a child is special and definitely worth working on. A dog can learn to get along with children – and the kids can learn how to act around dogs. Consult a dog trainer to make the process as smooth as possible.