cynophobia

Noun

cynophobia (usually uncountable, plural cynophobias)

1. (usually) An irrational fear or hatred of dogs or other canines.
   • Taffy's cynophobia, expressed in spitting, growling, melancholy miauling, served to ease the awkwardness of greeting between unprepared hostess and uninvited guest.1961, Xavier Herbert, Soldiers' Women, Netley, SA: Fontana Books, published 1978, page 337
   • This finding has significant implications for the study of cynophobia, since one would expect from the classical conditioning model of fear that a dog bite should have a lasting negative impact on a child's attitude toward dogs.2001, Steven R. Lindsay, Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training: Etiology and Assessment of Behavior Problems, →ISBN, page 164

   Synonyms:

   canophobia

   Antonyms:

   cynophilia