- Believe it or not, I've actually been bit three times.
(energetic music)
(dog barking)
- Americans love dogs.
As of 2015 there were over 70 million dogs in the US alone,
36% of American households owning at least one dog.
But not everyone is crazy for canines.
Meet these guys.
Anthony, Marilyn, and Alexia.
- I'm just not comfortable around bigger dogs.
I just feel like they just don't like me, so you know what?
I don't like them back.
- When a see a big dog, I get petrified.
- The first thing I can hear
my heartbeat going through my ears.
I'm deathly afraid of dogs.
- These guys all have symptoms of cynophobia,
which is the morbid fear of dogs,
but their fear comes from a traumatic experience.
- I had a couple of encounters where I've been bit.
It hurts more than you'd think.
- I was bit by a dog at somebody's house that I knew.
- When I was a baby I was bit
and you can see the little mark on my forehead.
- They aren't alone.
Approximately 4.5 million people
are bitten by dogs each year.
(dog growling)
These guys told us they're ready to face that fear.
We took them to Sit Means Sit in Ocean County, New Jersey
to train with this guy.
- My name is Bob Campanile.
I'm the owner and head trainer of Sit Means Sit Dog Training
here in Ocean County, New Jersey.
I'm also a retired police K9 officer.
(dramatic music)
- I can't really read them.
I don't understand if they're feeling playful,
if they're feeling angry.
- My gut reaction when a dog gets aggressive
is to run, run for your damn life.
- The dog's ears are pinned back.
The dog is thinking about making a decision
if that's the case.
The fur along the dog's back starts to stand up.
(dog growls)
The dog yawns and shows their teeth.
The whites of the dog's eyes
might become a little more visible,
and last the dog begins making
intense direct eye contact with you.
That's probably when you would run, bro.
- This is very human actually. - I know, right?
It's very similar, yeah.
So what do you do if you are attacked?
Stay calm and try as much as possible
not to show any fear or anxiety.
Don't run.
Running away from a dog
can awaken its predator prey instinct.
Anything that you have on you that is not your actual body,
try to get the dog to bite down on that instead of you.
Always make sure your face, throat, and chest are protected.
A bite to the forearm or shin is gonna be your best bet.
The bite to any of those other areas
including your thigh could be potentially fatal.
If possible, you can try to put a strong stick
or rock between the dog's teeth.
If you are bitten, resist the urge to pull your arm away.
It can tear your flesh and also aggravate the dog
and make them more aggressive towards you.
- Come here, come.
- Looks like Cosmo's getting ready.
(energetic music)
- My fight or flight response is already triggering.
I mean, I don't really know what to feel.
(energetic music)
- My hands are sweating.
- My heart is beating through my ears.
- [Anthony] Adrenaline's rushing already.
I'll be the guinea pig and go be the first one,
unless one of you guys wants to do it?
- What a man. (laughs)
- I would love to watch you do it.
- Let's go.
- Lean on me if you want.
(energetic music)
- How does my hair look? - The training suit too.
- No? - It's heavier.
It's difficult to move in. - Alright.
This thing is intense, it's heavy.
You like real talk?
I'm nervous.
(energetic music)
Oh yeah.
- Grab your arm and shake it.
(dog barks)
- I don't care if I had a tank on me,
I don't want to get bit by that dog.
- I just don't want to get knocked down
'cause I'm small enough.
- Alright guys, so you just saw me go through that thing.
It's a little intense, I'm not gonna lie.
You guys ready to do this?
- I have to go, man.
I just want to get it over with.
He looks strong as hell.
- He's strong.
It doesn't hurt, but you're gonna feel it.
You ready to do this? - Yeah, I'm ready.
- Well let's get suited up, bro.
(energetic music)
So you ready? - Yeah.
- Yeah? - I'm excited.
I'm excited and I'm scared,
but (sighs) life is about overcoming.
- You got this. - Yeah.
- You're about to be attacked by a dog.
- The most nerveracking moment
is just when you see it start charging.
Oh.
(dog growls) When you see it coming at you,
and all you see is pure just desire in its eyes
and you know that you're its prime target.
Like right there, like at the moment
it's only about you and the dog.
Your whole life doesn't matter, nothing matters. (laughs)
(energetic music)
I was thinking about it so much that I went the wrong way.
I can't describe it, just frozen.
It's much stronger
than getting like kind of hit by a person.
(laughs)
- I just wanna get it done
so I can touch him and not be petrified.
- [Host] So you can pet him and not be afraid of him.
- Yeah.
(energetic music)
- I have to leave, I can't. - Yeah, yeah really.
- I have to leave the building,
I can't even watch this.
I'm sorry, (laughs) I can't even watch this.
I have to leave.
- [Host] Okay. - Yeah, I have to leave.
I can't watch this.
(gasps) Jesus Christ.
- So Marilyn is feeling pretty stressed and pretty tense.
I'm not sure that she's actually going to be able
to go through it, but no matter what,
the fact that she's here
facing the fear is such a good first step.
Even if she doesn't go through
with the full bite experience,
as long as she leaves feeling a little bit more comfortable
after having taken that first step, we've done a good thing.
(energetic music)
(dog growling)
(energetic music)
But I feel good.
I actually feel a lot better about it
than I did 20 minutes ago.
- [Marilyn] This is a good first step,
but I just can't do it.
Petting it, maybe I'll try that.
- [Host] Hey.
- Yeah, you pet him first.
- [Host] Hey big man.
- Is he a good boy?
Good boy.
- There you go.
- Good boy.
- Yeah. (laughs)
- Actually a lot of fun, actually.
- Just by watching other people go through it,
I got something from it.
(laughing)
- Thanks buddy.
Oh thank you, thank you.
(laughing)
(upbeat music)