I agree with lots of points raised above, especially the one about socialising your child with dogs, as long as its in a controlled environment and built up slowly.
What I find annoying is when parents don't say anything to their child, I think children should be taught to ask to stroke dogs and not to run up to dogs they don't know. There have been several occasions when I have been camping that all of a sudden a child will come running over to see the 'doggy' and I have to intervene and ask them not to touch the 'doggy' without asking while the parent is no-where to be seen. One of mine is particularly bouncy and I would worry he'd knock a small child over.
Last year at Fforest Fields a small boy came over to see the dogs while we were setting up, once I had introduced him to both my dogs I then stopped setting up camp and sat near him watching him play with them, then his sister came over and was playing with the dogs too. It stopped me setting up camp for about an hour as they fussed over my two and while it was a tad annoying as we didn't have much time it was good for both children and the dogs to interact - there is no way I would have carried on setting up and left them to it. Ironically their parents were taking their tent down as they were leaving.....guess it kept their kids from under their feet
I have 2 labs which a lot of people say are the most child friendly dogs however I wouldn't trust ANY dog with children ever, I would never leave my two alone with children because 'you never know' and it would be irresponsible of me as a dog owner to do so.
Most campers keep their dogs tethered when around other campers and usually have windbreaks around to keep the dog enclosed.
I really hope your child can overcome his fear of dogs in time as they can add so much to a childhood - memories of my grandmothers dog are still with me now.
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