12 November 2026
“I want a dog now!” Words that a mum never thought she would hear.
A teenager from North Yorkshire has taken a huge step towards overcoming a lifelong fear of dogs, thanks to the support of our very special four-legged friend.
For as long as he can remember, Morgan, 13, had been frightened of dogs and other animals.
The fear began when he was a toddler that often left him feeling anxious and made social situations and family gatherings difficult.
Despite years of support and encouragement from his mum, Emma Johnson, Morgan struggled to overcome his fear.
“I tried lots of things over the years,” said Emma. “We visited zoos and farms and spent time around family and friends with pets, but nothing seemed to help. Dogs were definitely the biggest fear.”
During sessions focused on building his confidence and self-esteem, Morgan shared a personal goal:
I want to stop being afraid of dogs.
As part of his support with the wellbeing in mind team, who provide mental health support in schools, Morgan was offered a phobia intervention session involving Otto, one of our therapy dogs.
Otto, a working cocker spaniel, helps people build confidence through his volunteering role with the trust.
His owner, Joanne, who volunteers alongside Otto, joined the trust’s therapy dog programme after retiring from the public sector and wanted to give something back to patients and staff.
“I knew Otto would be suited to the role because he has such a lovely, laid-back nature,” said Joanne. “He’s very calm around people and takes everything in his stride.”
In the days leading up to the session, Morgan felt nervous, worried and anxious, but he was determined to face his fears.
Joanne told Morgan about some of the things Otto found scary when he was younger such as cleaning trolleys and blood pressure machines and by taking things slowly, Otto learned to trust that everything was okay.
The session began with Otto giving Morgan plenty of space while he got used to having a dog nearby. Gradually, they began taking a walk together, with Morgan holding the lead alongside Joanne.
“We went entirely at Morgan’s pace,” added Joanne. “Being able to walk Otto was an amazing achievement.
“By the end of the session, Morgan was stroking Otto who had fallen asleep between us. It was a truly magical moment.
“It was something I never imagined we’d be asked to do as part of our volunteering role, but I was incredibly proud of both Otto and Morgan and what they achieved together in such a short time.
“Speaking to Morgan’s mam afterwards and hearing how much the session meant to them made it all worthwhile. We would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Emma was delighted by her son’s progress, saying: “Morgan was amazing, he was very anxious beforehand, but he felt so proud of himself afterwards, and so was everyone who knows him.
“It was a huge achievement. He’s still learning to relax around animals, but it’s made such a difference to his confidence.”
The impact of the session has continued long after it ended. Still building his confidence, Morgan now feels much calmer when he sees dogs in public and no longer experiences the same level of fear. He now hopes to have one of his own in the future.
Speaking about the session, Emma said:
If you'd told me a few years ago that Morgan would say he wanted a dog, I wouldn't have believed it. It's a huge step in the right direction.
Our wellbeing in mind team is a team of NHS staff that work in schools supporting children and young people with low mood, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
Using evidence-based, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches, the team help children and young people develop the skills and strategies needed to manage challenges.
“The team can also support children and young people with a range of phobias,” said Leigh Kirby, education mental health practitioner. “They encourage and empower to face fears in a gradual way, and the child or young person is consulted at every step to make sure they are comfortable and happy with the plan.
“There are options for a one session treatment like Morgan received, or a longer block of up to eight sessions where needed.
“You can get in contact with the wellbeing in mind team by reaching out to your mental health lead within school.”
