what type of dog to help get over fear?

Question
Hello, i am 23 and have had a lifelong fear of all dogs. I got to the point that i could hardly leave my house and was very limited as to where i could go. Recently i have gone through 2 separate hypnotherapy sessions, that had great results. The first i held a toy teacup poodle. The next i held and even let a cancer therapy cocker spaniela eat a small treat from my hand/lick me. Now i feel i should and have been suggested to get a dog to help me to continue to get over my fear of dogs. I have a good sized backyard for in town(it needs to live in the backyard under the owning most of the time). I would like it to be calm. What would you suggest?

Answer
Could you tell me where the fear of dogs came fron?  Were you bitten as a child?  Did your parents teach you to be afraid?  When you were holding the tiny poodle and let the cocker have a treat out of your hand...how were you feeling?

I'm glad you're feeling braver about being around dogs but I think you're a long, long way from owning your own dog.  I'd suggest having a friend's "mellow" dog visit you and see how you react to a dog in your house.  If it goes well, offer to walk the dog, babysit the dog,
just get slowly involved with a nice, friendly dog.

continue to get closer to the cancer therapy dogs (who are always very mellow dogs) and "get to know one".  Slowly expand your dog "friendships" one dog at a time.  Don't rush things - you're doing well so go nice & slow.

It wouldn't be fair to adopt a dog before you're truly ready and then return it.  Don't make a committment you're not positive you can keep.  This will hurt the dog and make you feel guilty.
Not good :) !!!  

Plus, at this point, you don't even know how to properly care for a dog.  Are you prepared to walk an hour a day?  Can you afford a premium dog food?  Vet visits?  And no, dogs cannot live "outside under the awning most of the time".  Absolutely not.  No Rescue or reputable breeder would give you a dog under those conditions.

When you get to the space where you want to help a dog by giving it a loving home then you'll be ready.  Not now when you're looking for the dog to help you.  It's kind of like people who have a baby for all the wrong reasons. :)

I hope this is helpful and Laura, I'm happy to continue this conversation.  Obviously I'm a big dog lover and can't imagine not having dogs and I think you're being very courageous
in facing your fears.  So keep going "one dog at a time" until you're so comfortable with your doggie buddies that you don't even think about the fear anymore.  It will happen...dogs are like people..we like some, don't like others...they're all individuals.

Oddly, this is the same advice (almost) that I'd give a dog owner who's dog didn't like other dogs.  Make friends one dog at a time.

I'll end by saying dogs are calm when their owners are calm, in control, and can be the pack leader.