Fear of being chased by wolves in socks (luposlipaphobia)

Luposlipaphobia is the comic fear of being chased by timber wolves around a kitchen table while wearing socks. The joke lies in the detail: the frantic scramble of slippery socks on a smooth floor that any cartoon fan can picture.

About this phobia

The word is credited to Gary Larson, so it’s a joke rather than a recognised fear. Lupus is Latin for wolf, and slip hints at the socks. A real fear of dogs, known as cynophobia, is the more serious cousin and is well documented.

How it shows up

No one is known to fear this exact scene, and it is enjoyed as a cartoon joke. The real fear sitting behind it, of being chased by an animal or losing your footing while trying to get away, is far more familiar. People with a strong fear of dogs, for example, may picture being chased and slipping, and avoid parks or pavements where dogs are walked. That vivid dread, rather than a dislike of animals, is the genuine version.

Common triggers

• Dogs running towards you
• Barking or growling
• Slippery floors when moving quickly
• Wolf scenes in films or documentaries
• Being chased in games or dreams
• Dogs off the lead in parks
• Large dogs pulling hard on a lead

Where it shows up

• Parks and open fields
• Friends’ homes with dogs
• Pavements on popular dog walking routes
• Wildlife parks
• Shiny kitchen or hall floors
• Countryside walks past farms

Symptoms

In your body

• Racing heart
• Shaking legs
• Quick breathing
• Freezing on the spot
• Sweating

In your mind

• Picturing being chased
• Fear of falling or being caught
• Constantly scanning for dogs
• Feeling there is no way out

What you might do

• Crossing the road to avoid dogs
• Turning down visits to friends who own dogs
• Staying out of parks

What may cause it

The joke itself has no research behind it. A fear of dogs or other animals is common and often begins after being chased, jumped at or bitten, or after watching someone else get a fright. Some children also pick it up from anxious adults around them. Avoiding dogs keeps the fear going, but any steps towards facing it should always be safe, gradual and calm.

How it can affect your life

A real fear of dogs can make walks, visits to friends and trips to the park stressful. Some people plan whole routes around dogs or feel unable to visit certain homes. Even a dash across a smooth floor in socks may bring a small flash of nerves for anyone who knows the joke too well.

Related fears

• Fear of dogs (cynophobia)
• Fear of animals in general (zoophobia)
• Fear of falling (basophobia)
• Fear of wild animals (agrizoophobia)

Things that can help day to day

• Learn the signs of a relaxed, friendly dog from books or videos
• Start with pictures and videos before any real meeting
• Only meet calm dogs you know, on a lead, with an owner you trust
• Practise slow breathing when you see dogs at a distance

When to get help

If a fear of dogs stops you going out or visiting people, it is worth getting help. A GP can discuss talking therapies, and hypnotherapy is also widely used for animal fears.

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

About me

Common questions

Is luposlipaphobia a real fear?

No, it was created as a joke and has no clinical record. Being chased is a common theme in anxious dreams, though, and a genuine fear of dogs or wolves is well recognised.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Further reading: Cleveland Clinic: Cynophobia · Cleveland Clinic: Zoophobia · NHS: Phobias

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