[Britster]

I think a Yorkie could be a very good choice for you, but you have to realize that Yorkies are very attached to their humans so typically, they want to close to you at all times. If you are still fearful of dogs, you are going to have to allow this dog to be close to you and not be fearful of them. The dog will sense your fear, so I think it'd be wise to put yourself around other dogs before getting one of your own so you can get positive experiences with them and get yourself comfortable.

A young puppy is going to nibble and bite in a playful manner, so you have to prepare yourself for that. That your dog is not being aggressive, just playful. Getting a pup at the proper age of 12 weeks or older can help this though and getting from a good reputable breeder who socializes properly and trains, etc, so you have a better chance of getting a well balanced dog.

I really believe that you can (for the most part) make a dog what you want them to be, by proper training, socialization, etc. For example, I always allowed Jackson to experience many parts of life even as a young pup... we got our first snow storm when he was 15 weeks old or so... I let him go out and explore. His first summer, I allowed him to get into the pool water and discover it and learn to love it, etc. I never held him back from anything so I molded him into the dog I wanted him to be. There's no way to guarantee a dog will like children, etc, but you can work hard at making sure they do. Jackson still gets concerned about strange children running around, but he loves the children he's grown up with (young cousins, siblings, etc) and I know he'd be fine with a baby because he's been around them.

I am 20 years old and in college. Community college, but still. Jackson takes up most of my free time. I love it, but I know it's not for everyone. He's a TON of work. He requires daily exercise (minimum 30 minute walk, but I usually do more including fetch tennis balls, frisbee, dog parks, running, etc) and LOTS of attention (Yorkies in general are pretty high maintenance attention seeking dogs). After classes all day, I can't just go out with friends for a late dinner and not get home until 9pm... I have a living breathing mammal that needs interaction, pottying time, exercise, etc.

Do I believe a Yorkie would be a good dog for someone who is "recovering" from a dog phobia? Sure, so would a lot of other breeds... because, like I said, I think it's first about helping yourself get over the fear, moreso than a particular breed.