Your friend thinks her Saint Bernard is cute and cuddly. You, however, consider the dog a dead ringer for Stephen King's Cujo — pure evil on a leash. Here's how to deal with your friend and with man's best friend, at her house or yours.

If you're visiting a friend who has a dog: Make a preemptive call to let your host know your canine-related concerns. "It's best to explain beforehand that you are allergic to or afraid of dogs, say how sorry you are, and ask that the pet be put in another room," says Honore Ervin, co-author of More Things You Need to Be Told (Berkley, $10, www.amazon.com).

If a friend drops in with a dog: "It's just as inappropriate to bring a sweet Chihuahua in a handbag as it is to bring a vicious pit bull," says Ervin. If you're uncomfortable having a dog in your house, it's OK to tell the pet's owner as much and schedule another (petless) social visit.

If a dog catches you off guard anywhere: "Refrain from sudden movements, and extend your hand so the animal can sniff it and see you aren't afraid, even if you are," says Jeanna Rosen, owner of Exclusive Dog Training, in New York City. Take responsibility for your own discomfort, advises Ervin.