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How to Handle a Dog Attack
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Three Methods:
Warding Off an AttackHandling the AftermathTaking Precautions Against Attacks
Imagine - you're enjoying a run in the park or a bike ride through the neighborhood when, suddenly, an unfamiliar dog runs up to you, snarls, and primes himself to lunge. What should you do? There's a right way and a wrong way to handle a dog attack. Keep yourself safe by staying calm and taking the following measures to diffuse the situation.
1
Don't panic. There's some truth to the old adage that dogs and other animals can "sense fear". If you become agitated and run or scream, you may make the dog feel more confident in his attack, or, worse, you may appear threatening to the dog. Neither of these is a good situation to be in.
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2
Make yourself rigid and motionless like a tree. When a dog approaches, stand completely still with your hands at your sides, like a tree. Do not wave your arms around or kick with your legs; the dog may perceive these actions as threatening. Don't make eye contact, since that could also cause the dog to lunge. In many cases the dog will lose interest and walk away if you ignore him.
- Never run. Running away can awaken the dog's prey instinct to chase and catch animals. He may pursue you vigorously even if his initial intent was just playful. In addition, you won't be able to outrun most dogs if you're on foot. Even if you are on a bicycle, many dogs will be able to catch up to you.
- Stand sideways to the dog and keep him in your peripheral vision instead of facing him and making eye contact. This will signal to the dog that you are not a threat.
- Don't open your hands and arms up to a bite by extending them. Keep your fingers curled into fists to avoid getting them bitten. The dog may come quite close, even sniffing you, without actually biting.
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3
Give the dog something else to bite. If the dog continues to threaten you, offer him something to chew on, such as your backpack or water bottle - anything but your arm or leg. This may distract him enough to give you time to escape.
- Another good idea is to carry treats or toys when traveling in areas known to be home to dangerous dogs. If approached by an angry dog, throw your treats or toy away from you. The dog may go after these, rather than you.
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4
Face the dog and command, "back away." If the dog continues to behave aggressively, and ignoring or pacifying him is no longer working, face him and sternly command him to leave. Use a strong, deep, commanding voice. You should still avoid making eye contact. The dog may become discouraged or intimidated and leave.
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5
If the dog lunges, fight. Dog attacks can be fatal. If the dog starts biting you, you've got to defend yourself. Hit or kick the dog in the throat, nose, and the back of the head. This will stun the dog and give you time to get away.[1]
- It's OK to raise your voice at this point. Yell for help as you're fighting back. Hopefully others will hear and come to your aid.
- If you have a stick or another weapon, you can (and should) use it to hit the dog. Don't hit him over the head, though; most dogs have very thick skulls, so this will only serve to make the dog angrier.
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6
Use your weight to your advantage. Bring your entire body weight to bear on the animal, specifically pushing down with the hard points of your knees or elbows. Dogs are vicious biters but cannot wrestle, so try to get an advantageous position and break their bones fairly quickly. Get on top of the animal and concentrate force on areas such as the throat or ribs while minding to keep your face out of clawing/biting range.
- If you are looking for a more humane solution and can manage it, straddle the back of the dog with your partial body weight and apply forward pressure to the back of the neck to immobilize the dog until help comes.
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7
If you fall to the ground, protect your face, chest, and throat. If you're on the ground, not only is it more difficult to fight off a an angry dog, but vital areas on your torso, head, and neck are also now vulnerable to attack. These are the most important spots on your body to protect because bites in these places will inflict the most damage and will have the greatest chance of killing you. Protect your vitals by rolling onto your stomach, tucking your knees in, and bringing your hands (balled in fists) up to your ears.
- Resist the urge to scream or roll away, as these actions may further encourage the dog.
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8
Back away slowly and leave the area once the dog loses interest in you.Staying calm and stationary can be a real test of your nerves in such a stressful situation, but it's the best thing to do as long as the dog isn't actually biting you.
1
Attend to any wounds. If you are bitten, be sure to take care of any wounds promptly, as even minor bites can cause infection. Below is a basic first aid procedure for bites suffered from a dog attack:
- Apply gentle pressure to stop minor bleeding. Use a clean cloth or sterile gauze pad. If bleeding is serious or if it won't stop after several minutes of applying pressure, seek medical attention.
- Wash the wound thoroughly. Use warm water and soap to gently cleanse the wound.
- Dress the wound. Use a sterile band-aid (for very small cuts) or sterile bandages.
- Look closely for signs of infection, including redness, warmth, increasing tenderness, or oozing pus. See a doctor if any of these symptoms arise.
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2
Call the authorities. If the dog that attacked you was a stray, he may attack others, too. It's also important to determine whether the dog may have rabies, which can only be determined after capturing the dog. Call the authorities immediately after a dog attack so that the dog can be prevented from harming anyone else and be tested for disease.
- For dogs with owners nearby, how you handle the situation after the attack has been diffused is up to you. If you've been hurt, you may want to take legal action. Many states have laws holding owners responsible for the actions of their dogs.
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3
See a medical professional promptly. If you were bitten by an unknown dog, a dog that was later found to have rabies, or a dog that appeared to be foaming at the mouth, it's imperative that you see a doctor right away to get preventative treatment for the deadly disease rabies. If you haven't had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years, you may require additional preventative tetanus treatments. In general, any significant wounds from a dog attack should be examined by a medical professional.
- The rabies shot sequence, if it is necessary, should be begun as soon as possible after the bite.
- It is worth noting that most European countries are considered to be 'rabies-free', in which case a shot is not likely to be necessary.
1
Look for warning signs. Most dogs are not aggressive, but, rather, just curious or defending what they perceive as their territory. Thus, to avoid unnecessary conflict, it is important to be able to tell if a dog is just playing or is being truly aggressive. While some breeds have been singled out as being particularly vicious, any mid-size and large dog breed can be dangerous,
[2] so do not ignore warning signs because you think a certain breed is harmless or friendly. See below for common signs of aggression (and non-aggression):
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- Growling, snarling, and baring teeth are obvious displays of aggression and should be treated as such.
- An angry dog may show the whites of his eyes, especially if these aren't normally visible.
- Pulled-back ears laying flat against the head are a telltale sign of aggression, whereas normal floppy or elevated ears usually signal a dog's nonchalance.
- If the dog approaches you with its body relaxed and with a sloping curve in its midsection, the dog is probably not going to attack. A dog whose body is tenses, straight and stiff (head, shoulders and hips aligned), on the other hand, means business.
- A loping gait means the dog is playful and checking you out. An even, steady run means the dog may be dangerous.
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2
Never aggravate a dog. Most dog attacks are the result of insufficient containment of the dog, poor training, or taunting. Unfortunately, the world will never be rid of bad owners, so it is wise to be prepared. Common sense should tell you not to aggravate any kind of animal.
- Never irritate a dog who's eating or carrying for her pups. Dogs are extra-protective during these behaviors.
- Avoid smiling at the dog. You may be putting on a friendly face, but an aggressive dog sees you baring your teeth for a fight.
- Dogs that are chained or tethered to a stationary object for extended periods of time are more likely to be aggressive, so do not come within their reach.[4]
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3
Assume all unknown dogs are threats until proven otherwise. In general, the best policy when it comes to dog attacks is to do everything you can to avoid them in the first place. If you see a dog that may be dangerous, stay away. Report any dangerous-looking dogs or possible strays in your neighborhood to the authorities. Teach your children never to approach unfamiliar dogs until they are sure they are safe. By giving all unknown dogs a wide berth until you find evidence that they are safe, you can avoid the majority of dangerous dog encounters.
