Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Dealing with a Dog Attack
• Method 2 of 4: Self-Defense
• Method 3 of 4: Consequences of a dog confrontation
• Method 4 of 4: Avoiding Attack
• Tips
• Warnings

Imagine that you are jogging in a park or cycling in your area, and suddenly an unfamiliar dog jumps up to you, begins to growl and stepped in defiantly. What to do in this case? In such situations, you can behave right and wrong. To avoid getting hurt by dog ​​bites, stay calm and take some steps to make the situation less stressful.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Dealing with a Dog Attack

1. 1 Do not panic. Dogs and some other animals do feel the fear of others. If you get scared, run or scream, the dog will either attack even faster, or think that you are threatening him, which is even worse.
2. 2 Freeze and do not move. When the dog approaches you, freeze in one place, stretching your arms along the body, like a tree, and lower your eyes. Often in such situations, dogs lose interest and leave if the person does not pay attention to them.
   • Do not wave your arms or legs. The dog may perceive such actions as a threat.
   • Do not look your dog in the eye - this can provoke an attack.
   • Stand to the side of the dog and keep it within your field of vision. This will let the dog know that you are not dangerous.
   • Do not expose your hands and feet to the blow - keep them pressed to your body. The dog may come close to you and even sniff, but it will not bite.
3. 3 Don't try to run away. Running can awaken a natural urge in your dog to chase prey.She can rush after you, even if initially she just wanted to play with you. Plus, you still won't be able to run away from the dog, and even if you ride your bike, many dogs will be able to catch up with you.
4. 4 Distract the dog with another object. If your dog threatens you, give him something to bite like a backpack or a water bottle. Any item will do that will protect you from being bitten. The thing can distract the dog and give you time to get away.
   • If you are heading to places where wild dogs may be, bring treats or toys with you. If an aggressive dog approaches you, toss toys or treats aside. Perhaps the dog is more interested in them than you.

Method 2 of 4: Self-Defense

1. 1 Stand to face the dog and say the command "back". If the dog continues to behave aggressively, and trying to ignore or negotiate with him is useless, turn to face him and give the command to leave.
   • Speak with a confident and commanding voice.
   • Don't look your dog in the eye.
   • The dog can get scared and leave.
2. 2 Fight off the attacking dog. If the dog tries to bite you, you will have to defend yourself. Hit the dog in the throat, nose, or back of the head. This will stun the dog and give you time to escape.
   • You can raise your voice. Call loudly for help as you fight off the dog. Perhaps someone will hear you and come to the rescue. Do not squeal as this will only make the dog even more angry.
   • If you have a stick or other self-defense weapon with you, use it - hit the dog. Do not hit on the forehead, because dogs have dense skulls, and this will only make the animal angry. Better to use pepper or tear spray.
   • Fight as if your life depends on the outcome of the fight, because that's the way it is. A dog attack can lead to death. Of course, you shouldn't deliberately harm the animal, but if you are attacked, you should use force to defend yourself.
3. 3 Take advantage of your weight gain. Lean on the dog, especially on hard areas such as knees or elbows. Dogs can bite, but they cannot fight, so try to get into a comfortable position and apply pressure to your bones. Sit on top of the dog and apply pressure to the throat or ribs, being careful not to bite or scratch your face.
   • If you don't want to injure your dog and are confident you can handle it, lean your body on the dog's back and press down on the back of the neck to immobilize the animal until help arrives.
4. 4 Protect your face, chest and throat. If you fall to the ground during a fight, it will be more difficult for you to fight the animal, and your chest, head and neck will become more vulnerable. It is imperative to protect these areas of the body, as bites in these areas can cause serious injury and can lead to death.
   • To protect vital organs, roll over onto your stomach, pull your legs under you, and clench your fists around your ears.
   • Do not yell or roll to the side, as this will only make the dog even more angry.
5. 5 Leave the scene slowly and carefully. When the dog loses interest in you, start slowly backing away without making any sudden movements. It is not easy to remain calm and still in a stressful situation, but it is the best thing you can do if your dog is not biting you.

Method 3 of 4: Consequences of a dog confrontation

1. 1 Treat the wounds. If you are bitten by a dog, you should treat even the smallest wounds right away, as animal bites can lead to infection. Bites should be handled like this:
   • To stop minor bleeding, apply a light pressure bandage of a clean cloth or sterile gauze to the affected area. If the bleeding is heavy or does not stop after applying the bandage, see your healthcare provider.
   • Rinse the wound thoroughly. Wash the affected area with warm water and soap.
   • Apply a bandage. Use a patch (for small bites) or sterile dressings (for large wounds).
   • Examine wounds for signs of infection, including redness, warmth, soreness, and pus. If you find some of these symptoms, see your doctor.
2. 2 Call the appropriate authorities. It is important to understand if the dog that attacked you has rabies and has attacked people in the past. Immediately after a dog is attacked, call the appropriate authorities so that it cannot harm anyone else and have it tested for rabies.
   • If you are attacked by a stray dog, it can attack other people as well. To ensure safety, the dog should be removed from the street.
   • If the dog has an owner, further actions depend only on your wishes. If you have suffered physical harm, you can sue the landlord. In many countries there is a liability for the actions of domestic dogs.
3. 3 See your doctor. If you have been bitten by an unknown dog, an animal whose mouth is foaming, or a dog who has been diagnosed with rabies, you will need immediately see a doctor for treatment for rabies (this disease can cause death).
   • Rabies shots should be started as soon as possible after the bite.
   • It is believed that there is no rabies in almost all of Europe, so most likely, if you have been attacked by a dog in Western Europe, you will not need injections.
   • If you haven't had a tetanus shot in the past five years, you will need to get it now as a preventive measure.
   • As a general rule, all large dog bite wounds should be shown to a doctor.

Method 4 of 4: Avoiding Attack

1. 1 Pay attention to the warning signs. Most dogs are not aggressive - they are curious and defend their territory. To avoid unwanted conflicts, it is important to understand whether the dog is playing or whether it is really aggressive. There are especially dangerous breeds, but all medium and large dogs should be treated with caution. Don't ignore warning signs just because a breed seems friendly and harmless to you. Look for common signs of aggression (and lack of aggression):
   • Howls, growls and grins are signs of aggression, and you need to respond to them accordingly.
   • The whites of the eyes may be visible in an angry dog, especially if not normally visible.
   • Ears pressed to the head indicate aggression, and ears that are calm or raised ears indicate that the dog is friendly.
   • If the dog's body is relaxed and the belly is sagging, the dog is unlikely to attack.
   • If the dog's body is tense, elongated and does not move (the head, shoulders and hips do not move in relation to each other), this can be dangerous.
   • If your dog is jumping, he wants to play with you or get to know you better. If the dog runs straight and purposefully, it can prepare for an attack.
2. 2 Don't make your dog angry. Many animals attack because their owners do not know how to restrain them, because of poor training or because someone teases them. Unfortunately, there will be bad hosts at all times, so it's best to be prepared for anything. Common sense will tell you not to tease any animal.
   • Do not touch your dog while it is eating or caring for its puppies. At such times, the dogs' defense reflex increases.
   • Don't smile at the dog. You feel like you're trying to be friendly, but your dog perceives a smile as a grin before a fight.
   • If the dog is constantly kept on a leash, it can be very aggressive, so stay away from it.
3. 3 Beware of all unknown dogs. It is best to avoid conflicts with dogs by all means. If you see a dog that can be dangerous, stay away from it.
   • Report dangerous and stray dogs to the appropriate authorities.
   • Teach children not to approach unfamiliar dogs until they are sure they will not harm.
   • If you are careful with all dogs until you are sure they are harmless, you can avoid hassles with aggressive animals.

Tips

• If you are walking with a small child past a dog (especially a large one), it is best to pick up the child. Do this slowly, do not look your dog in the eyes, especially when sitting down. Tell your child to be quiet and quiet and to look at you.
• Teach your child to freeze when meeting an aggressive dog, not run away from it.
• If you are riding a bike, get off the bike and block it from the dog. It will become a protective barrier. If the dog is attacking (not just barking), use your bike as a weapon to hit the dog. Holding the bike by the handlebars and seat, lift the bike and hit the dog with the wheel. Don't drop your bike or you will lose your protection.
• If you suspect you might encounter aggressive dogs, bring a pepper spray, a tear spray, or a can of compressed air that will scare the animals away. Aim for the muzzle, but if you miss, it will be enough to spray the product near the dog's body, as these animals have a very keen sense of smell. Repeat this several times until the dog stops attacking.
• Dogs feel fear, but also a willingness to defend themselves, unless the dog is very aggressive (due to rabies or past physical abuse).
• Never turn your back on the dog. Keep her in sight, but don't look her in the eye. Do not try to appear more intimidating than the dog, and do not make sudden movements. Drive slowly and carefully. Do not approach the dog from the back until it stops behaving aggressively.
• If the dog howls at you, keep walking slowly and do not look the animal in the eye.
• If the dog runs towards you, no matter what you do, do not try to run away. Perhaps the dog is not angry - it just wants to play with you or get to know you. If you decide to run away, it will anger her. If the dog seems insane, it does not mean that it will harm you. Dogs need attention too!
• If the dog presses his ears to his head, this indicates fear. If the ears are spread and turned towards your side, this is most likely a sign of dominance or aggression.

Warnings

• Owners of aggressive dogs can be even worse than their pets. If you hurt or kill an aggressive dog, leave the scene as soon as possible and call the police.
• If the dog looks sick or becomes ill within 10 days of the incident, it will need to be tested for rabies. If the dog is sick, you will need to take a course of rabies shots.
• Be careful when using pepper spray or tear cans. The chances of being able to use the can before getting a bite are slim, and if there is a headwind, you will find yourself in the spray zone. Even if hit in the face of a dog, there is a chance to further anger the animal, especially if it is wandering.
• Remember that some dogs do not wag their tail when they see a person from afar (for example, very friendly Akita Inu dogs start wagging their tails only when the person is about two meters away from them), so do not think that the dog will attack you if she doesn't wag her tail.
• All dogs are different and sometimes react in unpredictable ways. The tips in this article will help you avoid the hazard in most cases, but you may need to adapt them to your specific situation, so be careful.