No one is immune to attack by a stray dog. More often than not, dogs will attack people to protect their territory. If one dog in a pack attacks, others will join it. An aggressive animal may attack an unsuspecting passerby. So how do you protect yourself if you are attacked by a dog? Experts have outlined several important actions to take.
1. If a dog growls and bares its teeth: calm down, only calm down. An attack can be avoided.
– When encountering an aggressive dog, try to stay calm.
– Do not run away.
– Do not yell at the dog.
– All movements should be slow.
– Don’t look the dog in the eye – keep him in sight by observing him from the side.
– Pretend like you’re not interested in the dog in any way.
2. Defending yourself during a dog attack: move quickly.
– Try to shield yourself from the dog with an object (such as a bag) to protect yourself from bites.
– Use anything you have on hand to defend yourself.
– If possible, use a jacket to cover the dog’s head.
– If the dog goes on the attack, hit him with your hands clenched into fists: nose, groin, muzzle, the most sensitive area in dogs is behind the front paws in the chest area.
3. If the dog bites you: don’t lunge, he’ll lash out harder.
– Don’t make any sudden movements and don’t try to get away if the dog grabs you with his teeth.
– Use your free hand to grab your dog’s hind legs – usually after this maneuver the dog will let go.
– With a sharp movement, press the dog to the ground and put all your weight on it.
4. If the dog has knocked you down: Cover your neck
– It is important to protect your neck, as the dog may hit an artery.
– Curl up in a ball.
– Pull your head into your shoulders and protect your neck by pressing your chin against your chest.
– Cynologists advise pretending to be dead: that way the dog may lose interest in you sooner.
5. Important Additions
– Don’t try to talk to the dog, much less yell at it, it can only make things worse. The best strategy before an attack is to completely ignore the animal.
– To distract the dog, throw an object at him – it will divert his attention and give you time to get away.
– Try placing an object in your dog’s mouth to create a distraction. Some dogs need more than enough of this to lose interest in you.
– Demonstrate to the dogs that you are armed by picking up (or pretending to pick up) a stick, branch, or rock from the ground and throw it in the dog’s direction.
