What to Do If You’re Attacked by a Dog

When dogs attack...

It has happened to me more than once: a dog coming out of someone's front yard charges up barking, catching me off-guard and startling me. But based on what I know about dogs, rather than running away, I will instead raise my chest and make it clear that I'm not something they want to be attacking. What happens? The dogs often stop in their tracks and simply watch me walk by.

This is what you want happening if you're ever attacked by a dog. Let's learn how to make it happen for you.

First, you need to take responsibility for your reactions to the dog. If you're walking along the road and a dog is barking, you can't assume that the owner will protect you. Your personal protection is up to you. Because of that, you need to remain aware and assertive, ready to display to the dog that you don't intend on reacting kindly to an attack. That being said, you also don't want to provoke it, so your first course of action should simply be to an ignore a dog that you can reasonably ignore, for example dogs behind fences.

Next, if a dog does not give up after you ignore it, you'll have to be ready for a charging dog. Many joggers or walkers will bring sticks or canes with them so they can fend off dogs, and this can be a great tool. If you don't have one with you, you're going to have to rely on your entire body - specifically, your body's language.

There are essentially two options when a dog is charging at you: you can try to protect yourself and run away, or you can assert yourself so that the dog is essentially "convinced" out of attacking you.

The problem with running away or trying to protect yourself right away is that it simply incites the dog to continue attacking. When you crumple up in defense, your body language essentially says "I am ready to be attacked." Since dogs don't speak English, this is the main message you'll be sending.

The other option, asserting yourself, involves raising your chest and making yourself as large as possible by spreading out your arms. If the dog isn't stopped by this - and many are - simply yell "No!" in a commanding, assertive tone that says "do not attack!" This should stop many dogs in their tracks.

Photo Credits: TheGiantVermin

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