Dealing with an Aggressive Dog

April 16, 2010, By Jeff Waddle 0 comments

We’ve all seen it—the snarling dog behind a fence or at the end of a chain acting like he’d want nothing more in life than to get a shot at you. Well, what happens when that unfriendly Fido is suddenly unshackled and heading at you like he really means business?

Good question and one you may need to answer some day, especially if you like to jog, bike, hike or even walk through a residential neighborhood. Keep these tips in mind and you might just keep Bowser at bay.

Don’t Think you’re the Dog Whisperer

If you’re confronted by a dog that’s displaying signs of aggression like growling, baring its teeth or raised fur on the back of its neck, don’t think you can reason with it. You may get along great with most dogs but unless you’re Cesar Millan (a.k.a. The Dog Whisperer), chances are you’re not going to soothe the savage beast with a few kind words or stern commands.

Instead, you should:

• Avoid approaching it, talking to it or making eye contact. Dogs are territorial by nature and there’s a good chance you have entered the mad dog’s perceived space, so further challenging it or violating its space will make an attack more likely.
• Stay calm and ignore it if you can. Slowly back away if it lets you.
• Don’t run because there’s a good chance it will chase you. Unless it’s a lap dog, you won’t be able to outrun it anyway and it might just knock you down.
• Stand still (if you can’t back away) and try to buy time. You may get lucky and the dog’s owner might show up.

If an Attack Appears Unavoidable...

• Look for higher ground like a tree, wall or fence you can climb.
• If the dog is circling you, turn with it to avoid being attacked from behind and possibly knocked to the ground.
• Try to find something you can put between you and the dog like a coat, hat or stick. Even tossing your coat over its head may create momentary confusion that could let you escape.

If Attacked...

• Stay on your feet and stand your ground. Try to put something between you and the dog. Wrap your coat around one of your arms and try to deflect or redirect bites to the protected area.
• If it has grabbed your coat or pant leg, remain still and it might let you go.
• Keep it away from your face and neck at all costs but remember that hitting a dog back likely will make it more defensive and thus, more aggressive.
• Don’t pull the dog off you if it’s actually biting you because it could rip your skin and cause a more serious injury.
• If knocked to the ground, curl into a ball and protect your ears, head and neck with your arms. The dog may lose interest if you remain motionless and appear to be dead.

If Bitten...

• Sanitize it immediately and seek medical attention if it’s a significant injury.
• Call police and animal control officials who may be able to capture the dog and test it for rabies.
• If you know who owns the dog, demand to see the dog’s vaccination record. It could save you from undergoing painful rabies shots.
• If the dog can’t be found, you’ll need to start rabies shots ASAP. Also ask your doctor if you need a tetanus booster shot.

Jeff Waddle is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.