How to respond and escape when attacked by a dog

Here are some tips on how to respond and stay safe when attacked by a dog:

1. Prevent the attack

- Don't panic.

Dogs are one of the few animals that can “sense fear” in humans. If you become agitated and run away or scream, you may make the dog more aggressive, or worse, make you a threat to them. Neither of these are good.

- Keep a stiff and motionless posture

When the dog approaches, stand still with your hands at your sides, your body fixed like a tree and your eyes looking away. In many cases, the dog will “lose interest” and walk away if you ignore it.

- Absolutely do not wave your arms or kick your legs.

Dogs will perceive such actions as threatening. Do not look the dog in the eye, as this may cause the dog to attack.

Stand to the side and use your peripheral vision to watch instead of facing the dog. This signals to the dog that you are not a threat to it.

Do not open your hand and raise your arm. Keep your hand closed to avoid being bitten. The dog may come close to you and even sniff you without biting. At this point, slowly back away until it is no longer a threat.

- Don't try to run away.

Running away can trigger a dog's hunting instincts. It may chase you aggressively, even if it was just playing. Furthermore, you can't outrun a dog if you're running. Many dogs can even keep up with you if you're riding a bike.

- Distract the dog with another object

If the dog continues to threaten you, give it something to chew on, such as a backpack or water bottle. Or you can pull out a sleeve of your shirt and let it bite into it. As soon as the dog bites into the "bait", immediately remove the shirt and slowly back away. This may distract the dog long enough for you to get away.

Bring a toy or treat to lure your dog when you are in an area where you know there are aggressive dogs. If an aggressive dog approaches, throw the food or toy away and the dog will probably chase after it and not bother you.

2. Prevention and self-defense

- Face the dog and give the command “back off”

If the dog continues to act aggressively and ignoring or appeasing it does not work, you must confront it and firmly command it to back off.

Use a deep, strong, assertive voice, continuing to avoid eye contact with the dog. The dog may become discouraged or scared and walk away.

- Fight back when the dog attacks

If the dog starts biting, you must defend yourself by hitting or kicking them in the throat, nose and back of the neck to stun them and give you time to escape.

It is advisable to call for help while fighting the dog; however, avoid screaming as this may cause the dog to intensify its attack.

If you have a stick or a weapon in your hand, you should not hit the dog on the head, because they have very thick skulls, this will only make it angrier. If you have pepper spray, perfume, hair spray... available, it is also a good self-defense tool against dog attacks.

- Take advantage of your weight

Use your full body weight on the animal, especially using hard points like your knees and elbows to push down. Dogs are powerful biters, but they can’t fight back, so try to take advantage of your position and quickly take them down. Get on top of the animal and focus your force on areas like the throat or ribs, while keeping your face away from the animal’s claws or bites.

You can get on the dog's back, putting pressure on the back of its neck to keep it still until help arrives.

- Protects face, chest and throat

If you fall to the ground during an attack, the head and neck are the most important parts of the body that need protection; because bites in these areas cause severe damage, with a high risk of death.

Protect vital organs by lying face down, knees drawn up and hands over ears (with fists). Try not to scream or roll away, as these actions may further agitate the dog.

- Slowly and carefully leave.

When the dog loses interest in you, you need to leave the area by slowly backing away without making any sudden movements. Staying calm can be a test of your nerves in such a stressful situation, but it is the best response when the dog does not actually bite.