Handle a Dog Attack

It may have happened to you before: you're walking or cycling through the neighborhood when suddenly an unfamiliar dog crosses your path. The dog begins barking, growling; maybe it even charges you. So much for man's best friend. Even small dogs can be threatening if they're worked up, and just about any dog can inflict a painful bite. In the US alone, nearly 5 million people are attacked by dogs every year, and 1,000 people go to emergency rooms every day as a result of a dog attack; many of them are children, and about half of them have been bitten in the face. If a dog attacks you or your child, your response can be the difference between walking away unharmed or being injured by the dog, and perhaps even be the difference between life and death.

Steps

 * 1) Take precautions against dog attacks. Most dog attacks are the result of insufficient containment of the dog, or poor training. I.e. Bad owners. Unfortunately, the world will never be rid of bad owners, so it is wise to be prepared.
 * 2) *Avoid smiling at the dog. You may be putting on a friendly face, but an aggressive dog sees you baring your teeth for a fight.
 * 3) *[[Image:231001_peekaboo_478.jpg|thumb|100px|Do not taunt a dog, even if you think it can't reach you.]]Dogs that are chained or tethered to a stationary object for extended periods of time are more likely to be aggressive, so do not come within their reach.
 * 4) Look for warning signs. Most dogs are not aggressive but rather just curious or defending what they perceive as their territory.  It is  important to be able to tell if a dog is just playing or is being truly aggressive. While some breeds have been singled out as being particularly vicious, any mid-size and large dog breed can be dangerous (poodles, terriers ) so do not ignore warning signs because you think a certain breed is harmless or friendly.
 * 5) *If the dog approaches you with its head held high or low, it is probably not going to attack. A dog whose head is level means business.
 * 6) *A loping gait means the dog is playful and checking you out. An even, steady run means business.
 * 7) Remain calm. There's some truth to the adage that dogs and other animals can sense fear.  If you panic, you may make the dog feel more confident in his attack, or you may appear threatening to the dog.  Neither of these is a good situation.
 * 8) *Control the situation. Remember that most dogs are in subjugation to humans.  A commanding "Down!" or "Go Home!" may stop an attack momentarily, giving you time to back away.
 * 9) *Never run. Running away can awaken the dog's prey instinct to chase and catch animals, and he may pursue you vigorously even if its initial intent was just playful.  In addition, you won't be able to outrun a dog if you're on foot. Even if you are on a bicycle you usually will not be able to outrun a dog.
 * 10) *Assume a non-threatening position. Dogs will assume that you are poised to attack them if you face them head on and make eye contact.  Standing sideways to the dog and keeping the dog in your peripheral vision instead of facing them and making eye contact, will signal to the dog that you are not a threat. If you can, fold your arms tightly to protect hands. If this cannot be effected without making sudden movements, keep your arms flat and still by your sides with clenched fists to protect fingers. In dog pack behavior, turning away does not indicate that you are submissive, but rather not positioned to attack the dog.
 * 11) *Hold your position. Dogs have short attention spans.  Often after some barking, the dog will lose interest and go away. Do not appear threatening to the dog, and don't open your hands and arms up to a bite by extending them. Keep your fingers curled into fists to avoid getting them bitten.  The dog may come quite close, even sniffing you, without actually biting.
 * 12) Curl into a fetal position if there is no way to avoid the physical attack. Use your arms and hands to protect your face and neck, and curl up in a ball.  Remain motionless and don't scream.  Dogs will almost always lose interest in you if you remain still.  Wait until the dog leaves the area before getting up.
 * 13) *If you stay still and protect your face, chest, and throat, the dog will only be able to inflict puncture wounds on areas of your body that have thicker skin . If the dog is biting, the last thing you want to do is struggle or pull away, as this can cause open, torn wounds.
 * 14) *If the dog is biting someone else, do not pull the victim away for the very same reason. Find a large stick and strike the dog across the back of the neck. You could also try to force a long object or your arm horizontally in the dog's mouth.  Push it in forcefully towards the throat to minimize damage to yourself. If you have time, wrap your arm in a shirt or jacket first.
 * 15) *Don't hit a dog on the head as they generally have very thick skulls and you will only make it angry. The only place to hit a huge dog that will have an effect is across the back of the neck near the base of the skull or across the sensitive nose. This may not be useful in self defense but may be used if a partner is being attacked.
 * 16) *If the dog attacks your dog, let go of the leash and do not interfere. Learn how to break up a dog fight.
 * 17) Back away slowly and leave the area once the dog loses interest in you. Staying calm and stationary can be a real test of your nerves in this situation, but it's the best thing to do as long as the dog isn't actually biting you.

After an Attack

 * 1) Attend to any wounds. If you do get bitten, be sure to take care of any wounds promptly, as even minor bites can cause infection. See a medical professional promptly if you suffer serious wounds or if you haven't had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years. Also see the warning below about rabies.
 * 2) *Apply gentle pressure to stop minor bleeding. Use a clean cloth or sterile gauze pad.  If bleeding is serious or if it won't stop after several minutes of applying pressure, seek medical attention.
 * 3) *Wash the wound thoroughly. Use warm water and soap to gently cleanse the wound.
 * 4) *Dress the wound. Use a sterile band-aid (for very small cuts) or sterile bandages.
 * 5) *Apply fresh bandages and apply antibiotic ointment at least 1 or 2 times a day.
 * 6) Look closely for signs of infection, including redness, warmth, increasing tenderness, or oozing pus. See a doctor if any of these symptoms arise.
 * 7) Contact the owner and animal control authorities. In order to prevent such incidents in the future, as well as to determine if the animal has rabies, you should notify the local police or animal control department promptly. Many states have laws holding owners responsible for the actions of their dogs.

Tips

 * Teach these steps to children in case they ever encounter an aggressive dog.
 * If you are with a young child, particularly if it is a large dog whose path you have crossed, you may deem it appropriate to hold the child in your arms. If you are picking the child up, do it slowly, and don't look the dog in the eye, especially not when crouching down. Tell the child to stay calm and quiet, and to look at you. Then treat the situation using the instructions noted above.
 * Try using pepper spray! Try hitting the face but in case you miss, it might be enough even if spread close to the face or on the body, becasuse dog's nose is very sensitive! In this case repeat over and over, if necessary until the dog stops! Dog senses your fear, but also your determination for defense, except if the dog is really agressive(rabies, an agressive sort,...).
 * These instructions are for dealing with one dog, and may work when dealing with two. If you're attacked by a pack of dogs, however, the pack mentality will call for a different response, which is beyond the scope of this article.
 * If cycling, dismount and keep the bicycle between you and the dog. This will create a barrier of protection. If a dog is attacking you (not just barking) use the bicycle as a weapon to strike the dog.  Holding the bicycle by the stem (handlebars) and the seat, swing the bicycle tire to hit the dog.  But don't lose your grip as you will have lost a valuable defensive tool.

Warnings

 * If the dog appears sick or if he falls ill within 10 days of the incident, the dog should be tested for rabies immediately. If the dog tests positive you must go through a series of rabies shots. If the dog cannot be found after the incident, you should see a doctor to determine whether you should get the shots. The rabies shot sequence, if it is necessary, should be begun as soon as possible after the bite.
 * The owners of aggressive dogs can be worse than the dogs. If you have to injure or kill an attacking dog, get away from the area and call the police as soon as possible.
 * Every dog is different, and dogs will react in sometimes unpredictable ways. These tips will help you escape danger in most situations, but you may have to adapt to an attack.
 * Don't use pepper spray or mace. The odds of hitting dog in the face before it can attack you are very small.  Even if you can hit the dog in the face, you are unlikely to stop the dog.  You are more likely just to make the dog angry.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Prevent Dog Bites
 * How to Escape from a Bear
 * How to Calm Down a Playful Large Dog
 * How to Control Your Dog's Behavior by Becoming Pack Leader
 * How to Stay Safe when a Dog Approaches You
 * How to Evade Dogs