Dog attacks can be quite frightening for the individual, which is why it’s best to avoid them as much as possible. While you can’t exactly control how a dog behaves towards you, there are effective strategies you can use to prevent a dog attack from occurring.
We asked Dave Miller, owner of Cozy Crates, to share a few ways that individuals can avoid being attacked by a dog. But first, let’s discuss a few general causes of why a dog attacks a stranger.
Why Dogs Attack Strangers
There are a variety of situations that will cause a dog to be more prone to attacking someone. For instance, if a dog is with a group of other dogs, they tend to be more reactive and bold compared to them being by themselves.
Dogs also tend to attack children and elderly individuals as they are seen as less of a threat. In addition to this, most dog attacks occur where the dog is closer to home. This is because dogs near their homes are usually more confident.
Now that we’ve discussed a few reasons why dogs attack strangers, let’s take a deeper look at how individuals can protect themselves against a dog attack.
6 Ways You Can Prevent a Dog Attack
The best way for individuals to avoid a dog attack is by educating themselves. Unfortunately, many individuals put themselves in harm’s way unknowingly because they don’t understand the dog’s behavior or how to react to it. Here are 6 strategies to use the next time you encounter an aggressive dog.
Don’t Stare
Naturally, people think that by staring at a dog they can track their movements. While you should certainly be aware of your surroundings, staring at a dog will likely send the wrong signal.
This is because dogs often see staring as a threat. If they believe that you are a threat to them, they are likely to attack in defense. If you need to keep track of the dog, be sure to use your peripheral vision. Peripheral vision is a great way to watch your surroundings without sending any threatening signals to the dog.
Avoid Yelling
Another natural response when a potential dog attack is coming is to yell. Whether you’re yelling for help or yelling out of fear, it’s best to avoid this as much as possible.
Aggressively loud words can increase a dog’s arousal levels. This can make an already serious situation much worse.
Don’t Run Away
Running to get away from danger may be the first thing that comes to mind, but it won’t be the best option in the case of a potential dog attack unless you are two feet away from safety.
This is because dogs are more likely to chase you if you begin to run away as this will stimulate the dog’s desire to chase their prey. Not forgetting to mention, it will be difficult to outrun a dog so it’s best to stand still or slowly walk away to present yourself as a non-threat.
Slowly Back Away
As a follow-up to the previous strategy, it’s better to slowly walk away from a threatening dog than to run away from it. It’s also important to note that you should walk backward instead of forwards to face the dog.
Dogs that are seemingly aggressive are likely very fearful. With that said, they will feel more inclined to attack an individual from behind rather than biting them head-on.
Be Boring
This approach may seem like the last thing you would do, but it can actually successfully get you off of a dog’s radar.
Instead of running or yelling to present an authority presence, it’s better to ignore the dog and act boring like a tree. Ultimately, dogs never attack trees because they don’t do anything. There is no reason for a dog to engage with a tree, making the tree be almost invisible.
If you avoid gestures such as moving around and waving your arms and instead take on tree-like characteristics, the dog might quickly lose interest and move on from you.
Drop Goodies for the Dog
This might be the last resort, but if you have some dog-safe goodies, you can drop them on the ground as a way to divert attention away from you. Once you drop the goodies, begin to slowly walk away from the scene and get to safety as soon as possible.
Encountering an aggressive dog can be alarming, but there are various strategies that you can use to quickly diffuse the situation. Which strategy you use will depend on your particular scenario.
In general, don’t ever stare at a dog as they might see you as a threat. In addition to this, avoid using loud aggressive words and yelling to command the situation. Yelling will only increase the dog’s arousal levels and increase their chance of attacking you.
If you have an encounter with a dog, don’t run away unless you are within two feet of a safe zone. The dog will be more inclined to chase you and attack. Instead, slowly walk away and stay facing forward as you do. Lastly, drop some goodies for the dog if you have dog-safe treats as the last option.
