Find out what to do if approached by a vicious dog and what to do in the event of an attack.
It is a problem that most people don't think about. We have fire drills with our children and pack emergency supplies in case of an earthquake or hurricane. We try to teach our children about the dangers of talking to strangers and how to cross the street properly. We don't think to teach our children and ourselves what to do in the event of a dog attack. In the year 2001, 368,000 people were treated for dog-related injuries in the United States alone. Seventy nine percent of all fatal dog attacks happen to children. Dog bites are one of the top two reasons why children are brought into the emergency room for reasons other than illness. The states of California, Texas, and Alaska reported the most dog attacks in the years between 1965 and 2001. You may find it well worth your time to educate your family on what to do in the event a vicious dog attacks them.
About Breeds
Not all dogs are vicious but they can be if properly provoked. You can never tell if a dog is going to attack you just by considering their breed. Pittbulls and Rottweilers often make the headlines in dog attacks but they are not the only dogs that can be dangerous. Statistics from the year 1965 to the year 2001 state that 36 different breeds of dogs were involved in deadly attacks on people. The number involved in dog-related injuries internationally rises to 52 breeds. A harmless looking dog may be the very dog that comes after you or your child. Never go by breed alone when approaching or dealing with a dog. Teach your children that all dogs are potentially harmful and that they can get hurt.
General Guidelines
Never approach a dog without the owner's permission. If they give you permission you should still approach with caution. Always let the dog smell your hand and never pat them on the head. This can be interpreted as an act of aggression by a dog. Use a calm and gentle voice and move slowly. If your child is too young to understand that animals do not like to be hit or if they cannot yet contain their impulses, it is best to keep them away from any dog. A harmless movement or a swat by a child could provoke any dog into aggressive behavior. It is estimated that fifty percent of all dogs will display at least one episode of aggression in their lifetime.
How to Avoid an Attack
If you are approached by a dog that you don't know, remain as calm as possible. Avoid eye contact with the dog and speak softly. Eye contact to a dog can be seen as a challenge. Use commands such as "sit" or "stay" in a calm and quiet voice. This may or may not have an effect. Remember not to scream or make any sudden or drastic movements. If the dog seems to relax in your presence you can slowly back away from the dog without turning your back towards them. Remember not to make any sudden movements. If you suddenly turn and try to run away from the dog, chances are the dog will chase you and attack.
If the Dog Attacks
If nothing has worked to ease the dog away from you, be prepared to be attacked. If you have anything in your hand, use it to shield your body. A jacket, purse, briefcase, or hat can be useful in this situation though it will only buy you a few seconds to consider your next move. Hold the object out as the dog attempts to bite so that the dog bites the object instead of you. Never kick a dog while it is facing you. A dog's reaction time can be ten times that of humans. The only thing you can do is attempt to fend off the dog and hope the attack ends. If you have something heavy in your hand you can attempt to hit the dog over the head with it. If you use something light that won't do much damage, it may only make the dog fight harder.
If the dog is large enough to knock you over, ball up in the fetal position and protect your head and neck with your arms the best you can. If you do not resist and do not scream, the dog may stop the attack before it becomes deadly. Teach your children to hold their arms up over their face and neck if a dog advances on them. This will stop them from biting the neck and face. Pepper spray can be a handy thing to take with you on all outings. Pepper spray will deter some dogs and will do nothing to others. Even this is not a full proof tool for fending off a vicious dog.
