How to Respond to a Dog Attack

Face the dog and give the command, “back.” If the dog is still aggressive, and ignoring or calming down isn’t working, you must confront him and give him strict orders to retreat.

• Use a deep, strong, and assertive voice.
• Continue to avoid making eye contact with the dog.
• The dog may get frustrated or scared and walk away.

Fight back when the dog attacks. If the dog starts biting you, you have to defend yourself. Hitting or kicking the dog’s throat, nose, and nape stuns it and gives you time to escape. ^[3]

• At this point you can shout. Call for help while fighting the dog. Hope someone hears and comes to your aid. However, avoid screaming as this may cause the dog to intensify its attack.
• If you have a stick or other weapon, you can (and should) use it to hit the dog. However, do not hit the dog on the head; Dogs often have very thick skulls, so this only makes them more angry. If available, pepper spray is also a good self-defense tool against a dog attack.
• Fight back as if this fight were your life, because it is. Dog attacks can be fatal. While you don’t want to hurt a dog unnecessarily, you do need to use force when actually being attacked.

Take advantage of your weight. Use your full body weight to press down on the animal, especially using hard points such as knees and elbows. Dogs are strong biters, but they can’t resist, so try to take advantage of your position and knock them down quickly. Squeeze on top of the animal and focus pressure on parts such as the throat or ribs, while taking care to keep the face away from the animal’s scratching or biting range.

• If you want a more humane and workable solution, ride on your dog’s back with part of your body weight and put pressure on the back of your dog’s neck to keep him still until help arrives.

Protect face, chest and throat. If you fall to the ground during an attack, not only will it be more difficult for you to fight off an angry dog, but important parts of your torso, head and neck will also be vulnerable. Those are the most important points on your body that you need to protect, as bites in these areas cause the most damage and have the highest risk of death.

• Protect vital organs ^[4] by lying on your stomach, bending your knees and bringing your hands to your ears (holding hands).
• Try not to squeal or roll away, as these actions can further irritate the dog. ^[5]

Slowly and carefully leave the place. When the dog is less interested in you, you need to leave the place by slowly backing away without making sudden movements. ^[6] Staying calm and still can be a real test of your nerves in such a stressful situation, but it’s the best response when the dog isn’t actually biting.

Care for wounds. If bitten by a dog, make sure to take care of the wound immediately, as even a light bite can cause infection. Perform first aid procedures for dog bites:

• Gently press on the wound to stop the bleeding. Use a clean cloth or sterile gauze. If the bleeding is severe or won’t stop after several minutes of compression, you should seek medical attention.
• Wash the wound thoroughly. Use warm water and soap to gently clean the wound.
• Dressing. Use a bandage (for any minor cuts) or a sterile gauze dressing for large lacerations.
• Look closely for signs of infection such as redness, warmth, tenderness, or oozing pus. See a doctor if any of these symptoms appear.

Call the authorities. It is important to determine if the dog that attacked you has rabies or a history of aggression. Call the authorities immediately after a dog attack to prevent the dog from causing further harm, plus it also gets tested for disease.

• If it is a stray dog, it may also attack other people. Getting your dog out of the area is the best way to keep yourself and others safe.
• For dogs with owners nearby, how the situation is handled is up to you. If you are injured, you may be able to take legal action. Many states in the US have laws that hold dog owners accountable for the consequences of their dogs.

Seek immediate medical attention. If you have been bitten by a stray dog, confirmed rabies, or drooling dog, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention for deadly rabies preventive treatment.

• If necessary, rabies shots should be given as soon as possible after a bite.
• Most countries in Europe are considered “rabies-free”, so rabies vaccination may not be necessary if you have been attacked by a dog in Europe.
• If you have not been vaccinated against tetanus in the last 5 years, you may need additional preventive treatment for tetanus.
• In general, serious dog attacks should be examined by a medical professional.

Pay attention to the warning signs. Dogs are not usually aggressive, they are just curious or protective of what they consider to be their territory. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary conflict, it is important to know if a dog is just playing or is really aggressive. Some breeds are considered particularly aggressive, but any large or medium-sized dog can be dangerous, ^[7] so don’t ignore the warning signs because that certain breeds are harmless or friendly. Look out for these common signs of aggression (or non-aggression): ^[8]

• Growling, baring fangs are obvious signs of aggression and must be treated with respect.
• An angry dog may roll his eyes, especially if that’s not his usual image.
• Ears tucked back and close to the head are a sign of aggression, while a dog’s naturally soft and erect ears are usually a sign of indifference.
• If the dog approaches you but the body is relaxed and the center of the body is bent down, the dog is probably not attacking.
• When the dog’s body is tight, tense, and rigid (head, shoulders, and hips aligned) there’s a problem.
• The bouncing dance pose shows that the dog is happy and curious about you. A steady running gait means that the dog can be dangerous.

Avoid teasing the dog. Most dog attacks occur as a result of the dog’s lack of restraint, poor training, or irritation. Unfortunately, the world will never run out of bad dog owners, so it’s wise to take precautions. Common sense tells you not to tease any animal.

• Never disturb a dog that is eating or caring for its young. At such times, the dog will have a high defensive attitude.
• Avoid laughing at the dog. You may think you have a friendly face and an open smile, but an aggressive dog will assume you are baring your teeth about to fight.
• Dogs that are leashed or tied up for long periods of time are more likely to be aggressive, so don’t get too close within their reach.