How to react when a dog attacks you

Do not panic. The old saying that dogs and other animals can 'sense fear' holds some truth. If you become agitated, run, or scream, it might provoke the dog to attack more fiercely, or worse, make you seem like a threat to it. Neither of these outcomes is ideal.

Keep a stiff and still posture. When the dog approaches, stand still with your arms at your sides, as if you were a tree, and avoid looking directly at the dog. In many cases, the dog will lose interest and walk away if you ignore it.

• Do not flail your arms or kick your legs; the dog may perceive such actions as a threat.
• Avoid making eye contact, as this might provoke the dog to charge at you.
• Stand sideways and use your peripheral vision to keep an eye on the dog, signaling that you are not a threat.
• Keep your hand closed and avoid raising your arms. If you keep your hand in a fist, it reduces the chance of being bitten. The dog may approach and sniff you without attacking.

Don't attempt to run away. Running can trigger the dog’s hunting instinct, causing it to chase you aggressively, even if it initially wanted to play. Moreover, you won't outrun a dog if you're jogging. Many dogs can easily catch up even if you're cycling.

Distract the dog with an object. If the dog continues to threaten you, give it something to chew on, such as a backpack or water bottle—anything but your hands or legs. This might divert the dog’s attention long enough for you to escape.

• It might be a good idea to carry a toy or treat when passing through areas known to have aggressive dogs. If one comes at you, toss the food or toy away. The dog will likely chase after that instead of you.

Face the dog and command, 'Back off.' If the dog remains aggressive and calming tactics aren't working, stand your ground and firmly command it to retreat.

• Use a deep, strong, and assertive voice.
• Continue to avoid eye contact with the dog.
• The dog may back down or feel intimidated and leave.

Defending yourself when attacked by a dog. If a dog starts to bite you, it's essential to defend yourself. Strike or kick the dog in the throat, nose, or neck to stun it, giving you a chance to escape.

• You can also shout for help. Yelling for help while fighting back might attract someone to assist you. However, avoid screaming as this could provoke the dog further.
• If you have a stick or any weapon, you can (and should) use it to defend yourself. However, avoid hitting the dog on the head as their skulls are thick, which could only make it angrier. If available, pepper spray can also serve as an effective self-defense tool against an attacking dog.
• Defend yourself as if your life depends on it—because it truly does. A dog's aggressive actions could be life-threatening. While you might not want to harm a dog unnecessarily, you must use force if you're under attack.

Leverage your body weight. Use your full body weight to pin the animal down, especially by applying pressure with your knees and elbows. Dogs can bite forcefully, but they can't resist much when they're pinned. Try to overpower the dog by pressing on areas like the throat or ribs, while keeping your face out of reach from its claws or bite.

• If a more humane solution is possible, you could climb onto the dog's back and apply pressure to its neck to keep it still until help arrives.

Protect your face, chest, and throat. If you fall to the ground while being attacked, it will be even harder to defend yourself, and your vital body parts—your head and neck—will be especially vulnerable. These are the areas you need to protect most because bites to these parts can cause severe damage and are potentially fatal.

• Protect these critical areas by lying face down, curling your knees up, and covering your ears with your hands (clenched into fists).
• Avoid screaming or rolling away, as these actions may agitate the dog even more.

Slowly and carefully move away from the area. Once the dog loses focus on you, slowly back away without making any sudden movements. Staying calm and still might feel like a true test of your nerves in such a tense situation, but this is the best response when the dog isn’t actively biting you.

Taking care of bite wounds. If you're bitten by a dog, immediate care for the wound is crucial, as even a minor bite can lead to infection. Follow these first aid steps for dog bite wounds:

• Gently apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. Use a clean cloth or sterile gauze. If the bleeding is severe or doesn't stop after several minutes of pressure, seek medical attention.
• Thoroughly clean the wound with warm water and soap to wash the wound.
• Bandage the wound. Use personal medical bandages for small cuts, or sterile gauze for larger lacerations.
• Look out for signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, tenderness, or pus. Seek a doctor if any symptoms arise.

Contact the authorities. It's important to determine whether the dog that attacked you has rabies or a history of aggression. Call the authorities immediately after the attack to prevent the dog from harming others and to have it checked for diseases.

• If the dog is a stray, it could attack others. The best way to ensure safety for you and others is to remove the dog from the area.
• If the dog has an owner nearby, how the situation is handled will depend on you. If injured, you may have legal recourse. Many states in the U.S. have laws requiring dog owners to be responsible for the consequences of their dogs' actions.

Seek medical attention immediately. If you're bitten by a stray dog, a dog identified with rabies, or a dog that is foaming at the mouth, you must see a doctor immediately to receive rabies prevention treatment.

• If necessary, rabies vaccinations should be administered as soon as possible after the bite.
• Most European countries are considered 'rabies-free,' so rabies vaccination may not be required if bitten by a dog in Europe.
• If you haven't had a tetanus shot in the last five years, you may require additional treatment for tetanus prevention.
• In general, serious dog bite wounds need to be examined by a medical professional.

Watch for warning signs. Dogs are typically not aggressive unless they are curious or protecting what they consider their territory. To avoid unnecessary conflict, it's crucial to recognize whether a dog is just playing or actually aggressive. Some breeds are considered especially aggressive, but any medium to large-sized dog can be dangerous, so never dismiss warning signs just because you think a certain breed is harmless or friendly. Look for common signs of aggression (or non-aggression):

• A growl or showing teeth is a clear sign of aggression and should be taken seriously.
• An angry dog may show its eyes wide, especially if this is not a usual characteristic of its demeanor.
• Flattened ears pressed against the head indicate aggression, while naturally soft and erect ears suggest indifference.
• If the dog approaches with a relaxed body and its midsection lowered, the dog may not be intending to attack.
• A stiff, straight, and rigid posture (head, shoulders, and hips aligned) indicates a potential problem.
• A playful, hopping gait suggests the dog is curious and friendly. A steady, purposeful walk means the dog could pose a threat.

Avoid teasing dogs. Most dog attacks occur due to a lack of restraint, poor training, or provocation. Unfortunately, the world will always have irresponsible dog owners, so the wisest course of action is to stay cautious. Common sense tells you not to provoke any animal.

• Never disturb a dog that is eating or caring for its puppies. During these times, dogs are highly defensive.
• Avoid smiling at dogs. You might think you're showing a friendly and open face, but an aggressive dog may interpret your smile as a sign of aggression.
• Dogs that are tied up or confined for extended periods tend to be more aggressive, so steer clear of their reach.

Consider all strange dogs a threat. Generally, the best strategy when faced with a dog attack is to avoid the situation altogether. If a dog appears dangerous, stay away from it.

• Report any dogs that seem dangerous or stray dogs in your area to the authorities.
• Teach your children not to approach unfamiliar dogs unless you are sure they are safe.
• By avoiding all strange dogs, you can prevent most dangerous encounters.

• If you're with small children, especially when encountering a large dog, you should pick the child up. Move slowly when lifting the child. Do not look the dog in the eye, especially when you're crouching down. Calm the child, keep them quiet, and have them focus on you.
• Teach children to remember, "Never run away when facing a dog, instead, stand still like a tree or a log" when confronted by an aggressive dog.
• If you're cycling, dismount and use your bike as a barrier between yourself and the dog. If the dog attacks (not just barking), use the bike as a weapon by swinging the wheel at the dog. Don’t lose grip, or you will lose your defense tool.
• If you're worried about encountering an aggressive dog, carry pepper spray, an air horn, or a compressed air canister to startle the dog and stop the attack. Aim for the dog's face, but if you miss, spraying near its face or body will still work, as dogs have sensitive noses. Continue spraying until the dog stops attacking.
• Dogs can sense fear, but they also sense your determination to defend yourself unless the dog is truly aggressive (rabid, abused, or desperate, etc.).
• Never turn your back on a dog, always keep an eye on it without staring directly. Avoid making threatening movements or sudden actions. Maintain slow and steady movements. Do not approach or turn your back on the dog until it shows no more signs of aggression.
• If the dog approaches you and howls, keep walking and slowly move away from the area, avoiding eye contact with the dog.
• If a dog runs toward you, don't run away, no matter what you're doing. It might just want to play or get to know you. But if you run, it might get excited. Even if the dog looks fierce, it doesn’t mean it will harm you. Dogs need love too!
• If the dog’s ears are pinned back against its head, it’s a sign of fear. If the ears are standing up and pointed at you, it’s likely a sign of dominance or aggression.
• Dogs belong to the wolf family, but do your best to defend yourself.
• Handle the situation cautiously and go to the hospital if bitten; dog bites can transmit rabies and/or infection.

• Owners of aggressive dogs can often be worse than their dogs. If you are forced to harm or kill a dog that attacks you, leave the scene and call the police as soon as possible.
• Each dog is unique, and they sometimes react unexpectedly. These tips will help you avoid danger in most cases, but you may need to respond instantly during an attack, so stay vigilant.
• Be cautious when using pepper spray. The chances of spraying the dog's face before it can attack you are low, and if the wind is blowing towards you, you may end up affecting yourself with the spray. Even if you succeed in spraying the dog's face, it might only make it angrier, especially if it's an aggressive breed.
• If the dog appears sick or falls ill within ten days after the incident, it should be tested for rabies immediately. If the test comes back positive for rabies, you will need to receive a series of rabies shots.
• Remember that some dog breeds are “slow tail waggers” (for example, some very friendly breeds like Akitas only start wagging their tails when they are within 2 meters of you), so don't automatically assume that a dog approaching you is about to attack just because it isn't wagging its tail.