What do you do when a dog attacks you?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
4,453
It hasn't really happened to me yet but I have had several close calls.

In my neighbourhood, sometimes the residents forget to close their gates and their dogs wander around outside. There have been numerous occasions when one dog somewhere would chase me when they see me coming around the corner.

It is a bit of a nuisance when they come yelping at my heels and I am trying to accelerate to get away.

Once in the dead of the night, I had to get away as quickly as possible in an unlit road with a stray dog chasing me. To make matters worse, I had a flat front tyre. So I wasn't travelling exactly at top speed. To say that I was slightly frantic would be an understatement.

Anyway, I was thinking of contingency plans should one day a dog really decides to attack me. What should I do?
 
When a dog is chasing you and you are running as fast as you can but he just keeps gaining ground on you, the best thing to do is stop, turn around and face him and whistle to him. Then in a loud voice say 'Good Boy'! ;) Be sure to pat him on the head & give him that supply of biscuits you carry in your pocket for such an occasion!
 
I got a tip this weekend that could be worth remembering:
When it attacks, jam two (make sure it's two, not one) fingers up its anus.
It was proposed in all seriousness, but I can't help thinking it's one of those "you made me hit myself" practical jokes...

Oh well, it's worth a try.

Gugsi
 
Hard to say... I´m doing some jogging in the woods, where people let their dogs run free.

I guess, there are different types of attack. I´ve been attacked by dogs, wich were not serious. The dogs were running around looking for a "waek point", like in those old western movies.. It was enough to yell at them.

But what if the attack is serious by an agressive dog? Donßt know, but hide your head and neck.
 
that is what walking sticks are for, give them a sharp end or a whack across the snout and most will dissapear.
alex
 
Amen to the walking stick idea, I've used it. It works. If you're on a bicycle pepper spray is an option, I've had to use it once or twice.
crawfordew
 
A big stick sounds good.
I have thought of this scenario and as much as I like dogs I think I would try to seperate the dogs front legs :( if the dog somehow got to my throat.
 
Sorry, I have to say that the rectal exam theory sounds like a good way to get your face torn apart. I think you could even precipitate a bite from a nice dog with that maneuver.

I have had good luck with pepper spray, and have heard the same from others, mostly cyclists. The dog's normal reaction is to turn and trot off - no yelp, no anything - it works that fast. I have also turned and chased the dogs on my bicycle. It seems they would rather play "hunter" than "quarry" in this particular game.

Here is a collection of articles written by a law enforcement officer who has been involved in breeding and training police dogs for many years:

http://www.leerburg.com/index.htm?http://www.leerburg.com/articles.htm~mainFrame

Go to the "Training articles" link.

Scott
 
the anal trick made me roar with laughter!!!

Ive been attacked several times and my old dog used to get attacked all the time when I was walking him, he just seemed to attract it. When I was maybe 12 yrs old an alsation came for me, I picked up a plank of wood and smacked it on the head and it ran away. Once two dogs started on my dog I laid into them with a walking stick I was carrying (about 5ftx2ins) and they soon turned tail. Another time an alsation attacked my dog I laid into it with a rubber stick I was carrying and it ran.

Perhaps the funniest time was one night I was walking my dog back down the road and a large snarling dog appeared. My dog being the eternal wimp hid behind me and hopefully wagged his tail but this dog was growling and snarling and really getting wound up. I pulled my 4 D cell MagLite out of my belt and made ready to lay into this dog, it took one look at the maglite and ran!

The trick is not to be frightened of them. 99% of dogs are slightly apprehensive of all humans. I have no doubt that if alot of those dogs had been attacking me isntead of my dog it would have been mroe difficult to fight them off but I wouldnt imagine any non-rabid dog would argue with pepper spray. Failing that even fewer would argue with a .357...
 
A friend of mine is a cop and has been charged several times by big dogs. One he shot, but he said usually he turned to face them, and kicked them with the flat of his foot right in the nose. They have all lost interest VERY quickly after that! And the misguided pooches don't have to go to doggy heaven.
 
I have had to shoot three dogs while still hunting on the ground. Two with a long bow, one with a .22 . . . all at VERY close range!:eek: I've had two dog attacks take place in public schools . . . yes, IN classrooms . . . since beginning work in central america. In both of those instances, full force kicks to the chest [head kicks did not seem as effective] sent them rolling and running . . . not fun but necessary when children are threatened.:(
Once read of a man a little further south of here who was attacked by a jaguar. When it charged, he grabbed it by the front legs and rolled to absorb the force. He then proceeded to bounce up and down on the cat with his knees in it's chest. He managed to kill the cat by breaking enough of it's ribs and puncturing enough organs. He was severely wounded but not killed.
 
I had Newt Livesay (Wicked Knife Company) make me a few of his WA-1 Sticks in 36" length. Standard length of the sticks is 30". The 36" length sticks work very well as a short walking stick for my size. The stick gives me a good deal of comfort when walking our little dog, should a big dog attack. As others noted, the nose or snout of a dog is very sensitive and a sharp blow to that region will usually drive the dog away.

The relatively high density of the WA-1's Saynite material, the very small diameter of the sticks, and the very stiff nature of the sticks transfers & concentrates a large percentage of the force in your swing into a very small area. See my review of the sticks linked below for indication of the kind of damage it incurs to solid wood, as well as comments on the stick's damage capabilities to human targets as related by some of the other forumites.

Newt Livesay's WA-1 stick webpage: http://64.227.169.223/NL_WA-1.htm
My review of WA-1 found in this thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=95708
 
Choice number 1: SHOOT IT
Choice number 2: SHOOT IT TWICE
Choice number 3: Make a mental note to yourself not to go out undressed (without a firearm)and pray the animal is not really that hungry.
Choice number 4: Don't run! Try to convince the animal that you are meaner than it is.
 
If you're wearing a belt, quickly take it off and use it as a whip. Between a few belt welts and a few well placed kicks, you should be alright.
 
A dog attack is the one time I wish I carried a...
GUN.:mad:

I don't care whose dog it is or why it is attacking
me I'd simply shoot the bastard and be done with
it!!!!! Let the stupid owner deal with the
aftermath.
:mad: :mad: :mad:
 
depends how much time i have, if he is within 10-15 feet when i notice him then i will have my Dozier Toothpick out and into immidiate action. If i have a little more warning then my 21" ASP will be getting a workout.
 
I shoot all dogs coming after me with no hesitation. I carry a Colt .45 auto with 230 grain hollow points. Always fire at a distance about 2 - 3 feet from me. This way the bullet is always going down into the surounding surface and not across country. Has never taken more than one shot. Sometimes the owners are unhappy, but that is their problem, not mine. Have had the law called on me a couple of times. They look at where the dog is, ask where I was when I shot, ask owner where the dog lives, then explain about county livestock laws and say shooting was justified. I have several kids in the neighborhood that call me the "dog shooting bastard" when they ride past on their bikes. However we don't seem to have loose dogs in the neighborhood anymore.
 
Choice number 3: Make a mental note to yourself not to go out undressed (without a firearm)and pray the animal is not really that hungry.
Click to expand...

Was that a joke? A dog will never attack a human as prey. Use of a firearm would be very irresponsible in my opinion if there are other options available. Pepper spray is used by the US Postal Service and if you are experiencing problems with dogs it makes sense to pick up a can. It is also important to remember that most dogs will act aggresively if you are in "their territory" but will not physically attack you. Also remember that dogs "sense" fear and are encouraged if you act afraid.

I don't think kicking is a good idea. People often sustain nasty bites when they try to kick a dog. Using a heavy stick or board makes a lot more sense to me. A length of heavy rubber hose would probably be effective too.

-- Jeff
 
If you run from a dog it will over take oyu and tear you to the ground. By running you announce to him that you are a defenseless prey species and he goes into doggie overdrive.

If a dog rushes you you are already in the position of having him close with you so contact is unavoidable. In this situation the best defense is to RUSH HIM making the loudest, fiercest noise you can make. It would be preferable if you had a knife, club, anything to hit him with but that is not always the case.

If you RUSH HIM he has no mental programming to deal with it and will most likely bolt. I have done this several times and it has worked 100%. Dogs don't liek it when you treat them like they are the prey and you are not what they thought. Mac
 
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