You may unexpectedly come face-to-face with a dangerous dog. Perhaps you’re walking your own dog through the neighborhood when a neighbor’s dog comes out of the backyard, not on a leash or behind a fence. Or maybe you’re out for a jog when an off-leash dog begins to chase you. Dogs have a strong prey drive and will often chase people who are running.
In this moment, it can be very frightening as you try to figure out what to do to avoid being bitten. Here are some important tips:
Stay calm
First of all, try to lower the energy in the encounter by staying calm. Dogs often feed off people’s energy. You shouldn’t panic, yell or scream. Try to stand still and calmly face the dog.
Don’t make eye contact
While you don’t want to turn your back, it’s also wise not to make eye contact. You may want to look off to the side and watch the dog out of your peripheral vision. It can also help to turn to the side, giving yourself a smaller profile. Dogs interpret eye contact as aggression.
Slowly back away
Finally, remember that many dogs act aggressively because they are territorial. If you slowly back away from the dog, it may let you go and leave you alone. Don’t run, but move in a controlled and calm fashion, trying to put something like a car parked along the street between you and the dog.
These tips can help, but you could still suffer serious injuries if you get bitten. Be sure you know what legal steps to take.