You don’t need to be deep in the woods or up high on the mountains to be attacked by wild animals. Even cities and residential areas have their own dangerous animals that one should be aware of. In this case, we’ll be focusing on wild dogs, such as those that are stray or feral.
Man’s best friend is much more dangerous than you might think. Dogs bite more than 4.5 million people every year, and that’s in the U.S. alone. Some of them are more severe in physical injury, while others might transmit dangerous diseases as the bite becomes infected. It might even be both. Whatever the case, dogs contribute to quite the number of injuries and trips to the hospital.
But don’t get up in a panic all of a sudden. Obviously, this amount is more than a little skewed. Dogs don’t suddenly go out and attack people just because, which is why the numbers are high. It’s because many of these dogs are actually (or were actually) somebody’s pet, and something caused them to lash out. You don’t exactly see someone bringing around a pet bear for a walk now, do you?
Dogs don’t usually attack unless they have a good reason: Maybe they’re defending their territory, their food, or their young. Or they might not be in the right state of mind, due to having rabies. Whatever the case, you want to be alert and ready to defend yourself if you see that a dog might decide to attack you. Especially with regards to the latter part. A dog with rabies can transmit it to you, and despite modern medicine, there is no cure still.
So, self-defense against dogs. What do you do?
Prevention is the best solution
The best type of encounter against a potentially aggressive dog is no encounter at all. If you frequently walk around a certain part of town or your house, take the time to scope out if there may be problematic dogs in your neighborhood that are roaming around. Calling someone like your local animal control officer to help against a pack of stray or feral dogs will do wonders for both you and anyone else who may accidentally cross their paths in the future.
But what about dogs that might scare you through their barking from inside a yard or house? Well, if it bothers you a lot, it might be better to take a detour. It might potentially take you a little longer to get to your destination, but you won’t feel like you’re being attacked every time you have to pass that place.
Don’t provoke the dog
If an encounter with a wild dog is inevitable, then you will need to prepare yourself if the dog seems like it wants to attack you. Most dogs won’t try to attack you, but on the occasion that one does, you will at least be prepared. Ideally, you can get away without having to fight it.
You won’t get very far with words if you try to reason out with a dog. It can’t understand you! Instead, body language is key here, and it’s also what a dog will be paying attention to you and can be key to whether or not it deems you as a threat.
For instance, make sure you stay calm. It’s easier said than done, of course, but if a dog senses fear or aggression from you, it might be more inclined to attack. That means not making any sudden movements either. Don’t try to break out into a run – this invites the dog to give chase, and unless you find a way to slow the dog down or block it completely, it will eventually catch up to you. Only the most elite of human runners can actually outrun a dog, but for an average joe? Forget it. There are exceptions, however. If you’re facing a pack of dogs, then you have a slim chance of winning, especially if you’re alone. If you end up running away, try to find a place that you can climb up on where you can’t be reached.
Instead, move away from the dog slowly by backing away sideways while keeping it in your peripheral vision. Make sure you don’t make eye contact with it either, as dogs take that as a challenge and might react aggressively as a result.
Put something between you and a dog
If the dog decides to attack, then you’ll need to react fast. Grab anything in the vicinity and put it between you and the dog. A stick, your jacket, your bag, anything that protects you from it. You can even use your umbrella to dissuade your would-be attacker: Open it in the direction of the dog, and you’ll give it a wild surprise!
If unavoidable, fight dirty and give a place for the dog to bite
A dog will be going for a bite, which you want to avoid. If impossible, then have the dog bite a part of your body that isn’t as vulnerable as someplace like your neck or chest. Yes, this means offering something like your arm or thigh, but it’s much better than having the dog bite one of the aforementioned places.
Meanwhile, try to fight off the dog. You can use your body weight to crush a dog effectively, thanks to the size and weight difference between you and the canine. You can also go for the eyes or hit the back of its head to daze it.
Once you actually do manage to get away, make sure to seek medical attention, especially if you were bitten by a dog. A single bite from a dog, especially one that is feral or stray, can have an untold number of diseases. Rabies is just one of many types that can hurt or even kill you.