Your Best Friend Bites

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Aggressive Dogs

Each year, nearly 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. As
many as 800,000 people, require medical attention for dog bites
annually, and about a dozen people die each year from dog bite
injuries. The good news is that most bites can be prevented.  All
dogs should be treated with the utmost caution; every dog will
bite given the right circumstances. Each dog has its own distinct
social and personal distance that a stranger is permitted to
enter. This is why dogs that are tied may bite or snap when
approached; they are unable to escape when there is a sudden
invasion of their personal space. Always pay attention to signals
given off by all dogs.

Dog Encounters

Never assume that because a dog's tail is wagging that he will
not bite. It can mean indecision on the dog's part. If a dog is
chasing you, never run unless you can beat the dog to a safe
haven.  Running is a sure way to aggravate an attack, so if you
see a dog wandering loose without an owner and it approaches you,
do not run away, yell or make loud noises.  Stand very still like
a tree and cross your arms over your chest, as if you are giving
yourself a great, big hug. (This shape forms the trunk of your
tree.) Look away from the dog, because dogs sometimes think
direct eye contact is a challenge for power and control. Your
intention is not to challenge the dog. Instead you just want the
dog to go away. Toss an object away from you and away from the
dog. This should attract its attention toward the object and away
from you. The dog should move toward the thrown object to sniff
and investigate it, which will give you a chance to slowly, turn
and walk away.  All stray dog encounters don't have to end in a
bite.

Preventing Dog Bites

If you believe that a dog is going to attack you, offer it
whatever you have with you, whether it is a clipboard, briefcase,
or purse. If the dog is truly aggressive he will grab the object
and hold on. As the dog holds on do not let go of the object, if
you do he will soon realize that it is not you and will more than
likely attack again. Normally, once the dog realizes that he is
having little or no effect, he will stop the attack, or at the
very least, give you time to plan your next move. You should only
strike the dog as a last resort. Inflicting pain on the dog can
only make him more aggressive, as he will identify you as the
source of his pain. If you happen to be knocked to the ground,
remain motionless in the fetal position, and protect your face by
crossing your arms above your head.  It is also important to
remember that turning and running are signals for a dog to chase
and attack. Most people are bitten moving away from a dog when
they turn to run. Dogs are usually less aggressive on neutral
ground, so it is important to gradually increase the distance
from where the dog lives, if that is where the encounter
occurred. Sometimes all efforts to resolve a stand off with dog
fail and the unfortunate happens.

If You Are Bitten

If a dog that may attack you approaches, first follow some simple
steps to avoid being bitten. If you are bitten or attacked by a
dog, try not to panic.  Immediately wash the wound thoroughly
with soap and warm water. Contact your physician for additional
care and advice. Report the bite to your local animal care and
control agency. Tell the animal control official everything you
know about the dog, including his owner's name and the address
where he lives. If the dog is a stray, tell the animal control
official what the dog looks like, where you saw him, whether
you've seen him before, and in which direction he went.

About the Author

Johnny A. Jenkins urges you get the Electronic Dog Chaser for
your defense against stray dogs. It helps stop the approach
of unwanted dogs up to 15 feet.  The dog chaser produces a
discomforting but not harmful high frequency sound, audible
to dogs but not humans. It is also useful in training. The
Electronic Dog Chaser is available at: Repeller Technology
(http://www.repellertechnology.com) click dog chaser.

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