Dogs often become aggressive, develop rabies, and can attack people. Therefore, everyone should know how to avoid an attack or deal with an already attacking dog.
How to prevent
If you encounter an aggressive dog on the road that is glaring, baring its teeth, growling, and clearly trying to attack, you should follow these instructions:
- Press your back against a tree, building, or fence so that the dog cannot approach from behind, as most of them like to attack from behind.
- Do not wave various objects, this may be a signal for an attack.
- Don't start shouting or screaming, because the dog perceives any sounds as aggression; it's better to just remain silent.
- If you need to get hold of an animal repellent, do it as slowly as possible.
- You must not look the dog in the eyes; if you run into the leader, he will not be scared, but will take this as a signal to agree to enter into a fight.
People who have dealt with aggressive dogs say they can be scared off by getting on all fours or crouching. This can be disconcerting and frightening for some dogs.
In addition to proper behavior, there are also additional means of protection against vicious animals.
Taser
This product is very effective at repelling dogs. Most dogs are even afraid of the crackling sound emitted by a stun gun from a distance. Dogs are also irritated by the smell emanating from the device after the shock.
There are 3 types of stun guns:
- Power up to 1W – these are cheap, small units that can only frighten cowardly dogs; they will have no effect on an enraged animal.
- The most common stun guns are 1-2 watts in power and can deliver a strong shock, after which the dog is unlikely to approach again.
- Power is about 3W - large in size, which is not very convenient, but it shows the highest results.
When choosing, you should give preference to devices with long electrodes, which will be most effective when dealing with a shaggy dog.
Dichlorvos in aerosol
A household chemical spray can also be used to control an aggressive dog. Dichlorvos is the most effective, as its terrible odor is unbearable even for humans.
But this type of protection has a major drawback: it's difficult to find the spray nozzle in most cans, especially when an enraged dog is rushing towards you. Therefore, when purchasing dichlorvos, it's important to choose the highest-quality and easiest-to-use dispensers.
Aerosol dichlorvos will blind the dog for a while and scare it away with an unpleasant smell.
Pretend to pick up a rock from the road
Another way to scare a dog is to pretend to pick up a stone. To do this, slowly squat down and wave your hand along the path. The dog will think you're about to throw a stone and will run away. If this doesn't frighten it, you can stand up and swing your hand at it, shouting in a low, rough voice. You can also take a step toward the dog. Stray dogs have often been hit in the back with a stone at least once in their lives, so this should help.
Once you've successfully lifted the stone from the road and are confident you'll hit it, it's best to throw it with all your might. Missing the mark isn't advisable, as this will only anger the animal further.
What to do if the attack has already taken place
If the dog does attack, but runs away immediately after biting, don't chase it down and hit it; it's best to go to the hospital immediately and undergo treatment for rabies.
But if it's bitten hard and won't let go, don't yank your arm or leg out of its mouth, as this will only increase the damage. Instead, push the limb deeper into its throat, forcing the tongue back under the pressure and causing the dog to choke. With your other hand, hit it in the nose or kick it in the stomach, but not in the ribs, as this won't help. But hit it with all your might, as if you were hammering a nail into the floor.
Usually in such a situation, due to pain and suffocation, the dog weakens its grip and stops attacking.
If you spot a dog on your way, don't run or make any sudden movements; simply try to pass by without intruding into its personal space. However, if it's aggressive and seems determined to attack, growling, and baring its teeth, you should try to scare it off or, if attacked, defend yourself using the methods described above.
