whats the BEST way to defend yourself against a dog attack?

Question

someone told me to grab the front legs and pull them completly apart..that it will dislocate them..do you believe that will work?

Answer 1

Good question!

All of the answers here seem to be logical. I would panic, but that is a definite no no. I cannot imagine having the guts to grab a vicious dog by the jaw though. Aren't their reflex's faster Than ours? It seems like a good way to lose a finger or two depending on the size of the dog.

Play dead?

Answer 2

As a dog lover and former mail carrier I have some experience with this.
First you want to avoid the attack if you can. You do this first by seeing the dog. Most dog bites happen when you didn't see the dog.
DO NOT RUN.
Face the dog but do not stare into its face. This way the dog knows you see it but doesn't think you are challenging it.
Back away; don't turn your back on a threatening dog. Once you are out of the dog's territory, it will usually lose interest, unless you are running.
If you have a strap or belt, wave it a little. Some dogs have learned to be afraid of straps, and may be deterred.
Speak in a friendly way to let the dog know you are not a threat and are not afraid.
If you have something you can hold between you and the dog, do so. As a mail carrier, I would hold the mail bag in front of me.
If the dog is charging at you, you have no choice. Raise your arms suddenly, grabbing the corners of your jacket if you have one, and ROAR. With any luck the dog will turn and run away. The sudden change of size and shape confuses the dog (their eyesight is not too sharp) and the roar scares it.

Answer 3

Dogs that are barking are showing some fear so the best thing to do is not push that fear over into an attack. - Do not look directly at the dog - Move slowly. Don't add to his fear or spark his prey drive. - Put something between you and the dog: a backpack, a jacket, etc. - Back away slowly and calmly. If the dog is someone's pet then saying no or sit or off to it can calm him down. - Put a door (house, car, garden gate, etc.) between you and the dog. Some people carry around hair spray just in case. A barking dog is better than a dog that is emitting a low growl or says nothing at all and simply attacks. Those are really dangerous dogs.

Answer 4

The best way is not get attacked at all by avoiding the animal if you notice any signs of potential aggression. But if it does charge you, I'd make a grab for something to throw between you. Once the dog grabs on to something, it will be difficult to make it let go, so it's best if the dog grabs something that isn't part of your anatomy. Otherwise, I'd let him have my arm and while he's attacking that, yell loudly for help. Or yell at the dog and physically push him away. They don't expect their victims to bark back most of the time.

Answer 5

The most effective method is probably the use of pepper mace. That's why many meter readers and mailmen carry mace canisters with them on their rounds. I've been told that the USPS issues mace to its mail carriers, but I haven't been able to verify this.

If you aren't carrying mace, then don't run and don't panic. Running or wild movements will probably be misinterpreted as prey in flight or aggression. Drop to the ground, curl up in a tight ball, and protect the back of your neck with your hands and arms.

Since you are neither prey nor an aggressor, the dog may react by sniffing and leaving you alone. The pepper mace is still your best bet, however.

Answer 6

The first thing you do is COVER YOUR THROAT! Quickley move your hands over your throat. Most dogs go there and if they get there teeth on that.........
I sadly have had experince with this. Try not to move a whole lot or the dog will take this as a bigger challange and attake even more.
What I did, after I covered my throat was raise my leg and kick the dog in the face. BIG mistake. This makes the dog even more madder. If you stay still , the dog will get board very quickley.
Hoped This Helped!

Answer 7

Everytime I had to deal with an aggressive dog, I found that the best way was to grab ahold of the lower jaw, as far back as you can get. They are unable to bite you, that way. With your other hand, grab the dog by the scruff, and try to flip the dog to it's back, if possible. Then hope for someone else to be around, to call for some assistance, to contain the dog.

Answer 8

If the dog is attacking you, before the tackle, place you arm that is not your writing arm infront of the dog. If you are thrown to the ground, cover head with you arms and bring you knees as close to you chest as possble. Also, guess it would be best to expose your non-writing arm when you are on the ground.

I read this somewhere, so excuse me if people do not agree with me.

Oops, not the hand! The arm. Sorry!

Answer 9

I seen someone do this one time freak me out...the dog was running at them (they were just walking down the street) when the dog took off after them the guy turn at the dog and barked right back at the dog...and it was a rottie the dog stop dead in its tracks....

Answer 10

Most attacking dogs will stop IF you move Towards them in an attack mode...they will stop dead in their tracks and reconsider your size compared to them, usually run. IF you run or back away, they will continue to attack! What you describe is a very good way to get your hands bitten badly. IF after charging the attacking dog, the dog still keeps coming on, be very prepared to kick the hell out of it! One good kick and the dog will usually run.