What are the best strategies to use when being chased by a dog?

Question

I know people say that it's best not to run when a dog is chasing you. However, I was chased by a dog yesterday & my instincts told me to run. Thankfully, I was able to get away. Would it have been better for me to stand still?? curl up on the ground?? jump on a car?? etc...

I hope I never experience anything as frightening as this again. However, I would like to know the best strategies to use when being chased by a dog....just in case....

Answer 1

When you run their prey drive kicks in and the consider you the prey.

Answer 2

You can't really answer this question... Different situations are different. You didn't tell the whole story.. Are you walking down the street and the dog burst out the front door and was running at you? Or what happened?

You should never run, unless you are 2 feet from the car and you can jump inside for sure before the dog that is 30 feet away can get there..
If you see a dog running towards you, he might just want to play. You would look rather silly throwing yourself to the ground and covering your neck and head wouldn't you?? What was the situation??

There are too many different variables. situations..
But the only answer I can give you definitively is DO NOT RUN. You immediately turn into prey when you run.. If he didn't see you as prey before the second you start running you are automatically prey.

The dog might not even have chased you if you didn't turn tail and start running.

Answer 3

Well you panic-ed, sooo thats why the dog chased you.

I suppose It is easier said than done, as I am not fearful of dogs, and perhaps you are.

But running would be the worst thing you could do.

When you run away from a dog, the dog wins. If you stand your ground, stay calm and confident the dog will not continue to chase you. Do NOT turn your back to the dog that is chasing you, face him stay calm, have an assertive energy he will stand still when you face him...take a step towards him and he should start backing up. Once he starts to back up, then remain where you are until he turns his back and walks away. Then YOU have won.

This could be a big problem if you continue to run away. If this is a place you pass by on a daily basis and the dog knows you will just run away, the territory remains his. If you stand up for yourself and show him you cannot be bullied, he will accept that you "own" or rather are ok and belong in that territory and will let you pass without instance.

Answer 4

I'm assuming the dog is not attacking but merely wanted to run you off his territory... In that case, simply walking a little faster but consistently, not looking over your shoulder and saying to yourself silently "you will not intimidate me, dog" will do the trick. Being afraid, making eye contact, and trotting will only prompt him to do more. If you believe he may nip, turn and walk backwards while staring at his feet so you don't make eye contact. Standing still would work only if the owner is near and can call the dog off. Curling on the ground may work but it's too messy. And jumping on a car would take you out of reach of its teeth but once you're up there, how long can you stay? The best thing you can do for everybody is make note of the owner's residence, the size and color of the dog, and report the dog to animal control or the police.

Answer 5

I know they always say that. A dog came after me once, and the owner yelled "Don't run" so I stood still. The dog ran up to me, jumped, and latched onto my arm as I turned away. I'm pretty sure he was going for my throat. The next time I ran into that kind of dog, it was at a petstore, and I froze, started sweating, and felt like I was going to throw up. It didn't attack me, but I think that was just because it was a different individual. I know that running makes them view you as prey, but for me standing still didn't work either. I'm not sure there's really any good way. Maybe jumping on a car would work.

Answer 6

I have been chased a few times or a start of a chase. I was in high school on the cross country running team and we would get there at 4AM on Fridays to run.

I was on my way to unlock a gate at the school and a woman had sicked her Rottweiler on me I had 100yards to run to a gate and I knew I could not make it so I ran head on with the dog the dog stopped chasing me and ran off with its tail between its legs.

Answer 7

You should not run. They will see you as "prey". When an aggressive dog starts chasing me, I stop and face them, and be aggressive right back. I look right at them and shout, "GO HOME!!" and point away, sometimes stomping at them. That seems to do the trick. I have not yet met a dog who will "go for the throat" after I do that. Of course, there may be exceptions!

Answer 8

Don't run, it will use it's instinct to chase you. Don't look it into it's eyes or smile (or anything that would show your teeth) those to will make it feel like it's being challenged. The best thing to do is stay still and keep your composure, they can sense fear, and wait it out. If it does attack you, try to grab the back of it's mouth where it closes on both sides( it can't bite with it's mouth like that.) and try to wrap your legs around it's mid section so it can't try to dart around. Or grab it's muzzle and keep it shut for dear life, they can't breath that way, and keep screaming for help.

Answer 9

Don't run. Maybe get down low or something- so the dog wont run into you. He would probably stop and sniff you, or jump right over you. If you have a piece of food, throw it, then try to sneak away.

Answer 10

if u run the dog's natural instinct as a hunter is 2 chase after u.
the best thing to do is to face the dog face to face and back away SLOWLY with ur face facing him but do NOT look in the dogs eyes cause that means ur "challenging" it. (when u show ur back to a dog its like catnip to a cat)

if u absolutely positively have to run then go up a tree cause dogs cant climb

Answer 11

stand still back away slowly and if he lunges run on a car or to a hi place