What do you do if you are attacked?

[Hope]

Sandy Caruso recently recounted her experience of an attack by a dog in response to a recent post. The horrific nature of the post got me thinking about the fact that I have not clue as to what I would do if a dog were to attack me. I have had a few close calls with loose neighborhood dogs, but all of those close calls came at a time when either my rottweiler or doberman were present, so I did not feel personally threatened. But, honestly, I know little about what to do in the event that I am alone and find myself in a jam. I think it would be nice to hear from people just how to approach such a situation. Education on such a subject would be appreciated.

[Michael C.]

For starters, keep still and put your hands by your side and never look the dog in the eye.

Mike

[Carol Burke]

If the dog actually comes at you, fall to the ground, roll into a ball, cover your neck and back of head and lie absolutely still.

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Carol
Darrlburg Rottweilers

[my2rotties]

I have often pondered about this myself. My guys when we play, knock me on my face.

I think if it were a real bad attack, I would curl up kneeling down, with my hands wrapped behind my neck, and face tucked in. After that, you play dead.

That is what we are told to do here, in case of a bear attack. I always questioned how good this would work, but when you are in a grave situation, you do what you can.

I have heard some people saying they would break the dogs neck, or pull its front legs apart, which crushes their heart or something like that. My husband and I were duscussing this, and I honestly can't see being able to do something like this. I would never chance using both of my arms to grab a dogs front legs. It would probably have a good chance of ripping my face off or worse. I think people whom make statements like this, have never been attacked or even close.

A dog is very strong, and I would think that I would be pretty much be finished if tucking myself into a ball would not work.

I would be very interested in hearing what others have to say about this.

[Sandy Caruso]

In my case I knew I was going to get bitten. There was no way to avoid the inevitable. Funny thing about this particular dog..... I met the young BYB when this dog was only a year old pup. He lunged at everything in sight and it was very apparent his owner/breeder didn't have a clue. There was absolutely no discipline, no boundaries, no control.

The owner/breeder had been attending one of the local schutzhund clubs and was encouraged and cautioned by the trainer there not to discourage this pup's aggressive nature. (Now you all know why I have such a bad taste in my mouth for some of the 'yea hoos' involved in schutzhund) Back to the dog....I witnessed this "runaway train" snap at his owner unprovoked and I warned her this dog was an accident looking for a place to happen!

As luck would have it...two years later I was contacted by another woman who had been "given" the same dog unbeknownst to me. I was invited to the new owner's ranch to evaluate her "new stud dog."

The owner approached me with the dog on a lead and proceeded to give me the history. I didn't get two words out of my mouth and the dog charged breaking loose from the new owner. I was bitten severely on the right breast and could see the dog was going for my throat and face. I offered him my right forearm and as he took a full bite, I proceeded to yell "AUS" as loud as I could at the same time pounding on his nose.

The owner was absolutely no help whatsoever. She stood frozen with her hands covering her face and screaming bloody murder. Heaven only knows why the dog stopped his attack but when he did I hollered at Ruth (the owner) and told her to grab the dog, put him up and call an ambulance.

Since I was bleeding profusely we didn't wait for the ambulance and Ruth rushed me to the emergency room in her truck. It was all I could do to keep from passing out. I later learned the dog had severed one of the arteries in my arm. Little did I realize what a close brush I'd had with DEATH.

Now I remind you, I am a VERY sustantial sized and stout woman. I stand about 5'8'" and weigh close to 190lbs. I have worked hard all my life and regularly buck 100 lb bales of hay. My hands and forearms are rock hard from milking cows and making pies and bread. The point I'm trying to make is "I ain't no powder puff." This dog could have easily taken my life. What chance do you think a child or an older person has against a full-grown Rottweiler intent on attacking???

For you folks that want to "save" the aggressive Rottweilers with the unstable temperaments or "give them another chance" you'd better rethink your position. Next time it could be YOU that is attacked and bitten

Sandy

[This message has been edited by Phoenix (edited October 29, 2000).]

[2RottieMom]

I'm not saying that any of these people have been attacked by dogs but I think the best to ask would be the people who deliver our mail. They encounter all types of dogs every day and encounter irresponsible owners too. I would say that trying to fight back in an attack situation of a dog is really dumb. In my opinion I would drop to the ground face first and curl in a ball covering my neck. I just hope that I never have to encounter this situation.

[czechrott]

All the well meaning advice in the world will probably be forgotten in the seconds before a dog gets to you.

If it's a rotty (God forbid) then freezing in your tracks (probably out of panic) is not a bad choice. Keep your arms & legs close together, as they are easier to grab.

If it's a smaller dog, and you think that you can beat it, then take the fight back to the dog.

There are some defensive tactics that can be utilized. They must be practiced, which is very hard. It's a different situation when an animal is involved. The biggest concern is the "Fight or flight" response that will trigger when the dog is running at you. Unless you can run to safety, it will only make matters worse. So will screaming, which will highten the dogs responses. Carrying air horns & pepper sprays, or even a little club, might be of assistance IF you have time to react.

[Rott'nBoy]

I actually read an article about this in the April 200 issue of MAXIM. I was a little upset about the article, because it was titled "HOW TO STOP A RABID ROTTWEILER" and it showed a picture of a rottie baring teeth. But besides that, it was pretty helpful. I don't know how reliable this article was, but it said that if the dog were running after you, wrap your arm in your jacket or sweater (or anything padded) and hold it out to the dog as the dog will most likely go after whatever is held out to him. While he is tearing away at your arm, hit and kick him in the genitals and poke his eyes until he finally gives up. If anyone's interested in reading this article, it's on page 126.

[Mick Trainer]

This is a very hard topic to give one correct answer to. I have been bitten in my line of work many times from the arms to my stomach. Every single time it has been for a different reason.

When judging what to do we really need to look at and understand why the dog has become aggressive towards us and adjust our responce accordingly. Of course this is harder to do in a real life situation than it is to write about it.

Dogs become aggressive for many reasons understanding these will help us.

Most dogs are aggressive out of fear and in this case the best tactic for me is to take the fight to the dog. Very few dogs have what it takes to come through such a threat and still attack a full grown person. Most will simply back off. In this case keep facing the dog as you move away from it. If it moves forward then move towards it. As it retreats slowly move away from it.

The most common type of aggression that results in a physical attack from a strange dog (this is true in the case of Sandy's attack (from what I read)) which is learnt aggression. This type of aggression is based once again in fear but over time the dog learns (as in Sandy's case) through successful encounters that it has strength in it's aggression and that it should use this aggression when it becomes at all fearful.

What to do in this case? Well it is hard to say. In the case of Sandy's attack going at the dog would probably just hightened the level of aggression that it showed towards Sandy. What I would do in this case is the same I do when ever I am going to to meet any new big dog. I will always carry a lead or my diary with me and if the dog attacks me then I will give it a bite of the lead or diary. Then I proceed to either take on the dog or I will get the owner to take the dog off. My diary has taken a lot of bites over time.

Overall not making eye contact and standing still is probably the best option in 90% of cases but for the other 10% of cases there is not one sure fire method. Knowledge on behavior will definatly help with making the right decision.

Sandy,

Whilst you and I disagree on the merits of protection training etc you are correct in this case that anybody who encourages overtly aggressive behavior in a fear aggressive dog should not be involved in dogs FULL STOP.

Mick.

[Sandy Caruso]

On a lighter note....
I now carry a "HOT stick" (cattle prod) with me when I do an evaluation. If a dog attacks I shove that "HOT stick" down it's throat as far as I can. BTW I always make sure the button is ON (the juice is flowing)!!!
Then I go after the owner.

I vow never to be bitten like that again.

Sandy

[Mick Trainer]

Sandy,

I have been there. It took me being bitten for me to never forget to take a lead etc. Same as your cattle prod. I was in no way suggesting that you had that option but just trying to help others to think of doing this for future reference.

"Needless to say to dog did not pass as a stud prospect!!!"

No, Really. You don't want a fear aggressive dog that attacks from little to no threat as a stud. I don't see why. (This is of course all sarcasm).

Mick.

I worked for the USPS for seven years delivering mail, and all I can say for certain is:

MACE does NOT work. I sprayed mace on several attacking dogs and they still kept on coming. When they are really in a frenzy, they are oblivious to Mace.

Actually, what I really wanted to do was spray the owners. I never blamed the dogs.
But I guess I'm one of those "bleeding hearts, give the dog a chance" people!





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I love my furry kids!
Soapie and Buddy's Mom

[Hope]

I really thank everybody for their opinions and advice. This has been useful to a certain extent. It was mentioned in a post that to understand how to react, one has to understand why an attack is occurring so that a proper response is elicited. This makes a lot of sense. This also means that I will need to learn more about canine behavior before truly understanding how to handle an attack, or at least, try to handle an attack.

I just wanted to get a few ideas in my head so that I might brood over them for a while. I hope to God I never have to apply such techniques as previously stated, but knowledge is power, even if it is just a small piece of knowledge. Again, thanks for all the advice and information.

[This message has been edited by Phoenix (edited October 29, 2000).]

[Vicki]

The AVMA has brochures and other materials on this subject. There's a National Dog Bite Prevention week campaign where we visit schools and show videos, hand out coloring books, talk to the children, and try and educate them about how dogs should be treated. Remember most dog bites happen at home; as an adult you don't have to worry too much about a mauling out on the street. I wouldn't advise an adult to drop to the ground, one of the reasons dogs find humans intimidating is our height.

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[shadowrottie]

I don't think there is truly one correct answer as to what to do when a dog attacks. Too many factors involved to say for sure what will work. What might work in on instance wouldn't work in another. My vote, personally, is to fight to keep your footing while using your arms to protect your neck/face and keeping them out of the way. I've found that once your down in the tucked position, you're at the animal's mercy and can only pray that they aren't smart/lucky enough to find a hole in your defenses.