Dealing With Aggression in Dogs

Much like sharks, and the attacks that are associated with them, dealing with an angry or threatening dog generally only leads to harm based on mistakes made by the human. There are a litany of ways to prevent dog attacks from becoming damaging and/or potentially life threatening. A few methods for preventing attacks are listed below, but there are countless methods found in textbooks and on sites across the Internet.

Stop, Don't Look, and Listen

Whenever you come across a dog that appears threatening or begins to growl angrily at you, whatever you do, do not react in a frightened manner. First things first, stop. Collect yourself and broadcast a calm front. Next, make sure that you remain still and avoid looking at the animal in the eyes. Finally, avoid making loud noises that may startle the animal. Speak softly and refrain from any language that strays from the clichéd commands of "sit" or "stay." If the dog becomes more aggressive, different measures should be taken, but once the dog relaxes, move away slowly.

Refrain from Inciting an Angry Dog

If a dog becomes aggressive to the point that it moves in for an attack, remaining calm and relaxed has failed. Your first step in neutralizing an advancing canine should be to throw something light at it. Do not use something that can inflict a lot of pain (as it will only serve to make it angrier) as you simply want to distract the animal. If this fails, pick up a large object (if possible) and hold it far away from you. Hopefully the dog latches onto the item. Do not let go if this is the case, let him or here chew on this as he or she believes this is a part of you. If it feels it has no effect it is more likely to retreat. Only retaliate as a last resort and remain still and protect your face if the dog gets the best of you.

Use Common Sense

Many angry dogs only become incensed when they feel their, or their owner's, property is threatened. As a result, you should avoid walking through areas in which you know there is an aggressive dog. You must also avoid walking too closely to a car with an animal housed inside, as an open window can lead to a vicious bite. Staying back from the door of a house that may or may not house an angry dog is also recommended. Basically, dealing with a threatening dog properly comes down to this particular subtitle: use common sense!

Dealing with an angry dog can be a trying, and sometimes impossible, task. Your first instinct should always be to remain calm. If this does not neutralize the dog's aggression, try distracting it. If this fails, try to trick the dog into thinking it's attacking you, while it is actually gnawing on an inanimate object. Should this also be to no avail, look over your options. If running can be beneficial, do so. If calling for help is your best bet, do that. But if it comes down to taking an attack, try and remain calm and protect your face.