It’s very frightening to be approached by a dangerous dog, knowing that you could be seriously injured. It’s also worth noting that dogs are almost always faster than humans, so even running away from the situation isn’t going to help you. If anything, that’s just going to cause the dog to want to give chase thanks to its instinctive reactions, making your situation worse.
But if you know you need to escape a risky situation and you also cannot run from the dog, what are you supposed to do? Here are a few steps to take.
Try to look unthreatening and calm
Overall, you just want to show the dog that you are not a threat. Don’t make eye contact. Stop moving and stand still, preferably turning sideways so that you appear smaller. In many cases, doing this will get a dog to stop charging and you will not be bitten.
Distract the dog
If the dog still approaches you, it can help to distract it with something else. For example, if you’re carrying a purse, a coat or an umbrella, you can try to put it in between you and the dog. In some cases, the dog will attack the item and you can then escape without injury.
Back away slowly
Once you get the dog to stop charging, you just want to back away to show it that you are not interested in infringing on its territory. Don’t turn your back to the dog, but also avoid eye contact. Move away slowly and carefully, knowing that every step you put between the two of you lowers the odds of an attack.
Unfortunately, some dogs will still bite, even when you do everything correctly, so you must know how to seek compensation when necessary.