Experts told how to protect yourself from a dog attack and get its owner punished

Domestic dog, aggressive

If the dog is walking with the owner, and for some reason he does not pay attention to the “entertainment” of his pet, who is not showing good interest in you, you need to slowly turn your side to the dog and freeze.
These are two significant “signals of reconciliation” for a dog. It’s as if you are saying: “I am not dangerous,” “I have no bad intentions,” “I will not enter into conflict with you.” Any dog will understand this better than any verbal assurances.

It is better not to look directly into the dog’s eyes, but, of course, you need to watch it. Then, in a loud, confident voice, you need to ask the owner to call the animal back and put it on a leash. It is important not to show fear, uncertainty, or fuss.

When the dog is already on a leash, without giving way to emotions, you need to calmly and firmly ask the dog’s owner to keep an eye on him and avoid dangerous situations. Both in the eyes of the dog and in the eyes of its owner, you will act like a fair and fearless person, and not a frightened and emotional hysteric.

Causes of dogs attacking people

A dog is still considered in most cases to be a person’s friend, so there are not many reasons why an animal might attack:

Territory defense

The most common reason for an attack is the defense of one's own territory. When a stranger appears on an area that the animal considers its own.

In an aggressive situation, it is extremely important to prevent a bite

And we are talking not only about fighting or service breeds. It is for the reason of protecting the site that the kindest Labradors are among the top 10 breeds in terms of frequency of attacks on people. We are talking about postmen in the USA who enter a house area guarded by a dog.

Puppy protection

Mothers always watch over their children, dogs are no exception.

At the slightest suspicion of danger, they will rush at a person to protect their babies. This reason also does not depend on upbringing or breed. In this situation, the animal’s natural instinct is triggered.

Lack of education

If the animal is not socialized from a young age and is not trained, then any cute puppy can become uncontrollable, ready at any moment to show aggression and bark or bite a person.

There are also owners who believe that their pet should snap at other people

Miseducation

Unfortunately, there are cases when the owner purposefully instills aggressive behavior in the dog. In this case, the dog may attack for no apparent reason.

Provocation

Sometimes it happens that passers-by themselves provoke an attack. They begin to wave their arms, shout and in every possible way attract the dog’s attention. The result of such a provocation may be barking or a more serious attack.

Rabies

Another cause could be rabies. It can be contracted through contact with another infected animal and lack of timely vaccination.

In fact, the cause of a dog’s aggressive behavior is the person himself.

It is important to understand the further responsibility when purchasing an animal, and you also need to know the rules of conduct in the presence of an animal.

Stray dogs attack from behind, mostly rushing to their feet, doing it on the sly

A pack of dogs guards the territory

Photo from the site kurer-sreda.ru
Stray dogs, as a rule, rarely attack people. They try to avoid the person, make every effort, and also use their own signaling capabilities in order to prevent an impending conflict.

Pariah dogs live in packs in a certain area. It can be large, and its boundaries may not be visible to humans. For dogs, this is the holy of holies: this is their home, this is where puppies grow, this is where resources are stored.

Dogs start barking as soon as a person approaches the border. It is the “signalmen” who bark, that is, the dogs with the lowest responsibility status in the pack - their duties include warning of an impending threat. Dogs show you that there is something valuable to them ahead of you, and they are not ready to share.

Even at the stage when you only hear barking, you may already be wondering: why do dogs worry? Probably, if you change your route, the barking will immediately stop, and the territorial issue can be resolved amicably.

The more active and furious the barking, the closer the dogs come, the more they bare their teeth and raise their withers, the further you go into the territory of the pack.

If you see that the dogs are ready to rush at you, but are not yet doing this, staying more than five meters away from you, it is better to stop, freeze for a while and slowly, without making sudden movements, trying to cope with fear, move away . There is no need to turn your back to the dogs. It is necessary to retreat slowly and so that the dogs are in the field of vision.

If obvious signals that you are invading the pack's territory are ignored, the dogs may at some point attack you. Few people can predict the outcome of the fight.

Part 1. Why a dog attacks a person.

Author's Explanation: Why did I decide to write on this topic?
There are several reasons. The problem of protecting humans from aggressive animals has become increasingly urgent in recent years. However, there are not many sound recommendations on this topic. Usually a fairly stereotypical set of advice is given. Moreover, one gets the impression that the vast majority of authors have not experienced first-hand everything they advise. There is also another, very small, group of authors who conducted training on dogs. But I haven’t met among them those who regularly fought with dogs in real situations. Of course, the experience gained even in the most “safe” fights with animals is very valuable, and the people who carried out such an experiment evoke great respect. However, even such experiments are limited in the degree of damage to both animals and people participating in the fight. Professional dog handlers have extensive experience in handling dogs, but they have never had the task of destroying or, in extreme cases, crippling an animal. You won’t be able to deal with the dog without this, if it comes down to the teeth. In addition, professional dog handlers are well versed in the habits of dogs, while you, most likely, do not understand the behavior of animals.

I have been working with dogs since my school years, including for more than 20 years I have been specifically interested in Caucasian Shepherds, I myself have kept dogs of different breeds, trained my own dogs and the dogs of my friends, and assisted other trainers. In addition, my trainer passed on his knowledge to me in this area (he himself received training and practical experience in fighting German working dogs during the Great Patriotic War). In reality, he didn’t pit me against dangerous animals, but he not only gave me vulnerable areas on the dogs’ bodies and techniques for hitting these areas, but also forced me to practice them on mongrels. I tested everything he recommended in “friendly fights” with the animals I owned and with the dogs of my friends, and, if possible, I also tested it by training my own and other people’s dogs. Well, sharing experiences with other dog owners and professional dog handlers added to my knowledge. So, although I have not fought with Great Danes or Caucasians who wanted my meat, my experience allows me to give recommendations in this very specialized area.

Part 1.

Why does a dog attack a person?

Protection from animal attacks is an integral element of human self-defense. In those centuries, while man lived in nature, surrounded by domestic animals, in a village or in a nomadic herder’s yurt, he gained experience in handling them and knew how to prevent an attack and defend himself against it. From an early age, people observed the reactions of animals to their behavior, observed how adults treated them, and drew conclusions. Adults taught him how to behave correctly with animals, including how to recognize the aggressiveness of an animal and avoid an attack, and if it was not possible to avoid, then how to win. Of course, there were tragic cases when people were seriously injured and even died from attacks by domestic animals, but, in general, they knew how to handle them. We, city dwellers, have lost this precious experience. It has been preserved in very narrow spheres of life, such as Spanish bullfighting, the practice of trainers, the practice of rural residents (in developed countries, an absolute minority of the population is engaged in agricultural work).

But even in the city, one of our pets is always with us. This is a dog. And although the dog is the oldest domesticated animal, it remains a predator and poses a threat to humans. Moreover, any dog, even a small one, can be dangerous. In the 60s or 70s of the twentieth century, there was a case when a person died from the bite of a toy terrier, a small decorative dog - the bite hit the carotid artery. And what can we say about working and fighting breed dogs! I don’t know the exact statistics of those injured by dogs. But in Moscow, up to 30,000 dog attacks on people are recorded per year. Of course, not all of them end in serious bites, but the number is eloquent. As for serious bites, I’ll start from this fact. A few years ago a dog bit my daughter. In the hospital, an entire ward was allocated for those who had been bitten by dogs. According to the medical staff, there were 10 or more people in it at all times. Moreover, this was not the only hospital in Moscow where patients with bites were taken. Moreover, the Institute named after. Sklifosovsky, where they deal with the most serious cases.

Why is a dog so dangerous to humans? After all, she is at least twice as light as him. Among the bulk of even service animals, dogs that are physically stronger than humans are a minority. What's the matter?

Firstly, a dog is a predator by origin. And although the vast majority of modern dogs have not hunted for many generations, the instincts of a predator sit firmly in them. Any dog knows where and how to bite, almost all dogs can attack suddenly, the speed of their movements in battle increases, according to my estimates, at least twice, and in well-trained animals even more. Secondly, the dog is always armed. Moreover, the weapon is part of her body. A dog’s jaws play in many ways the same role for him as our hands do for us, so even the most domestic, spoiled dog can wield his teeth no worse than an experienced criminal can wield a knife. Thirdly, a dog is much more stable than a person - its center of gravity is 2 - 2.5 times lower, and it also has four points of support, not two, like ours. Fourthly, the dog perfectly knows how to use the advantages and compensate for the shortcomings of its physique. She has a good reaction, she is very jumping and evasive, and in battle she easily uses jumping and jumping for attack and defense. And in everyday life, these movements are an integral element of her movements, which already prepares her for battle. Finally, a dog is a fairly intelligent animal that knows a person well, his strengths and weaknesses. And the dog effectively combines all these traits with its first and main feature - the instinct of a predator.

In the last twenty years, the number of dogs with unstable psyches among private owners has sharply increased. Previously, amateur breeding of service breed dogs took place mainly within the framework of kennel clubs, which had the right to exercise control over the entire livestock in general, and overly aggressive animals were excluded from planned breeding. If a purebred dog in private hands was characterized by excessive viciousness and poor controllability, then the question arose of buying it back from the owner and transferring it to a state kennel. If the animal was outbred, then it was a matter of euthanizing it. Now, in frequent possession, there are a huge number of dogs with unstable psyches, often not registered at all.

Another source of bites is ownerless animals. Their number has grown catastrophically in recent years, and no one knows how many there are. More or less accurate figures are available only for large cities. For example, in Moscow, according to experts, there are at least 50,000 of them. And how many wander through the forests near Moscow, live in motor depots and construction sites near Moscow? Despite the fact that the individuals that are overly aggressive towards humans among them die first, they manage to bite one or the other two before their death. Moreover, the activity of various “greens”, both organized and unorganized - foolish old women, housewives and sexually unclaimed girls, guards of various construction sites and garages, for whom a dog, even a stray or semi-stray, is of greater value than a person. This public makes a significant contribution to the survival of aggressive individuals among ownerless animals. However, attacks by stray dogs are a separate issue, to which I will return later.

To be fair, it should be said that in most cases the reason for dog attacks is the wrong behavior of the victim herself. True, even experienced dog breeders sometimes become the object of aggression from their toothy four-legged friend. However, there is a set of rules that dramatically reduce the risk of getting bitten. Let's look at them.

Let's start with dogs owned by private owners.

Dogs can become aggressive if humans invade their personal space. If the dog is tied, then this is the length of the leash plus another 2-3 meters. It’s the same if the dog is kept on a leash, in this case it also protects the owner. When a stranger approaches the limit of the length of a leash or leash, the dog, by throwing, growling and barking, signals its readiness to defend its individual space. If this warning does not work and the intruder crosses the range of the dog's teeth, or if the dog breaks free from its leash, it attacks. Oddly enough, if the dog is not on a leash or on a leash, his personal space is smaller - usually it is equal to the length of a person’s leg, a maximum of one meter, rarely two meters. Very often in such situations, even a person who comes close to the dog, or rather goes about his business and passes close to him, does not cause aggression in the dog. Now, if you approach the dog purposefully, it may attack, but more often than not it will retreat to maintain a distance. But if you persistently make repeated attempts to approach the dog, this can provoke aggression on its part.

You often hear (usually from women): “I liked the dog so much, her little eyes are so smart, I smile at her, and she growls. I extended my hand to pet her, and for some reason she bit me.” This is a classic example of provoking a dog to attack. More precisely, in self-defense, because from the point of view of the dog, it was the victim who was just about to attack it.

If “the little eyes are so smart,” it means that the dog has been looking into the dog’s eyes for quite a long time and persistently, and in dog language, a close eye-to-eye gaze is a sign of challenge. In addition to this, the “dog” was smiling. For her, a smile in combination with such a look means a threatening grin, that is, all the signs of aggression are present. The dog growls, which means: “Don’t interfere, I’m ready to defend myself!” If aggressive, from the dog’s point of view, actions are stopped, then it will not attack; if it wanted to, it would attack immediately. But instead, the person gets closer, that is, invades the animal’s personal space, and reaches out to her “to stroke her.” For a dog, in the previous context, this is no longer a challenge, but a direct attack, because it knows that a person can grab, hit, or throw a stone with his hand. Moreover, they say something “affectionate” at the same time, but, pay attention, their voice always rises. For a dog, the transition to higher tones is a vocal accompaniment of the attack; when they go into the attack, they themselves emit sounds that are higher in timbre than a warning growl or bark. Well, the “ungrateful and aggressive” dog will bite that hand. In such cases, the dog usually limits himself to one or two bites (more precisely, blows with his teeth - this will be discussed below) and jumps away - in dog language this means: “Got it? So leave me alone, otherwise it will get worse!” If there were another dog in the place of the victim, in such cases it would either run away or rush to attack itself, while the person screams, waves his bitten hand, swears, tries to kick - in a word, behaves in the most incomprehensible way, from a dog’s point of view. A cautious dog will run away, but an aggressive or cowardly-aggressive one will bite a few more times, this time harder, just in case.

A dog is protective of its food, so if you carelessly approach the animal while it is eating or peacefully gnawing on its bone, it may attack.

It can provoke an attack and approaching a sleeping or resting dog, especially if for some reason it did not notice the approaching person in time. It happens that the dog lies down so comfortably that he doesn’t want to get up, but the person rushes straight at him. The dog growls and barks to warn that it is being disturbed, and if this does not help, the aggressive animal may attack. Dogs kept indoors rarely behave this way, but yard and stray dogs do so much more often.

In addition to intrusiveness and invasion of personal space, dogs do not like noisy people, especially if they wave their arms. If the owner is nearby, the dog may decide that he is in danger and then he will definitely attack.

The same applies to drunk people - dogs are always wary of them and can attack if a drunk person gets too close. It happens that a dog even attacks its drunken owner. However, there are exceptions here. The breeders of one of my Caucasian Shepherds went on a drinking binge from time to time, and in this state they suddenly became kinder and fed their dogs meat to the gills. Naturally, my Lona treated drunks very tenderly, and when I drank myself, she did not allow anyone in the family to say a bad word to me.

Aggression in dogs is caused by both aggressiveness and fear of humans. They determine these states not only by human behavior, but also by smell. Therefore, even if there are no noticeable external manifestations of aggression or fear, the dog may attack. Moreover, a dog will attack an aggressive person if he gets close to her and shortens the distance. A dog attacks a person who is afraid even when he moves away from the dog, especially if he is running. In general, a dog perceives a running person as a victim (let me remind you that the dog’s wild ancestors were driven hunters) and, naturally, attacks. Not all dogs bite, but almost all dogs rush after him and bark at the one running away.

All of these cases of aggressiveness intensify when the owner is near the dog. Especially if the owner himself is internally aggressive and subconsciously wants his dog to be feared. Moreover, outwardly he can even stop his dog’s aggression, although a little later than necessary, but if internally he approves of it, is proud of it, then the dog will try to justify this attitude of his.

Dogs are pack animals and perceive the members of the owner’s family as members of their pack, while the owner is the leader of the pack. The dog rushes to protect members of the pack, especially the leader and puppies (children of the owner), first of all. Pack members may also include acquaintances of family members, especially those with whom the dog often meets. A dog can perceive other dogs it walks with and their owners as members of the same pack. Therefore, if the dog decides that any of the above are in danger, the brave dog will attack. If this happens during a walk, then there is a chance that other dogs, even if they are walking to the side, will join in the attack.

Dogs have a strong territorial instinct and this also affects their aggressiveness - their territory must be defended. Of course, a dog’s territory is an apartment or a suburban area. Therefore, at home, a dog can show aggression even towards a person it knows, even to the point of biting. There are dogs that generally cannot tolerate strangers on their territory; such dogs have to be isolated and, if they break free, bites are inevitable. Others are not so aggressive, but almost every dog in these cases is wary and if the behavior of the guest seems suspicious to it, and even more so threatening, it attacks. A dog can also attack when an unfamiliar guest unceremoniously takes various things.

Dogs of shepherd breeds are especially dangerous in this sense - in our case these are Caucasian, Central Asian and South Russian shepherd dogs. They may outwardly look absolutely indifferent, lie down and doze, but at the same time they hear everything, see everything, smell everything and, if it seems to them that the guest is being aggressive, they attack instantly, without any warning barking or growling. More precisely, a roar of terrible timbre is heard at the moment of the throw and paralyzes the will of even experienced people. If dogs of other breeds must first get to their feet and only after that they rush, then herding dogs manage to throw even from a position lying on their side, and their movements in an attack often cannot be caught by the eye. Naturally, in such conditions the victim has no time to react, and the dog’s owner often does not have time to react.

To a lesser extent, the dog's territory is the area where it usually walks; here the risk of attack is less. In any case, walking dogs often run up to a person passing by where they are walking, sniff him and accompany him until he passes. Or they just watch him. Even if only one dog does this, the rest will watch in the distance and, if anything happens, will rush to help. Usually the matter is limited to dousing at most, but if you come across a dog with an unbalanced psyche, there may be bites.

The dog rears its withers and lifts its tail, getting closer and closer

Photo from doityourself.com
Dog attacks can be divided into several types.

The first is a warning: the dog barks, raises its withers, turns sideways, as if turning its head away, lowers its tail, but does not tuck it. She warns you that you shouldn't go further. It is at this moment that it is better to stop.

If you do not go far enough into the dog's territory and do not threaten its valuable resources with your presence, then most likely it will quickly calm down and may move away to watch you from afar.

Perhaps the dog feels driven into a dead end, for example, if you are standing in the middle of the path and you cannot get around. The dog may growl at you, but if you give way to him, everything will be resolved.

The second is a psychological attack, a more emotional and aggressive type of attack: the dog lifts its tail high, raises its withers, and barks deafeningly. When you approach, she can imitate a jump - jump on her hind legs to appear bigger and stronger than she is. Barking also attracts relatives, and their appearance gives the dog fearlessness.

Third . Sometimes an animal can attack out of boredom. Such a dog may bark at you first and see your reaction. If you get nervous, she may attack. At first, as if as a joke, then seriously. The dog may not even bark - just raise its withers, growl, run around, try to lightly bite the legs or arms.

Moreover, she can stop, take breaks - as soon as you continue moving, she will attack again. The dog wants to scare you, make you panic. And if she succeeds - you start running away or waving your arms and legs - she may rush in earnest.

If you find yourself in such a situation, change your route and remain calm and confident.

Don't run away and don't make eye contact

Photo from behaviorvet.wordpress.com
Dogs do not understand human language, but they read our gestures and sense emotions. If the pack is getting closer and closer, you better stop and turn half sideways towards the dogs. Don’t look them in the eyes - especially the leader, who can be easily identified: other dogs will glance at him, receiving wordless orders.

Direct eye contact is always a threat for dogs. And a glance to the side from under half-lowered eyelids will tell them that you have no claims, that you have peaceful intentions.

If you are afraid, dogs may become tense because they will not understand what is causing the fear. They don't understand that you are afraid of them. For them, your insecurity is a reason to think that you want to do something to them or their territory.

During the stop, when the dogs and you gather your thoughts and spirit, exchange signals of reconciliation, you should slowly, but not sneakily, move back. Of course, it is necessary to observe the behavior of the dogs. They may come at you for some time, in proportion to your retreat, but their barking will no longer be so aggressive and the grin on their faces will disappear. They will stop throwing themselves on their feet.

Causes of aggression

It is known for certain that carnivores, namely canines, are pack animals, since they are a type of wolf, only domesticated. They maintain a clear hierarchy within the pack - there is both a leader and individuals subordinate to him. Accordingly, any failure to comply with the orders of the main leader will be strictly punished according to all dog laws. This means that predators act together and the behavior of a wandering flock is largely determined by the aggressiveness of the leader. In addition, the struggle of individuals within a pack can also lead to increased aggression, since if one of the members of the pack has even the slightest opportunity to take the place of leader, he will certainly take advantage of it.

To avoid an attack by a stray flock, it is advisable to simply not be in places where stray animals gather. As a last resort, you should have a means of self-defense with you in the form of a gas spray or a stun gun, which has an excellent deterrent effect.

At the same time, you can be attacked not only by stray dogs, but also by pets. Dog attacks on people most often occur when they notice some kind of threat from a person. For example, when you try to take away a dog's favorite toy or food.

The same thing will most likely happen in the case of sharp threatening movements directed towards the animal, looking point-blank. A sharp, specific smell can influence an animal’s reaction. Surely many people know that dogs really don’t like drunk people. Several factors come together here - the strong aroma of alcohol and the strange, sometimes inappropriate behavior of a drunk person. If you want to pet a dog that belongs to another person, then under no circumstances do this without the permission of the owner himself or in his absence, no matter how complacent the animal may seem at first glance. Do not touch any objects near the animal, as this may be considered aggression on your part.

In addition, you can notice from the animal itself how prone it is to attack. Depending on the character and type, this can manifest itself in completely different ways, but there are a number of similar behavioral signs immediately before the attack:

growl;
threatening posture;
barking.

Everyone knows well that you should never run away from a dog, even if you are very afraid of opposing it with your own strength. Indeed, if you notice that the predator is in the mood to attack and there is no way to successfully retreat, then do almost anything, just don’t run, although this is the very first thought that comes to mind.

The animal runs five times faster than a human, so you still won't be able to avoid an attack.

An exception is possible only when you are sure that if you jump over an obstacle you will remain out of the reach of the animal. Carefully inspect the area around you for the presence of:

branchy tree;
vertical staircase;
water.

The last option can be a little discouraging, because everyone knows that dogs are good swimmers. Despite this, in the water the animal will be completely defenseless and concentrated only on swimming and not drowning.

Stick and stone are ambiguous weapons

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If, when dogs attack you, you pretend to pick up a stick or stone from the ground and try to throw it, one or two dogs will run away from you. But not necessarily. In this case, a lot depends on the dogs' past experience.

If animals have already been thrown stones or sticks at one time and this negative experience has become fixed in their minds as painfully unpleasant, and you, being on their territory, are not yet threatening their resources, then they may temporarily retreat. But the closer you get to their values with a stick or stone, the more aggressive the animal will act.

As long as you are unarmed and not particularly dangerous to the dogs, they will be willing to tolerate you. The more other factors are added to the factor of resource protection, for example, self-defense, the more violently they will begin to behave.

If you are surrounded by three or more dogs, do not make sudden movements or step on them. Aggression comes from fear. The more frightened the flock is, the more fiercely it will defend itself.

How to prevent an attack

If you see an unfamiliar dog, pass by

Never make your dog angry. It is important to understand that if you tease an animal, it may respond with aggression.

You should not touch your dog while he is caring for his puppies or eating.
You should not smile - a smile can be regarded as a grin, and therefore a call to attack.
If a stray dog barks at you but stays away, most likely it will not attack. By such actions he tries to drive you away from his territory. In such a situation, the dog may bite, but only if you turn your side or back to him.
When passing by an unfamiliar dog, pretend that you do not notice it, and under no circumstances look into its eyes. Don't speed up your pace, keep walking as before.
While walking with your child, you may encounter a large dog. In such a situation, it is necessary to take the baby in your arms without sudden movements, pretending that you do not notice the approaching animal. Tell your child to look at you and behave quietly and calmly.
It is important to teach children to freeze if a dog approaches. You can't run away.
Standing facing the dog, tell him in a confident voice to go back. At the same time, it is important not to look into her eyes. There is a possibility that the animal will get scared and leave.
If you are riding a bicycle and see a dog rushing towards you, then it is better to get off it and use this means of transportation to isolate yourself from the dog.
When you see a dog approaching you, it is not recommended to run away, as such an action can only provoke the animal. Besides, it's possible that the approaching dog just wants to play.

Whine like a little puppy

Photo from the site spcaeasttx.com
If for some reason you missed all the warning signals from the pack, the dogs rush at you in a frenzy, grab your arms, try to knock you down and reach your neck, then you just have to save your life. You can start waving your bag or briefcase away, saying “ugh”, “move away” in a low voice.

You can call loudly for help to attract the attention of passers-by. Probably, the number of people who respond and approach you will stop the flock for a while. You will have a break and the opportunity to retreat. But if the dogs have stopped attacking, the retreat should take place without aggression on your part.

Never attack a stopped dog first. Otherwise, she will understand that she can do the same with you.

If you are unable to find time to retreat, then in the event of an attack, you can sit down or fall to the ground, group yourself, cover your head and neck with your hands and start whining, as small puppies do. Adequate dogs can stop attacking, seeing your weakness and defenselessness, they will move away.

How to behave if an animal attacks

Dog handlers and professional breeders give some advice on how to behave correctly if an animal begins to show aggression and is preparing to attack.

You need to confidently stand facing the dog and give a command - you can’t. If the command is unsuccessful the first time, you can repeat it again louder and more clearly.
If the animal does not retreat, the person will have to defend himself. To do this, you can quickly look around. If you are lucky and there is a stick lying nearby, you can take it. If not, you'll have to clench your fists tighter. It is best to hit the dog in the nose or throat. The resulting pause will allow you to hide or call for help. Hitting a dog in the forehead is useless! Animals have very strong skulls.
You can try to kill the dog. To do this, you need to lean your whole body on the animal and press it to the ground. It is best to apply pressure on the neck - this will practically neutralize the dog.
Experienced dog handlers recommend protecting the throat and face first and trying to maintain balance. When falling, a person becomes much more vulnerable to an aggressive animal.

There is a possibility that you will have to kill an animal in defense of your life

Ways to protect yourself from an attacking dog

For people who are afraid at the sight of any dog, there are special means of protection.

You can always carry the following products with you:

Pepper spray. This is a universal means of protection against attacks by both people and dogs. Hot pepper that gets on the mucous membrane begins to corrode it and create pain.
Deiser. This is a device that works using ultrasonic waves. By pointing it at a dog, a person can easily scare it away.
Cayenne blend. This is a homemade alternative to a spray can. In order to make it you need the following ingredients: ground black pepper; tobacco chopped into fine crumbs. This mixture is placed in any container that is convenient to carry with you. When attacked, it spills out into the dog's face.

An attack by a fighting dog directly threatens life; it can easily cripple, leaving you without part of an arm or leg.

When to go without changing route

Photo from mirror.co.uk
It happens that it is impossible to change the route when attacked by a pack of dogs. For example, dogs bark when you walk along a path or paved path. Most likely, they are simply marking their territory and asking you to quickly get away from it.

In this case, you should continue to move forward, but with stops and conciliatory gestures. You should not leave such paths, because you may inadvertently go towards the den with puppies.

Slowly continue moving forward, observing the flock and its behavior. If aggression increases, stop for 10-15 seconds, turn your head away, do not look directly at the dogs, then continue moving.

If you are following an untrodden path, then it is worth returning to the beginning of the route and rearranging it taking into account the “wishes” of the flock.

“Feeders” – a city problem

Photo from the site sott.net
“Baby feeders” are dogs that are fed by compassionate residents of city houses. They think that this way they are helping the dogs, but in reality they are doing more harm to both dogs and people.

Such dogs develop a territorial stereotype - they begin to consider the territory where they are fed as their own, and begin to protect resources, that is, food. The city yard or part of it, favored by the “feeders”, is usually a small area, so they do not have the necessary space to warn the “invaders”; they immediately begin to protect resources. Their response may be much more aggressive than would otherwise be the case in a larger area.

How to prevent aggression from “feeders”? Ask those who feed dogs to do it not in the yard, but where people do not go. Or don't do it at all.

We must remember that dogs are predators. They have a food-procuring instinct: they can always find food in the trash heap and eat small rodents.

But if dogs live in the yard and receive food from people, then they begin to be lazy to get their own food.

At the same time, even compassionate residents are not immune from attacks from well-fed dogs. As long as people come to them with food, they can greet people normally. But if someone has already given them a ration before, and the one who regularly feeds them walks through the yard, the dogs may bark and attack him, defending what is theirs. They don’t care who is coming: their benefactor or not.

Lost pet dogs tend to target a specific person for food. But in an extreme situation, they begin to learn to get their own food.

Pariah dogs that were born and raised on the street, have not had contact with humans before, and suddenly start receiving food from people for no reason at all, will still not become their friends. Such dogs know well how to communicate with their relatives - they tolerate humans for food. You should not expect fidelity and love from them.

The dog must be respected

Photo from the website sputnik.az
When meeting any dog - stray or domestic, aggressive or not - it is important to remember that it is a representative of another biological species, an animal. Yes, for centuries a dog and a person have been in a cooperative relationship, but when communicating with a dog, it is important to understand its language (body signals) and learn to “speak” in this language. You need to understand which human gestures and actions can be perceived by an animal as a threat, and which ones can calm them down.

You should never call an unfamiliar dog over to pet you. She may come over thinking you will give her food. But as soon as you try to pet her, she may try to bite in response.

And not because she is aggressive, but because, for example, she was frightened by your hand raised above her head or another sharp or incomprehensible movement. Not all dogs like to be petted - this is their right.

It is important to remember that the dog, just like you, is a person; you need to respect its habits, fears, doubts, and mistrust. You need to respect dogs and then, I think, they will become much more willing to respect people.

material on
what citizens should do if aggressive stray dogs appear in their yard or neighborhood , where to go with a request to catch them, and how the system for regulating stray animals works, which will soon be published on the Miloserdie.ru portal.

Experts told how to protect yourself from a dog attack and get its owner punished

Attacks by “domestic” dogs on people are most often the result of the irresponsibility of their owners

A journalist from Moskovskaya Gazeta witnessed an attack by two dogs on a person. This happened in the capital's Zyuzino district, in the park opposite house No. 24 on Chongarsky Boulevard.

The man was attacked by two large dogs that looked like shepherds. One, apparently, intended to grab the throat. The man put his hand forward, stopping the beast, and dealt him several strong blows to the head. The dog, as they say among hand-to-hand fighters, “swimmed”; its offensive impulse disappeared. The other animal, seeing the failure of its fellow, also retreated, however, managing to bite the man on the leg.

The owner of the dogs, a slender middle-aged woman, did not take any action to pacify her pets...

In this case, the man turned out to be ready to repel aggression, but this does not always happen. Dog handler Anton Parkhaev told a Moskovskaya Gazeta correspondent about how to act in the event of a dog attack:

“If the dog is showing aggression - jumping around, barking, growling - but has not yet attacked, try to loudly and clearly pronounce several generally accepted commands in a row: “Ugh!”, “Lie down!”, “Sit!”, “Place!”. There is a chance that the animal will be disoriented by the mutually exclusive orders and will calm down. You can also pick up any object from the ground - a stick, a stone - and throw it at the dog. If there are no objects, you need to simulate a throw. In the vast majority of cases, this will stop the attack.”

The expert notes: if a dog crouches, it means it is ready to jump. In such a situation, under no circumstances should you run or turn your back on the animal.

“If possible, wrap your hand with some piece of clothing - the same jacket or jacket - and put it forward. Let the dog grab your hand - it's better than the throat. With all your might, hit the animal clinging to your hand on the upper jaw; kicks to the groin and stomach are also effective. Use any available means: an umbrella, stones, sticks - anything that can hit you. If the animal manages to knock you down, turn onto your stomach and cover your neck with your hands. And, of course, don’t be shy to call for help at the top of your voice,” recommends Anton Parkhaev.

According to the expert, attacks by “domestic” dogs on people are most often the result of the carelessness of their owners.

“In urban conditions, the animal must be walked on a leash and muzzle. Well, if a dog shows aggression and, even more so, attacks people, this most likely indicates a lack of training. This means that the dog did not study at the appropriate school and does not have a “dog” education,” the dog handler concluded.

It is obvious that the perpetrator of an animal attack on a person must be punished, and the harm caused to the victim must be compensated. Candidate of Legal Sciences Ekaterina Skosarenko talks about the intricacies of this process.

“In a state of shock immediately after an animal attack, not everyone can immediately figure out what to do, what evidence to collect of the attack and how to bring the perpetrators to justice. But who is guilty of the attack and who will be responsible for the actions of the dog? According to Art. 13 of the Federal Law “On the Responsible Treatment of Animals”, the owner is obliged to fulfill a number of requirements for keeping a dog. Control over the implementation of these requirements is entrusted to the local police. And if the owner allowed the animal to attack, then it is he who is responsible for the incident with his finances, property and even freedom (if we are talking about the dog causing serious harm to the health of the victim). This follows from Art. 21 of the specified Federal Law, Art. 111-118 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and Art. 1064 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation,” explains the lawyer.

According to Ekaterina Skosarenko, immediately after the attack and providing medical assistance (if necessary), it is necessary to record the damage.

“Take a photograph of the bite site, find witnesses, take their coordinates and write down their full names. Don't forget to take a photo of the owner and his dog. Try to find out the name and coordinates of the owner. See if there are CCTV cameras nearby; perhaps this footage will confirm the fact of an attack on you. If you plan to punish the dog’s owner for attacking you, then after the incident, contact a medical institution, take a certificate of the fact of seeking medical care, a written appointment on the letterhead of a medical institution, or an extract from the ambulance call log (if you were forced to call an ambulance).” , continues the lawyer.

As Ekaterina Skosarenko said, the victim needs to contact the police in connection with harm caused to health (scratches, damage to the skin or muscles) and (or) property (torn personal clothing, shoes or bag, etc.). The police must accept a statement in any case, regardless of the degree of harm caused. A citizen has the right to demand in writing that the incident be verified and the perpetrators held accountable. It is necessary to make sure that the application is registered and obtain a copy of the KUSP coupon with the number and date of application. Most likely, you will also need to undergo an additional medical examination at the expert organization of the RF IC as part of the ongoing inspection. You should also tell the police officer about possible witnesses to the incident and the owner of the dog: you need to transfer their data (if you managed to collect it), send him a request to seize video recordings if there were cameras near the scene of the incident.

The lawyer explained that under Russian law, a dog attack may result in criminal (according to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), administrative (according to the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation) or civil liability (according to the Civil Code of the Russian Federation). At the same time, it is the materials of the police check based on your application that can subsequently be used as the basis for any process (criminal, civil or administrative).

“Criminal liability may arise if it is proven in court that the owner himself set the dog on the victim and the latter’s health was caused to light, moderate or severe harm. Also, the owner of the animal can be convicted of causing grievous bodily harm through negligence. In this case, the owner of the dog is liable to third parties, regardless of his guilt, as the owner of a source of increased danger, to which the law also includes dogs. Various punishments are provided: from fines to imprisonment,” said Ekaterina Skosarenko.

If there are no signs of a criminal offense in the actions of the owner of a dog that attacked a person, then he may be brought to administrative responsibility. Well, the owner must compensate for the damage caused by the animal’s attack.

“If damage was caused due to which the victim was unable to work for a certain time, then the owner of the dog will be obliged to compensate the victim for lost earnings, as well as all expenses for treatment, additional special nutrition, prosthetics, medications, the need to pay for personal care, sanatorium treatment, purchase of special vehicles, and even the cost of training in another profession, if the victim needs it. To confirm expenses, you must save all receipts and relevant contracts/acts of service provision. The owner must also pay for the cost of items and clothing damaged by the dog. When calculating moral damages, the victim should place special emphasis on the severity of the bites suffered, stress and its consequences. In addition, when determining the final amounts of moral damage, the court will evaluate the property status of the parties, the intent and behavior of the dog owner at the time of the attack and after it,” noted Ekaterina Skosarenko.

After determining the amount of damages, according to the lawyer, it is necessary to contact the owner of the animal demanding voluntary compensation. The claim must be made in writing. It can be given directly to the owner (in this case, you should ask him to sign a copy of the document), or it can be sent by registered mail with acknowledgment of delivery.

“If the dog owner does not plan to comply with your demands or does not respond to a written complaint, then prepare and file a civil lawsuit in the court at the place of residence of the perpetrator. If you estimate the damage caused to be less than 50 thousand rubles, then the claim is sent to the magistrate court, more than 50 thousand rubles - to the court of general jurisdiction. The claim should require the defendant to compensate for damage to health and property damaged due to the dog attack, as well as moral damage. In addition, it will be necessary to indicate which norms were violated by the dog owner and evidence confirming the attack (copies of case materials from the police and medical institutions, witness statements) and damage to health and property (receipts, service contracts, etc.). The claim must indicate the calculation of the amount. Keep in mind that if the police delay in processing your complaint, this does not prevent you from filing a claim for compensation for damages due to a dog attack in civil court. These processes can go in parallel,” said Ekaterina Skosarenko.

Who should you file a claim against if a citizen is the victim of an attack by a stray dog? According to the lawyer, Russian legislation does not give a clear answer to this question, and law enforcement practice in the courts is quite contradictory.

“In this case, everything depends on the specific region and municipality, as well as their legislative distribution of responsibilities for the maintenance and care of territories in the region (it is these norms that the court will examine). In a number of cases, when stray animals attacked citizens, the plaintiffs managed to recover damages caused by a stray dog from municipal authorities through the courts. In other cases, subjects of the Russian Federation were found guilty. However, the general principle is this: although municipal authorities often carry out measures to supervise stray animals, it is the subject of the Russian Federation who will be responsible for harm to the life and health of citizens from stray animals, since regional authorities are entrusted by law with ensuring sanitary, epidemiological and veterinary welfare of those under their jurisdiction territories. City or municipal authorities will be held accountable and obliged to compensate for the damage that has occurred if there is a regional act on the distribution and transfer of powers to the city/locality to catch stray animals. In addition, local authorities will be responsible to victims of stray dogs even when they have actually accepted these obligations by concluding agreements with third-party organizations to carry out animal catching activities in the manner prescribed by the Federal Law “On the Responsible Treatment of Animals,” summarizes Ekaterina Skosarenko.

The editors of Moskovskaya Gazeta will soon send requests to law enforcement and supervisory authorities with a request to clarify how monitoring of compliance with the requirements of Art. 13 Federal Law “On the Responsible Treatment of Animals”.