Dangerous Dogs

Protect Yourself and Your Pup from Attack When Walking

By Camp Bow Wow

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You’ve probably experienced it… that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when a peaceful walk with your furry family member is interrupted by the sight of an unaccompanied dog. You wonder if you’ll be approached… or even worse, attacked! San Antonio has been plagued by an increasing number of incidents involving dangerous dogs on the loose. One 81-year-old man even lost his life this summer after being
severely bitten. 

 

Before a situation occurs, take a few moments to think about how you would respond and make a plan to keep you and your precious pup from harm.  

 

How do you know if an approaching canine is aggressive, protecting its perceived territory or just curious? Look for warning signs like: 

 

• Bared teeth, growling or snarling 

• Ears that are lying flat back against its head

• Tense body posture, including a stiff tail that’s not wagging

• A steady charge toward you

 

First of all, remain calm and don’t panic. Avoid direct eye contact, which can be perceived as a threat. 

 

Don’t scream or wave your arms or legs around in a high energy manner. Try not to scare the dog so it thinks it needs to protect itself. 

Don’t run away. This can trigger the approaching dog’s prey drive and encourage him to attack. It also can allow the animal to think it has the upper hand.

 

Don’t turn your back on a threatening animal. You need to be able to see what the intruder is going to do and prepare to fight back if necessary. 

 

A tougher instinct to resist – Don’t pick your dog up unless the size difference between the two is a complete mismatch. It will be harder to defend yourself or Fido if your arms are full of your wiggly, growling pup. If your dog is on the ground, it has a fighting chance of warding off the threat with his own natural defense weapons of claws and teeth.  

 

If off-leash dogs begin to consistently turn up on your regular walking route, prepare yourself with a large stick, spray mace or a loud blow horn to scare them off. You might also bring some treats or toys to distract them. Throw a treat or other object – even a backpack or water bottle — away from you so the animals go after something other than you. 

 

Be ready to use your weapons in self-defense if necessary. Fight back if a dog won’t stop leaping at you. Face forward and step in toward the aggressor to cause it to back off. You can and should use the stick to hit the dog if you need to keep it from biting you or your precious pup. And if it starts to bite – fight like your life is at stake, because it might be. At this point, it is ok to scream for help, because the dog has already engaged. 

 

If it begins to retreat, you can step backward slowly, remembering not to turn your back until you are sure the threat is passed. Even then, walk, don’t run. 

 

If you or your pup is bitten, it is important to attend to the wound to prevent infection. You’ll want to stop the bleeding, wash the area with soap and water and keep it covered. If you can’t locate the owner, you’ll need to seek medical attention and, potentially, treatment for rabies. The disease is serious and deadly but can be prevented by starting a vaccine sequence as soon as possible. You might also need a tetanus shot. A good rule of thumb is to seek medical attention for any significant wound from a dog attack. 

 

Even if you do know the owner, you may want to report a dangerous dog to the authorities. The city keeps a record of aggressive animals. Owners are starting to be held legally responsible for the actions of their pets. Your call may prevent another person or pup from being 

seriously injured.