Dog safety

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I posted a reply in the "Are Dogs Better than Humans" thread, and a thought just occurred to me: I have a lot of common sense knowledge on dealing with animals, gained from a lifelong experience with them. Now, I've never actually been attacked by a dog, but I have actually been in some disputes with them. Generally, what I do when in an emergency situation involving a hostile animal is keep a level, straightforward gaze and an erect, steady posture. I've learned not to look down or to attempt to stare the animal down because, if an animal is being hostile, you are perceived as a threat and only worsen this misunderstanding if you look them too hard in the eye. This seems to be the case relating from my own experiences, anyway. I've also found, from occassionally having to retreive items from their mouths that they weren't supposed to eat, that deliberately triggering an animal's gag reflex has the effect of forcing an animal's jaws open and causes them to release or spit out whatever it is they have in there. However, I don't have any formal knowledge on how to deal with a hostile or potentially hostile animal. I'd like to hear what you all have to say on this subject that could make life a little safer for people who have to deal with hostile critters on a regular basis.

Before you answer further, though, tell me if you generally find this statement to be true: "showing fear or insecurity is the only assurance that a potentially hostile dog WILL attack you."

I am interested in hearing what you all have to say, and I would like to add that I am most interested in the opinions of those who have studied materials or had formal training on the subject. However, I am also interested in hearing about the experience that you, yourselves, have acquired over your lifetimes.

I have a great deal of respect for dogs as a species, and I feel that the greatest service that we can do for them is to know how to keep ourselves or the animals from coming to harm. I have rarely known even a strange dog to be hostile, and I would like to think that I could conduct myself intelligently if I were ever confronted with serious hostility.

umm this is a difficult question to answer for several reasons. Dogs in general do not go about attacking people randomly , there are usually particular triggers that cause a dog to attack, we as people may or may not recognise those things as triggers.
I think in general knowing how to avoid triggering a dog is maybe more valuable knowledge because stopping a full blown attack is difficult because we dont know what the cause is in advance.
There are some good rules of thumb that should be followed.

Do not touch strange dogs
Never lean over a dog
never put your face in a dogs face
dont stare at them
dont back them into corners
do not try to take things out of there mouths
do not give bones to a dog in the presence of another dog
dont touch them while eating
dont run from a dog that is chasing you aggresively

Now all of these above rules are for dealing with dogs you are not familiar with , as you get to know a dog you learn which of these rules can safely be broken. I would never do any of the above rules with someone elses dog. And I would never do some of the above with one of my rescue dogs.the other one i can happily do anything too.

I think in the event of an actual attack instinct takes over to such a degree all prior knowledge goes out of the window .
There are ways to fend off an attack but having that knowledge and being able to use it are two different things.

bb natty

no true, dogs will attack people simply because they are there

dogs are over aggressive and dangerous animals... just like humans

I work with dogs at a kennel and have very few hostile ones.....the most likely to attack are the ones that are visably afraid...shaking.The best way to avoid getting hurt is to give them their space....ie...avoid physical contact.If we have to move them,we lasso them with a pull-leed,without actually touching them.When they know you are in control,they dont seem to attack.

When I want to get the dogs respect,I actually do stare them in the eyes until they look away.Most of the time I use a very playful,gently,baby talk voice(high pitched),which they associate with their "parents".So,when I need them to stop doing something,I lower my voice and speak loudly,sometimes,clapping my hands,when the dogs are "playing to rough".It helps if you repeat to yourself...."I am in control,I am the boss"....if you can convince yourself,you are more likely to convince them(I never found this effective with people)When they stop and move away,I make sure and give them lots of attention and pets and use the gently voice again.....I have never needed to squart them with water,like fellow co-workers....they respond to voice tone and body postuer(I am taller then them,even if I am smaller and in reality they could rip my throat out).

I dont get out much,so am not around a lot of "wild dogs".It helps to get into the mind set of the dog.Are they agressive because they have been abused and fear humans,afraid,trying to protect perceived territory or just not properly socialized and dont know how to act around others.If a dog has it's hackles up,shows it's teeth or is shaking,it is communicating clearly..."dont approach me".So I dont.Dogs arent like humans...they dont want to fight if they dont have to.They dont do it for "fun",unless they are "play practicing",which they actually announce with the "bow" and relaxed mouth and wagging body posture(sometimes a playful bark,short sharp sounding).

If a bear attacks...lay on your stomach and cover your head with your hands and try and not get turned over...

not all.
Some breeds would rather harm themselves than bite a human. If they have been raised correctly.
Others are much more aggressive, but even the more aggresive breeds are no threat to humans if raised correctly.
I blame the owners of dangerous dogs; hardly blame a dog for doing what it has been taught to do.

I have consistently found this to be untrue. The only occassions on which I've ever been at the slightest risk of any such thing has been on occassions that I have intruded upon the "territory" of a free-roaming dog, and I deal with this as I stated above: I keep my eyes generally level, I remain calm and confident, and I go on my way, moving at an easy, long-strided, "travelling" pace that indicates a disinclination to stop moving. This is simply how I deal with the dogs in my neighborhood, though, and I have never actually encountered an animal that has a bad reputation. The largest animals around here is actually a small population of huskies, and they prefer to ignore you altogether in my experience.

Also, I've found that dogs are much like humans in feeling a need to be acknowledged, so I do make a habit of issuing a clearly audible greeting as I pass and projecting an open and gregarious nature.

I like dogs that I know because I know they're safe. And if my lifestyle ever permitted then I would love to have one. I'd like to take it running with me but I think it's cruel to keep dogs in area wheret here's not lots of green areas they can play. Dogs I don't know I can be quite scared of until I know they're safe. I was knocked off my bike when I was about 8 by a huge dog which just ran at me. My dad got angry at the owners because they didn't even care and the dog was clearly not safe. So I'm very scared when I see a big dog and I'm on my bike even though I'm now 20!

But until I have a dog I have a nintendog

There are very few free roaming dogs where i am. Too much traffic.
The free-roamers may have had previous bad experience with humans. They may be more scared of you, but like you say will defend their territory.
Only thing i would advice is to do not turn your back on them (obviously once you have already moved past you are safe) or make sudden movements (like running). Say hello to the friendlier ones.

It is true for me.

It is true for me.