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How to Defend Yourself
Against A Dog Attack
An attack by a dog can be one of the most
frightening things a jogger or a walker can experience. And it is
more common than you may think it is. Nearly five million people
annually are attacked by dogs. How you react if attacked can make
the difference between life and death.
People who have had extensive experience with
dogs have a little bit of an edge, because many of them can read
signals the dog sends out to determine how dangerous the situation
is. Debbye Turner, a veterinarian and contributor to the CBS Early
Show said recently that part of the problem is that we are led to
believe that there are certain types of dogs that are extremely
aggressive, like pit bulls, that are more likely to bite, and
others, like poodles or terriers, that you probably wouldn’t worry
about.
Wrong! She says that all dogs can be provoked
to bite. “There is no such thing as a ‘bad breed’” On the other
hand, she adds that most dogs can be trained to be social, gentle
and tolerant. Turner lists among the potentially aggressive breeds
some that may surprise you: llasa apso, toy poodles, dachshunds,
Pekinese, Chihuahuas, cocker spaniel and others.
On the other hand, she cites some dogs with
“bad boy” images that are typically gentle, including German
shepherd, bulldog, Rottweiler, great dane and boxer. That list will
surprise some. But it doesn’t matter their breed and what their
reputation is if they are obviously coming at you to attack. What
do you do? Another dog expert is quoted as saying the following:
Remain calm and look for warning signs. A dog that holds his head
high or low is not going to attack; if his head is level, he means
business. Never run (or try to get away on a bike), this will
awaken the dog’s instinct to chase and it will outrun you. Assume a
non-threatening position; do not face the dog head-on, but stand
sideways, keeping it in your peripheral vision. Keep your arms
folded tightly. Do not smile at the dog -- baring teeth can be seen
as preparing for a fight. If the dog comes at you, curl into a
fetal position if you have no way to avoid the physical attack,
using your arms and legs to protect your face and neck. Stay still
and don’t scream. Dogs lose interest if you remain still. Stay
still until the dog is out of the area.
Most dog experts recommend that you carry
something to help defend yourself. It could be a stick, or pepper
spray, a stun gun or even a taser. But I learned recently from a
dog-loving friend of mine the very best possible defense, one that
will fend off the dog but not harm him or her. It is called the
dogchaser. It is the latest in ultrasonic technology. It utilizes
two ways to repel a dog. The first is a discomforting but not
harmful high frequency sound audible to dogs but not to humans. The
other is a super bright LED flashing strobe that temporarily blinds
and confuses the dog. It helps stop the approach of a threatening
dog up to 40 feet.
The dogchaser is small enough to be carried in
your pocket or purse and is an ideal gift for your dog-loving
friends who would hate to have to harm a dog, but at the same time
would not want to be injured or worse in an attack by one or more
dogs. There are a number of products that can combat attacking dogs,
and you should select the one you feel most comfortable using. |