> While dogs kill some 30,000 people annually
What's the best way to fend off an aggressive dog (if it is too late and running is not possible)?
What's the best way to fend off an aggressive dog (if it is too late and running is not possible)?
dogs are 689x less dangerous than traffic accidents.
it's important to spread safety effort proportional to the risk - both on a personal level and a nationwide level.
If we start deciding what is necessary or unnecessary for others, then we all would lose.
Disclosure: I very strongly dislike dog ownership.
However, as a society we have decided that the risk is worth it for the benefits.
Even including hire cars etc., I've not even been a driving seat since before 2018.
per mile driven? what are we talking about here, the Ididarod?
If you can, get on higher ground (car) so you can kick. Do not allow them to get behind you!
Dogs hate loud sounds, so air horn (on compressed air can), or loud personal alarm are good repellent. Also some fireworks work great.
To deal with dog owners (usual "itjustwantstoplay" or "noproblemnoproblem") scream for help immediately, and record video! Quite often dog owners attack right after their dogs, and make the situation much worse!
I’m sorry, but the idea of carrying fireworks and a lighter with you, and thinking you will have time to retrieve them and successfully light the fireworks to fend off an aggressive dog is ridiculous.
Firecrackers are the most effective way to disperse large pack of dogs. I carry it on hikes.
Lighter is also quite good weapon. Not the BIC type, more like a small blowtorch for melting copper and other metals.
Do you hike in Chernobyl?
Pack does not attack fast (as single animal would). They have hierarchy, and first try to encircle victims. The situation will literally unfold in "leisure manner", they have overwhelming force, and are not in hurry. They also go first after smaller targets (children, your dogs). You will have a lot of time to watch.
Often you find some semi-safe spot (tree, high ground), but can not leave.
The danger is not to get bitten a few times by alpha dogs, but to let attack continue long enough, you get overwhelmed and all dogs join in.
If it gets you you just need to let it chomp on whatever bit it has, and use the rest of your body to crush, choke, break it's legs, etc.
Screaming a lot so people come to help probably makes sense too.
If it's a pack of dogs and you're by yourself you're probably screwed. Maybe try to keep them all in front of you, don't let any circle behind you.
If you're worried about yourself, some kind of implement (e.g. a stick). I often do this near me when I go out running as people let their dogs off the leash and they can sometimes be aggressive.
Btw running from an aggressive dog will probably make things worse. Now they see you as a prey animal and they’re way faster than a person.
Running away is not a good idea. Better run towards the dog. Then it will probably turn around, unless it is really sure of itself. In my experience, being convincingly dominant towards dogs is enough to fend them off. Grab something as a weapon if it helps you to be confident. If the dog bites, it will probably only bite very briefly and then let go again. Holding and shaking people like prey is unlikely if it hasn't been conditioned. I don't know what you can do in this case. Try as best you can to injure the animal. You are also dangerous and should let the dog know.
I think you may have very very nasty suprise in western country. Dogs there NEVER wear muzzle. Plus touching a dog, who has not bitten you yet, is a crime there.
》If the dog bites, it will probably only bite very briefly and then let go again. Holding and shaking people like prey is unlikely if it hasn't been conditioned. I don't know what you can do in this case
Pitbulls have reflex to bite, and hold no matter of what. They were bread to kill bulls this way! Pit will not let go, even when stabbed with a knife!
Owners should carry "break stick", it gets stuffed into mouth to force it open (break the grip). 60% of deaths from dogs in west are because of this reflex! We have no rabies, we have pits!
"Muzzle" in this context is a synonym for "snout," not a muzzle guard like you're thinking of.
And the owner is going to be a lot more worried about their dog being put down and being in legal trouble themselves.
Pit bulls are an exception. Most dogs are not pit bulls.
By the way, my life doesn't revolve around attacking dogs. That only happens very rarely here.
The same holds for most non-herbivores, at least until they're so much bigger than you that they don't have to consider you a threat at all (e.g. brown bears).
There's something of an evolutionary angle to it: a carnivore with even moderate injuries might starve, while a herbivore who doesn't die of infection will probably live (grass has a hard time running away, after all). This makes carnivores way more likely to back off from the possibility of injury, with herbivores more likely to hold their ground or even reflexively go on the attack against an equal threat.
Failing that, I have heard that removing your jacket, wrapping it around one arm, and allowing the dog to bite that arm is a decent move, in that it will hopefully protect you long enough to make use of humanity's strengths (finding a tool to do extreme violence with, and community to rescue you).
If there's multiple dogs and no one around to help you're probably screwed.
googling generally recommends "get the fuck away" which is probably a better approach whenever possible lol