You're walking home one day
when suddenly, you're confronted by a dog.
It's right in front of you,
staring and scowling.
The dog's body is tensed up.
Its ears are flattened
and it bares its teeth.
Two more dogs appear on either side of you,
and another one growls behind you.
In the United States alone,
There are roughly 4.5 million dog bites a year.
Nearly 1 in 5 of those dog bites
gets infected. And some of those infections
can even be deadly.
So, what do you do?
How do you get away from an aggressive dog or dog pack?
Here's how to survive a dog attack,
Although stray dogs have certainly been known to attack people,
most dog bites happen
because pet dogs aren't trained or leashed properly.
Many people are bitten
when they're trying to protect
their own dogs from other dogs.
Children should be taught to stay away
from strange dogs,
or at least always ask permission
to pet a strange dog.
Luckily, there are many ways to
de-escalate an aggressive situation
with a dog or dog pack,
whether the dog is domesticated or feral.
Some pet dogs misinterpret
peoples' fearful behavior,
like yelling and jumping around wildly,
as aggressive play.
These dogs will escalate their own
erratic behavior because they're excited by yours.
They'll start jumping, barking, and even biting.
Turn sideways toward the dog,
so you're not facing off.
Stand still and don't move.
Say "no" in a firm and low tone.
When a dog is domesticated and friendly,
eye contact is completely safe
and reenforces friendly bonding.
But when a dog is displaying aggressive behavior,
eye contact communicates a challenge to them.
Look to the side, or down at the ground.
Whether it's your purse, backpack,
hoodie, or even a shoe,
place the object down on the ground
between you and the dog.
The dog will interpret the object as a kind of shield, or fence.
Do not try to hit the dog with the object.
That won't do any damage to the dog,
and it will make the dog even more aggressive.
Do this slowly, while looking away from the dog.
If the dog also turns its head away,
and its body seems more relaxed,
keep backing away slowly.
After a minute or two,
if the dog doesn't follow you,
walk away at a normal pace.
If these tactics don't work,
and the dog knocks you down,
you can still do things to protect yourself.
This way, the dog can't easily bite
your most vulnerable areas,
such as your face and your stomach.
Cover your neck and ears with your arms.
Curl your fingers into fists to protect them.
What can you do if a dog pack attacks you?
Well, there are additional tricks to try.
If there are sticks or rocks around,
pick them up and throw them
at the top dog, or alpha dog.
The key is to focus on the dog that's leading the pack.
If you can scare that dog away,
the others will follow it.
Try not to let any dog get behind you,
and if there's any higher ground, slowly climb to it.
That can include getting on top of a car,
or a big mailbox in a city.
If a dog does bite you,
wash your wounds with soap and water.
Apply antibiotic cream,
and get to a hospital right away to avoid infection.
You can use ice in a clean, wet towel
or wash cloth to reduce the pain.
Dogs can be dangerous,
but if you stay calm,
and use the tactice in this video,
you have an excellent chance
of surviving a dog attack,
According to Science.