not enough to have an embarrassed owner declare, "Pookie would never do that!" especially if Pookie happens to be gnawing on your leg at the time. If you have a tendency to come across aggressive dogs, keep these helpful tips in mind.

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Avoid the pooch. If you see an unleashed dog ahead of you, walk across the street. If it's not paying attention to you, whistle, sing or speak to it in order to make your presence known as you approach. As irritable as a dog might be to find you on his territory, he will be doubly more irritable if you've surprised him.

Be confident, but not threatening. Like chimps, dogs consider bared teeth and direct eye contact to be confrontational. If you're approached by a dog showing signs of aggression -- growling, hackles, barking -- stop moving. Running away will only arouse the dog's instinct and make him chase you. If you have an umbrella or a stick, hold it out in front of you to make yourself appear bigger. Stand up straight, keep your mouth closed, and your gaze level, as looking down can be construed as a sign of weakness. Don't hold your hand out to be sniffed and don't turn your back to the dog. If he loses interest in you at this point, back away slowly before turning around.

Try the sit, stop or stay commands. If this works, it may give you some time to call the attention of its owner. Police dogs are taught their commands in German, and some obedience schools use German commands. So try yelling Nein! or Platz! at the angered dog. Here's a list of other German commands.

Jam something in its mouth. A good tip for runners who frequently come across aggressive dogs is to run with a drum stick -- not a turkey leg, but a stick you use to play the drums. A rap across the nose often brings a lot of dogs to their senses, and if not, shoving the stick into the dog's mouth gives it something to bite on besides you. A jacket, sweater, bag or water bottle will do as well. If your hands are empty, offer it an arm -- hopefully wrapped in some protection. Don't let the dog drag you to the ground, where you will be infinitely more vulnerable. And don't struggle to get your arm free, you will just hurt yourself even more.

Go on the offensive. If the dog has your arm in its mouth, try shoving your fist down its throat to make it gag for breath. Same thing with a water bottle or a drum stick. The eyes and throat are also vulnerable targets. To stop a dog attack on other dogs, an owner will usually grab the back legs and flip the dog like they're shaking out a blanket, which loosens the dog's jaws and can also have the unfortunate effect of snapping its neck. This could work for you as well, but be careful to not let the dog get you on the ground.

Minimize the damage. If it's at all possible, try to identify the animal -- after you've gotten away, of course. Determining whether a dog is a pet or is wild could also determine whether or not you need rabies shots, a pretty painful process that needs to take place within 48 hours of the bite. Visiting a doctor immediately afterwards will also help determine if you need antibiotics or a tetanus shot, as dog bites can become infected pretty easily.

Know the law. Many states have laws requiring that a dog who has attacked a human must be put down or else compulsorily tested for rabies. Contact 911 or animal control to have the animal trapped or subdued. If the dog's owner is insured, there's a possibility that you may need compensation for your medical bills, particularly if you've required stitches or other emergency room procedures. Be sure to take down their information, if possible.

This page was last modified 22:14, 22 September 2010 by ralfred. Based on work by amyatwired and howto_admin.

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