Most dogs who charge towards you barking, growling and snapping may not be intending to attack you. They are simply excited or reactive dogs who will run off again if you are calm and turn away from them without making a fuss. The first thing to remember if a dog charges you is to remain calm.
Back away.
“Most dogs are not aggressive enough to attack a runner, and will stop at a certain point.” But don't run away, as that may trigger the chase response. Instead, back away slowly without making direct eye contact. Be aware of your footing so you don't trip and fall.
Back away slowly.
Because most dogs only chase people to scare them away, if you stand still and back away calmly the dog will eventually back away from you. The key is to back away in a calm and nonchalant manner that won't further excite the dog.
Do not kick or punch the dog if at all possible (that might escalate in their arousal). Once the attack is over, immediately get yourself, your dog or your child away. Don't turn around, try to get further control of the situation, or try to find the owner.
An aggressive dog wants you to be stressed out before it attacks, but if you remain calm and in control, it slows them down and throws them off. Also avoid direct eye contact with an aggressive dog. Stand slightly sideways (which also makes you a narrower target) while keeping the dog in your peripheral vision.
You should not kick or yell at the dog. An aggressive dog wants you to be stressed out before it attacks, but if you remain calm and in control, it slows them down and distracts them. If you shout you could irritate the dog further.
The best thing that you can do is remain quiet, remain still, and put something between yourself and the dog (like a coat or purse). Don't fight back – doing so can enrage the animal even further. Even if you're being attacked, try to remain still and make sure your face is covered.
Never get between fighting dogs. Never reach in with your hands to separate fighting dogs. Never put your face close to a dog fight. Never grab a dog by the tail and attempt to pull him away from a fight.
General requirements of the self-defense doctrine
In general, a person can kill a dog without penalty if the dog is lethally attacking that person or another person, and there is no reasonable alternative to killing the dog.
Hit or kick the dog in the throat, nose, and the back of the head. This will stun the dog and give you time to get away. It's okay to raise your voice at this point. Yell for help as you're fighting back.
Using hitting or spanking as a method of punishment can severely damage the relationship you have with your dog. If you start using force to discipline them, your dog can develop various behavioral issues. Some typical problems that hitting your dog will cause are: Insecurity and fearfulness.
Create space: When the dog looks aggressive, don't turn around and run away. Remain facing the dog as you slowly and calmly back away. Do not scream: Making noise will only frighten and agitate the dog. Stay motionless: Don't wave your arms or make jerky movements, and don't make intense eye contact.
If they are hurt, do they harbor anger, resentment, and negative feelings in their canine psyche? Yes, in some capacity, dogs remember something negative that caused them harm. Dogs growl at certain people, wag for others, and snarl at a dog who barked at them one time on a walk.
Don't resort to physical punishment.
Hitting a dog, or being too rough with a dog, frequently encourages more biting as well. Physical punishment could injure a dog, but it could also ruin the relationship that you have with your puppy or dog. Avoid this type of discipline at all costs.
There are many steps to take to help curb puppy biting and others you should avoid, including: Don't yell at your puppy, tap your puppy on the nose or hold their mouth shut when they bite. This will only confuse your puppy and teach them not to trust you when you want to play.
Do: Once they are calm and tired you are going to let them back together. Dogs live in the moment and argue and fight like little kids on a playground. They don't hold grudges and once the fight has passed the dogs have moved on. It's really quite remarkable how quickly they move past.
Making a loud noise may help distract dogs from a fight. Try blowing a whistle or using a foghorn near the dog fight. Sometimes, a loud noise is enough to catch dogs off guard and break up an altercation.
Stress signs to look for include whale eye (when dogs reveal the whites of their eyes), tucked ears, tucked tail, raised hackles, lip-licking, yawning, and panting. Your dog might also avoid eye contact or look away.
The dog breeds that are more likely to have this problem are the German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Jack Russell Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Toy Poodle, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, and German Shorthaired Pointer.