Defend Yourself From Attacking Dogs

By Steve Thibeault

There are millions of people who are victims of dog attacks every year. In fact according to the Centers for Disease Control, 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year. A large proportion of these need medical attention and many need to be taken to the emergency room as well. Though almost no one dies from a dog bite, an incident with a dog that has not been vaccinated properly can result in rabies and other diseases.

The most probable people who can take attacks from dogs are joggers. Those who chose to jog on tracks or in parks face the threat from aggressive dogs that have been bought in the park and let loose by mistake. Joggers who take a hike into the woods or lonely areas can encounter wild dogs or wolves. There are other people like the newspaper boy, the milkman and other salespeople who are at a high risk of facing a dog attack.

It is only reasonable to ensure your own self defense by knowing what to do when faced with such a situation.

Many people feel that they can outrun dogs and one of the most commonly seen reactions of people who are attacked is to run in the opposite direction. It is foolhardy to believe that any human can actually outrun an aggressive dog, even if the dog is a relatively lazy or large breed. On the contrary, running away will mark you as a prey almost instantaneously in the dog's mind. This strategy is actually one of the worst self defense techniques that you can adopt to use in case of a dog attack.

The other thing to understand is that self defense against a professionally trained dog or a police dog is almost impossible. There is no way that you can even try to protect yourself by beating the dog with an object. In fact, most dogs get more infuriated on being attacked and will strike back more aggressively. In such situations, if you are not prepared, the best option that you have is to stand still and call for help. If the dog that attacks you is not a trained one, then you can use the knowledge of dog psychology and body language to get the better of the dog. The self defense technique involves leaning forward and taking an aggressive stance (though without jerky movements). You should also move towards the dog slowly. Make sure that you allow room for the intimidated dog to make an escape lest he attack purely due to the fact that he is cornered.

Though these techniques have been studied and understood, it is extremely ambitious to expect someone to use them effectively when one is being snarled at with bare teeth.

There are however, various products that have been developed for the aid of people who are at a risk of facing dog attacks. These self defense products help in preventing and averting dog attacks to a large extent. The great thing about these self defense products is that no training is required on these and you can start using them as soon as you procure them. A stun gun is a good defense against an attacking dog and a slight blow will shock the dog into stopping the attack. Pepper sprays can also be used (these need to be sprayed and targeted at the nose) though not all pepper sprays are effective against all dog breeds.

It is important to note that kicking, running, punching or any such movement will not be effective against a dog attack. The best defense that man has against these dog attacks are these self defense products that only stop the animal temporarily and provide no permanent harm. The electronic repeller just emits a high frequency sound that cannot be heard by humans but is extremely uncomfortable (not painful) for canines. The Mace Canine Spray is a spray specifically developed based on a keen understanding of dog physiology.

Steve Thibeault is the owner of TBO-TECH, a company that understands your self protection needs and offers products that are practical and effective. Other than a wide range of pepper sprays, stun guns and batons, the company also provides martial arts weapons, personal alarms, hidden safes, spy gear and sporting products like slingshots and blowguns. For more information on self defense items, log on to TBO-TECH.