1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Let's take a breath and relax.
I've been dealing with dogs for a long time. I love dogs. I don't operate under any unrealistic assumptions when it comes to dogs. Large dogs can and do hurt hundreds of people every year.
Any encounter with a loose/unaccompanied dog over a weight of about 20 pounds calls for a measure of caution. A large number of people are bitten because they walk up to a strange dog and start handling him, and then they're all shocked and outraged when the dog reacts badly. What would your first response be if a stranger walked up and started pawing at you?
Never approach a strange dog. If the dog approaches you, he'll let you know if he wants to be petted. Don't assume that he does. I can't emphasize this enough. Don't look the dog in the eye until he indicates that it's okay. If it's not...don't run from the dog.
All dogs will bite. That's what they're engineered to do. Whether defensive in nature...predatory...or protective, it makes no difference. Push the wrong buttons and you may regret it.
Most bites are rooted in fear. Most bites are warnings...not attacks. It can range from a painful bruise to a crippling or maiming injury...but most bites are not attacks. A genuine attack is brutal and shocking.
A stick is a good defensive weapon. So is pepper spray. A gun is the ultimate, but is rarely necessary to ward off an aggressive dog. I've shut more than a few down by simply yelling: NO! BAD DOG!
If more people used a measure of common sense, the number of bites and/or attacks would drop to a fraction of the national average. Cesar's three rules are good ones. No talk. No touch. No eye contact.
I've been dealing with dogs for a long time. I love dogs. I don't operate under any unrealistic assumptions when it comes to dogs. Large dogs can and do hurt hundreds of people every year.
Any encounter with a loose/unaccompanied dog over a weight of about 20 pounds calls for a measure of caution. A large number of people are bitten because they walk up to a strange dog and start handling him, and then they're all shocked and outraged when the dog reacts badly. What would your first response be if a stranger walked up and started pawing at you?
Never approach a strange dog. If the dog approaches you, he'll let you know if he wants to be petted. Don't assume that he does. I can't emphasize this enough. Don't look the dog in the eye until he indicates that it's okay. If it's not...don't run from the dog.
All dogs will bite. That's what they're engineered to do. Whether defensive in nature...predatory...or protective, it makes no difference. Push the wrong buttons and you may regret it.
Most bites are rooted in fear. Most bites are warnings...not attacks. It can range from a painful bruise to a crippling or maiming injury...but most bites are not attacks. A genuine attack is brutal and shocking.
A stick is a good defensive weapon. So is pepper spray. A gun is the ultimate, but is rarely necessary to ward off an aggressive dog. I've shut more than a few down by simply yelling: NO! BAD DOG!
If more people used a measure of common sense, the number of bites and/or attacks would drop to a fraction of the national average. Cesar's three rules are good ones. No talk. No touch. No eye contact.
