Let sleeping dogs lie

We've all heard the old adage "let sleeping dogs lie".  At my sister's house this takes on a whole new meaning! 

Blizzard, Lightning and Rose

Upon entering one must be careful to tread lightly lest the couch potatoes pictured above accost the venturer with a deafening cacophony of over-enthusiastic barking.  While everyone else seems to enjoy this canine clamor (I respectfully reserve comment) when the dogs are huge creampuffs as in the case of Blizzard, Lightning and Rose, it's a whole different matter when you are well into a long training run and you are suddenly accosted by a low growl or large yap barring your way or nipping at your heels.  Although I do my best to check my route ahead of time for dog threats, every avid runner and bicyclist knows that maverick dogs are always a possibility.  I had the misfortune to be involved in bad dog incident as I child.  My human friends and I were not hurt, but we watched the mad dogs kill one of our beloved pets.  My grandfather taught all of us kids in the neighborhood some very helpful techniques to stand down a mad dog.  Later, as a teenager, I attended dog training classes to learn how to keep our little pack of sled dog huskies and samoyeds in check.  Even with this knowledge, I retain a very healthy respect for stray dogs, and a very aggressive stance against owners who do not appropriately restrain their animals.  


There are a lot of ways to become injured while participating in sports.  Common sense precautions will go a long way to ensuring that dog bites aren't one of them.  Below are some tips from WikiHow that will help you avoid unwanted dog encounters.  

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1. Take precautions against dog attacks.  Most dog attacks are the result of insufficient containment of the dog, or poor training, i.e., bad owners, or taunting.  Unfortunately, the world will never be rid of bad owners, so it is wise to be prepared.  Common sense should tell you not to aggravate any kind of animal.  Please teach your children.

• Avoid smiling at the dog.  You may be putting on a friendly face, but an aggressive dog sees you baring your teeth for a fight.

• Dogs that are chained or tethered to a stationary object for extended periods of time are more likely to be aggressive, so do not come within their reach.(1)
  

• Do not taunt a dog, even if you think it can't reach you.      

2. Look for warning signs.  Most dogs are not aggressive but rather just curious or defending what they perceive as their territory.  It is important to be able to tell if a dog is just playing or is being truly aggressive.  While some breeds have been singled out as being particularly vicious, any mid-size and large dog breed can be dangerous (poodles, terriers(2)) so do not ignore warning signs because you think a certain breed is harmless or friendly.

• If the dog approaches you with its head held high or low, it is probably not going to attack.  A dog whose head is level means business.

• A loping gait means the dog is playful and checking you out.  An even, steady run means business.

3. Have a Block.  You will need to block in case of a dominant move, and NEVER HESITATE!  The dog will see this as a sign of weakness.  If this dog is in the sliding zone (zone where the dog is slowly becoming harder to tame) and/or is bearing its teeth, use your leg or a stick or something around that is a size to block the dog's teeth from reaching you.
{Personal note:  I carry 2 pound weights in each hand when I run, but I find it difficult to carry long sticks or a broom handle as recommended by some.}
4. Remain calm.  There's some truth to the adage that dogs and other animals can sense fear.  If you panic, you may make the dog feel more confident in his attack, or you may appear threatening to the dog.  Neither of these is a good situation.
{Personal note:  My grandfather taught me to literally say in a low voice, "I am the boss.  You are the dog."  It helps keep you calm, and reminds you the one big message you need to get across to that dog.}

• Control the situation. Remember that most dogs are in subjugation to humans. A commanding "Down!" or "Go Home!" may stop an attack momentarily, giving you time to back away.

• Never run. Running away can awaken the dog's prey instinct to chase and catch animals, and he may pursue you vigorously even if its initial intent was just playful. In addition, you won't be able to outrun a dog if you're on foot. Even if you are on a bicycle you usually will not be able to outrun a dog.

• Assume a non-threatening position. Dogs will assume that you are poised to attack them if you face them head on and make eye contact. Standing sideways to the dog and keeping the dog in your peripheral vision instead of facing them and making eye contact, will signal to the dog that you are not a threat. If you can, fold your arms tightly to protect hands. If this cannot be effected without making sudden movements, keep your arms flat and still by your sides with clenched fists to protect fingers. In dog pack behavior, turning away does not indicate that you are submissive, but rather not positioned to attack the dog.

• Hold your position. Dogs have short attention spans. Often after some barking, the dog will lose interest and go away. Do not appear threatening to the dog, and don't open your hands and arms up to a bite by extending them. Keep your fingers curled into fists to avoid getting them bitten. The dog may come quite close, even sniffing you, without actually biting.

• If you stay still and protect your face, chest, and throat, the dog will only be able to inflict puncture wounds on areas of your body that have thicker skin. If the dog is biting, the last thing you want to do is struggle or pull away, as this can cause open, torn wounds.

• Unless trained to attack specific points, dogs will often consider objects attached to a human to be part of the human (considering it to be flesh being torn) as long as it is still moving/applying force. Removing a shirt or jacket allowing the dog to get hold of one sleeve while tugging on the other can buy you time and allow you to reorient yourself for escape. Opening an umbrella between you and an attacking dog will also confuse it and it will go for the item before you considering it to be an appendage. Umbrellas are also great because the dog will go directly for it instead of the edges, causing it to have difficulty getting a hold.

• If the dog gets a hold of you it will tug and shake the wound inflicting more damage anyway making fighting back your best bet. If you cannot easily escape from its grasp, use your entire body weight on the animal specifically with your knees or elbows. Dogs cannot wrestle and you will break their bones fairly quickly. Get on the animal and concentrate force on areas such as the throat or ribs while minding to keep your face out of clawing/biting range.

• If you are looking for a more humane solution and can manage it, straddling the back of the dog with your partial body weight and applying forward pressure to the back of the neck will immobilize it until help comes and it will be unable to reach around to bite you.

• If facing multiple dogs, going for eyes, nose and limbs will prove most effective versus tackling/crushing one dog at a time. In a pack, they will attack as a group and if they feel they are unable to pull it off, will quit as a group. HOWEVER, if the dogs are not actively lunging for you, DO NOT kick or strike at a dog with your hands or legs unless you have had training in how to do so quickly. The animal will more than likely catch on to your limbs. Throwing rocks and other debris can discourage a pack of dogs before an attack begins.

5. If a dog has locked onto another animal's neck, or human limb, pick its back legs up and hold it in the air.  This prevents it from pulling, ripping and causing any more damage.

{Personal note:  I have to wonder about this one.  I'd try it on my sister's dogs, but then I'd have to touch them...  Seriously, if you pick the big nasty pooch up by its hind legs it seems to me that you better be ready to toss that dog like David throwing the stone at Goliath into the next field before the pup turns and latches onto YOU.  I'd like to see a youtube with a trained professional demonstrating this technique.}

6. Put a cloth over the dog's head.  This can make them let go.

7. Spray the dog with a strong jet of water or air spray.

8. If the dog is biting someone else, do not pull the victim away for the very same reason.  Find a large stick and strike the dog across the back of the neck.  You could also try to force a long object or your arm horizontally in the dog's mouth.  Push it in forcefully towards the throat to minimize damage to yourself.(4)  If you have time, wrap your arm in a shirt or jacket first.

• Don't hit a large dog on the head.  Big dogs, especially mastiff-type breeds have very thick skulls and you will only make the animal angry.(5)  The only place to hit a huge dog that will have an effect is across the back of the neck near the base of the skull or across the sensitive nose.  This may not be useful against huge dogs, but will usually be effective on small or medium-sized breeds.

9. Back away slowly and leave the area once the dog loses interest in you.  Staying calm and stationary can be a real test of your nerves in this situation, but it's the best thing to do as long as the dog isn't actually biting you.

Other tips:

• If you are with a young child, particularly if it is a large dog whose path you have crossed, you may deem it appropriate to hold the child in your arms. If you are picking the child up, do it slowly, and don't look the dog in the eye, especially not when crouching down. Tell the child to stay calm and quiet, and to look at you. Then treat the situation using the instructions noted above.

• Try using pepper spray! Try hitting the face but in case you miss, it might be enough even if spread close to the face or on the body, becasuse dog's nose is very sensitive! In this case repeat over and over, if necessary until the dog stops! Dog senses your fear, but also your determination for defense, except if the dog is really agressive(rabies, an agressive sort,...).

• These instructions are for dealing with one dog, and may work when dealing with two. If you're attacked by a pack of dogs, however, the pack mentality will call for a different response, which is beyond the scope of this article.

• If cycling, dismount and keep the bicycle between you and the dog. This will create a barrier of protection. If a dog is attacking you (not just barking) use the bicycle as a weapon to strike the dog. Holding the bicycle by the stem (handlebars) and the seat, swing the bicycle tire to hit the dog.  But don't lose your grip as you will have lost a valuable defensive tool.

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Até amanhã... 
7/27/11 - 3.2 miles | 36 mins | 5.3 mph | 353 kcal