Dog attack - what to do
Discussion
Just got back from my usual evening walk and want to share this. Walking along the edge of small grass clearing/ playing field in a residential area I just witnessed a staffy being let off the lead and it went for a young boy immediately on the opposite side. Kid probably about 7/8 or so. Just a few people around me included walking along the edge. The kids dad was a few meters away and clocked it immediately and threw his phone across the dog which was enough to distract it momentarily, maybe the dog thought someone threw it a ball, who knows. This is whilst the staffy owner is screaming ‘don’t move’ ‘stand still’. In that moment he had zero control over his dog. The dad managed to get in front of the kid and the owner sprinted across and managed to clip the lead on thankfully.
Got me thinking though, if the dog had latched on, what can you actually do? Of course call the police/ ambulance but by the time they arrive it’s too late. The only things on me were a phone and keys and I imagine the same for the other walkers nearby. I’ve read if you think your about to be attacked by a dog you should try and offer a limb instead so it doesn’t go for the more vital areas, but if someone else is attacked, what can you do?
Got me thinking though, if the dog had latched on, what can you actually do? Of course call the police/ ambulance but by the time they arrive it’s too late. The only things on me were a phone and keys and I imagine the same for the other walkers nearby. I’ve read if you think your about to be attacked by a dog you should try and offer a limb instead so it doesn’t go for the more vital areas, but if someone else is attacked, what can you do?
Chainedtomato said:
Just got back from my usual evening walk and want to share this. Walking along the edge of small grass clearing/ playing field in a residential area I just witnessed a staffy being let off the lead and it went for a young boy immediately on the opposite side. Kid probably about 7/8 or so. Just a few people around me included walking along the edge. The kids dad was a few meters away and clocked it immediately and threw his phone across the dog which was enough to distract it momentarily, maybe the dog thought someone threw it a ball, who knows. This is whilst the staffy owner is screaming ‘don’t move’ ‘stand still’. In that moment he had zero control over his dog. The dad managed to get in front of the kid and the owner sprinted across and managed to clip the lead on thankfully.
Got me thinking though, if the dog had latched on, what can you actually do? Of course call the police/ ambulance but by the time they arrive it’s too late. The only things on me were a phone and keys and I imagine the same for the other walkers nearby. I’ve read if you think your about to be attacked by a dog you should try and offer a limb instead so it doesn’t go for the more vital areas, but if someone else is attacked, what can you do?
David, who used to be a police dog handler, says the best way to stop a dog that is refusing to stop biting is to shock it with cold water or even blast it in the face with a fire extinguisher.Got me thinking though, if the dog had latched on, what can you actually do? Of course call the police/ ambulance but by the time they arrive it’s too late. The only things on me were a phone and keys and I imagine the same for the other walkers nearby. I’ve read if you think your about to be attacked by a dog you should try and offer a limb instead so it doesn’t go for the more vital areas, but if someone else is attacked, what can you do?
However, in a life-threatening situation people may need to be prepared to go further.
He added: “If there is absolutely no alternative in a life-threatening situation, force a solid stick-like object such as a poker or a wooden spoon through the dog’s collar and twist so that the dog is choked of air and stops. This may kill the dog.
“If the dog has no collar, improvise a noose around its neck with a lead or unplugged electric cable.
Source: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-new...
raspy said:
Chainedtomato said:
Just got back from my usual evening walk and want to share this. Walking along the edge of small grass clearing/ playing field in a residential area I just witnessed a staffy being let off the lead and it went for a young boy immediately on the opposite side. Kid probably about 7/8 or so. Just a few people around me included walking along the edge. The kids dad was a few meters away and clocked it immediately and threw his phone across the dog which was enough to distract it momentarily, maybe the dog thought someone threw it a ball, who knows. This is whilst the staffy owner is screaming ‘don’t move’ ‘stand still’. In that moment he had zero control over his dog. The dad managed to get in front of the kid and the owner sprinted across and managed to clip the lead on thankfully.
Got me thinking though, if the dog had latched on, what can you actually do? Of course call the police/ ambulance but by the time they arrive it’s too late. The only things on me were a phone and keys and I imagine the same for the other walkers nearby. I’ve read if you think your about to be attacked by a dog you should try and offer a limb instead so it doesn’t go for the more vital areas, but if someone else is attacked, what can you do?
David, who used to be a police dog handler, says the best way to stop a dog that is refusing to stop biting is to shock it with cold water or even blast it in the face with a fire extinguisher.Got me thinking though, if the dog had latched on, what can you actually do? Of course call the police/ ambulance but by the time they arrive it’s too late. The only things on me were a phone and keys and I imagine the same for the other walkers nearby. I’ve read if you think your about to be attacked by a dog you should try and offer a limb instead so it doesn’t go for the more vital areas, but if someone else is attacked, what can you do?
However, in a life-threatening situation people may need to be prepared to go further.
He added: “If there is absolutely no alternative in a life-threatening situation, force a solid stick-like object such as a poker or a wooden spoon through the dog’s collar and twist so that the dog is choked of air and stops. This may kill the dog.
“If the dog has no collar, improvise a noose around its neck with a lead or unplugged electric cable.
Source: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-new...
sagt550 said:
Ahh, one of those lovely dogs that is “ded gud wiv kids”, “just playing” or “just a big softy” until it kills a child…
If I asked you to draw what you thought the owner looked like, you’d be spot on. No apology either, I thought the boys dad was gonna kill the owner at one point. sherman said:
If its got a kid your just going to have to put your foot through it as hard as you can and hope it stuns it enough that someone can control it.
It wont be pretty.
Firstly, as a veteran dog owner, there are no “dangerous breeds”, just dogs owners by morons. Small yappy terriers will go for people far more often than a big dog like. Rottweiler - it’s just that a big dog is more likely to do serious damage.It wont be pretty.
Secondly, as much as I love dogs, if one has gone into “rage mode”, you aren’t getting through that primal urge to bite with a “come on, boy” or “drop! Bad boy!”. Idiotic ideas like trying to grab a collar are an easy way to lose fingers to an animal in fight mode that will react faster than you can and has a mouth like a bear trap. Your best bet, cruel as it sounds, is to kick the animal as hard as possible in the ribs - ribs break easily. Pain acts as a shock and may get the dog to revert to Flight rather than Fight mode, but ultimately, if you break enough it will be unable to breathe and will either give up or collapse. Also, your legs are longer and a bite to the ankle or calf is more survivable than a bite to the face, which is more likely if you’re leaning down to use your hands.
No authority on the subject but via work, have done a few "awareness" discussions and the general rule of thumb seems to be hit it with the biggest, heaviest thing you have available and do it as hard as you can... and to echo above, your foot is probably the most effective / safest option unless you can put your hands on something better / sharper.
Macabre thoughts but if a dog goes into kill mode, then we as humans need to find your inner savage and if there was a child at risk I think most of us would find it, whilst running on a cocktail of adrenaline fuelled by fear and rage.
It's something as a father of two small kids that concerns me,but experience would suggest it's not "dangerous breeds" and through work over the years I've had more run ins with little terriers and Collies than anything else. In fact weirdly, the Staffies / Rotties / GSD have been the friendliest. Not that I'd trust any, more so with my kids
Macabre thoughts but if a dog goes into kill mode, then we as humans need to find your inner savage and if there was a child at risk I think most of us would find it, whilst running on a cocktail of adrenaline fuelled by fear and rage.
It's something as a father of two small kids that concerns me,but experience would suggest it's not "dangerous breeds" and through work over the years I've had more run ins with little terriers and Collies than anything else. In fact weirdly, the Staffies / Rotties / GSD have been the friendliest. Not that I'd trust any, more so with my kids
cybertrophic said:
Firstly, as a veteran dog owner, there are no “dangerous breeds”, just dogs owners by morons. Small yappy terriers will go for people far more often than a big dog like. Rottweiler - it’s just that a big dog is more likely to do serious damage.
Secondly, as much as I love dogs, if one has gone into “rage mode”, you aren’t getting through that primal urge to bite with a “come on, boy” or “drop! Bad boy!”. Idiotic ideas like trying to grab a collar are an easy way to lose fingers to an animal in fight mode that will react faster than you can and has a mouth like a bear trap. Your best bet, cruel as it sounds, is to kick the animal as hard as possible in the ribs - ribs break easily. Pain acts as a shock and may get the dog to revert to Flight rather than Fight mode, but ultimately, if you break enough it will be unable to breathe and will either give up or collapse. Also, your legs are longer and a bite to the ankle or calf is more survivable than a bite to the face, which is more likely if you’re leaning down to use your hands.
No such thing as a dangerous breed.... but I’d rather have to deal with an angry pug than a 130lb xl bully... which seem to be all the rage with the asbo crowd!Secondly, as much as I love dogs, if one has gone into “rage mode”, you aren’t getting through that primal urge to bite with a “come on, boy” or “drop! Bad boy!”. Idiotic ideas like trying to grab a collar are an easy way to lose fingers to an animal in fight mode that will react faster than you can and has a mouth like a bear trap. Your best bet, cruel as it sounds, is to kick the animal as hard as possible in the ribs - ribs break easily. Pain acts as a shock and may get the dog to revert to Flight rather than Fight mode, but ultimately, if you break enough it will be unable to breathe and will either give up or collapse. Also, your legs are longer and a bite to the ankle or calf is more survivable than a bite to the face, which is more likely if you’re leaning down to use your hands.
swisstoni said:
Years ago I heard someone say that if you pull both their front legs out sideways (like a human spreading their arms) it doesn’t do them a lot of good as they aren’t designed to move that way.
Sounds possible but could be cobblers I suppose.
I was told that by an ex special forces chap, he said it should crush the heart of the dog…not sure if it would be all that easy to doSounds possible but could be cobblers I suppose.
I also heard the one about spreading their front legs, but in practice I really can't imagine it's possible to do with one person in a way that will quickly stop a mauling of a second person.. Dogs do the whole shake-things-to-death move, it would be near impossible for one person to get in the right place, and you would also be putting your face right near the (admittedly busy) bitey bits.
Gauging at eyes seems to be a good idea if you are the one being attacked, and the collar twist is one I have read that makes sense (doesn't need a stick even though one would be a bonus)... if you can astride them, fingers forward and then a good pull-twist, you will still choke them.
I've had two incidents with dogs being walked off leads and both times I was surprised at how the fight response beats any conscious thought. The details would invariably come across like a "dominate the stairs" sort of thing but you may just surprise yourself at what you, a mild-mannered car enthusiast, will do when your limbic system decides it wants to tell the angry bitey thing to get to f
k. Fortunately in both instances the owner got to the dog before the dog got to me as I don't know if my limbic system has any moves or plans beyond "hurray, let's have a fight". I suspect it might be like that friend who starts trouble and then runs away when the punching starts.
Gauging at eyes seems to be a good idea if you are the one being attacked, and the collar twist is one I have read that makes sense (doesn't need a stick even though one would be a bonus)... if you can astride them, fingers forward and then a good pull-twist, you will still choke them.
I've had two incidents with dogs being walked off leads and both times I was surprised at how the fight response beats any conscious thought. The details would invariably come across like a "dominate the stairs" sort of thing but you may just surprise yourself at what you, a mild-mannered car enthusiast, will do when your limbic system decides it wants to tell the angry bitey thing to get to f
k. Fortunately in both instances the owner got to the dog before the dog got to me as I don't know if my limbic system has any moves or plans beyond "hurray, let's have a fight". I suspect it might be like that friend who starts trouble and then runs away when the punching starts.Hmm, seems we have some Rambo'esq replies already. I think in the heat of the moment, all you could really do is kick the bugger as much as possible. But some breeds, once they latch on, don't want to let go. Keep booting it.
Realistically, you aren't going to want to get much closer than a leg kick length to an angry dog.
Realistically, you aren't going to want to get much closer than a leg kick length to an angry dog.
The one in London the other week took 3 or 4 blasts with a shotgun at 5 foot range and was still going before finally succumbing. They’re fking psycho when they get going some of these breeds.
There’s some pretty grim people in South London and one such has a Mastiff looking thing that reminds me of the bulls we used to hire to impregnate cows. The rippling muscle when it’s just walking about. It just weigh 10 stone. I have a 3 year old, if I see it in the distance I’ll change course. Thankfully he does mostly keep it on a lead but he’s a streak of piss and wouldn’t be able to stop it. Saw a video yesterday of 3 Staffies attacking a woman in a park in London. All off the lead, owner couldn’t do anything about it, didn’t see how it ended.
king psycho when they get going some of these breeds. There’s some pretty grim people in South London and one such has a Mastiff looking thing that reminds me of the bulls we used to hire to impregnate cows. The rippling muscle when it’s just walking about. It just weigh 10 stone. I have a 3 year old, if I see it in the distance I’ll change course. Thankfully he does mostly keep it on a lead but he’s a streak of piss and wouldn’t be able to stop it. Saw a video yesterday of 3 Staffies attacking a woman in a park in London. All off the lead, owner couldn’t do anything about it, didn’t see how it ended.
WY86 said:
I have heard that the best way to get a dog to release its bite is a finger in its bum. No joke.
A dog trainer told me the same thing, the shock makes the dog look round to see whats happening.A few years back, a staffie had my JRT by the throat and would not let go, I went for the finger in the bum, but as soon as i touched it's anal entry, it let go.
Lucky, there was no damage to my dog, the 2 of them had been playing together beforehand and myself and the staffie owner came to the conclusion that the female staffie was being dominant.
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