HOW TO MEET A STRANGE DOG

For the sake of simplicity, we'll divide dogs into friendly and unfriendly dogs. You can usually tell the friendly dog by the way he approaches you. He'll come up to you openly, his nose sniffing for your scent, his tail wagging and held high, and he may give out with a friendly bark. His whole approach is, you might say, aboveboard.

Most of us would say that any dog that bars our path with a growl or show of teeth is an unfriendly one. This may be an injustice to the dog, since he may merely be guarding his master or property. But until you know he is just being protective and is a friendly dog when "off duty," treat him as an unfriendly dog. And consider unfriendly dogs as unsafe.

Recognizing the unsafe dog

Proceed with caution if you meet a dog that fits any of the following qualifications:

Standing with body rigid, tail stiff and held at "half-mast."

Barking shrilly or hysterically.

Going into a slink or crouch, with his body and tail rigid, teeth bared.

Coming at you with head lowered, nose held close to the ground.

Standing with a staring expression, ears laid flat. Attempting to circle and get behind you.

Safety rules for meeting a strange dog

When a strange dog approaches you, stop.

Stand still and do not move your hands or body.

Speak softly. Always speak to any dog that has not seen you approach. Make sure the dog knows you are around.

Wait to see what the dog is going to do. Look for signs of an unsafe dog.

If the dog tries to circle and get behind you, pivot slowly, so that you are always facing him. Do not move your arms, legs (except to pivot) or make any threatening gesture.

Never turn your back on a dog that is moving toward you. Do not panic and run. Admittedly, it takes courage to stand still, but it is your best defense tactic. Wait until the dog stops moving before you move, and then move slowly. Stop when he moves again.

Never touch any strange dog. And never strike or kick at any dog.

Do not hand a person a package or shake hands when that person's dog is close by. The dog may misinterpret your move as an attack on his master.

Finally, never accept a dog owner's suggestion that you "make friends" with his dog by touching or feeding the animal. Remember, the dog should make the first overture of friendship, not you. And he will not do this until he smells you.

What to do if attacked by a dog

The safety rules will help you to avoid being bitten in most situations. Study and remember them. Pass them along to your family and neighbors. However, there may come a time when it is too late to apply the safety rules. This will be when you've reached the point of no return. For example, you might stumble over a dog asleep in the bushes, or a dog suddenly leaps at you before you can stop or back away. These are serious situations and the most you can do is to protect yourself from being severely bitten.

If a large dog attacks you

Quickly fold your arms and hold them across your face. Twist your body to the right or left (depending from which direction the dog leaps) as the dog jumps at you. The upper arm or shoulder should strike the dog and knock him off balance. Repeat this maneuver if he attacks again. Call for help. If the dog tries to get behind you, pivot with him. Stand still when he stops attacking and move only when he has retreated to a safe distance. You may get bitten, but your defensive tactics will reduce the severity of the attack and save your life.

If a small dog attacks

Lift one knee as the dog leaps. The knee will perform the same function as the arm and shoulder block on the big dog. Lift your knee straight up, not forward and up. If properly executed, the lifted knee will knock the small dog off balance. Repeat if he tries to attack again. Call for help. Pivot with the dog if he tries to circle and get behind you. Stand still when he stops attacking and move only when he's gone off.

Some common sense

In any meeting with a strange or hostile dog, remember that dogs instinctively chase motion. Stand still. Don't turn and run, although your knees are shaking and you want to get away fast. Your entire plan of defense against a possibly dangerous dog is to eliminate motion until the dog wanders off.

There are some situations in which no safety rules or defensive tactics will work. These are usually the result ofignorance of the nature of dogs and the dangers involved. For example, many people do not know that dogs are very protective about their food. Many dogs will snap or attack anyone trying to take away their food. Yet people still try to do this and are severely bitten. Children should be warned not to touch a strange dog's food or try to offer him any. Very often, a child will hold out a piece of candy and when the dog moves to take it, the child pulls back. This is extremely dangerous.

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