What to do if a dog attacks...

Dogs are part of the family, so it’s an incredibly traumatising experience should they ever get attacked. Equally, if a dog attacks you or a loved one, it’s a devastating event to go through – especially considering the potentially serious consequences or injuries that might result from it.

However, it’s important to note that while dog attacks are often reported in the news, they’re not considered an everyday occurrence.

Despite the unlikeliness of a dog attack, it’s vital you know what to do if a dog attacks, and how to deal with the situation if your dog is attacked. Additionally, you should understand ways to prevent dog attacks, to protect yourself, your dog, and others. So, read on, to find out what to do if a dog attacks you or your dog, and discover ways to prevent dog attacks…

• What to do if a dog attacks you.
• How to deal with a dog attacking your dog.
• Ways to prevent dog attacks.
• What are the signs a dog might attack?
• What to do if your dog attacks another dog.

What to do if a dog attacks you

If you’re confronted by an aggressive dog, there are a few things you’ll need to do:

• Stay calm – slightly turn your body away from the dog, then talk to them in a gentle tone of voice as you slowly start to move away from them.
• Avoid confronting them – when you stop moving towards the dog, and turn slightly away, you’re showing that you’re not encroaching on their territory.
• Avoid eye contact and don’t smile at the dog – there’s a chance they might interpret these sorts of gestures as a challenge.
• Try putting something solid between yourself and the dog – if you’re outdoors, this could be a bench or bin, whereas if you’re indoors, you could use furniture or a bag.
• Don’t run – which could ignite their prey drive and cause the dog to chase you; instead, walk slowly backwards or sideways without making any sudden movements.

Should a dog attack you, try to do the following:

• Try to get out of their way if you can – gaining height is your best option, if possible (for example, most dogs probably won’t climb trees to reach you).
• Distract them – throwing something over the dog, like a coat or water, could distract them long enough to allow you to escape.
• Redirect their attack – use a barrier to prevent them from biting you, e.g. a jacket, bag, shoe, stick, umbrella, or anything else they could bite instead.
• Stay on your feet, if possible – hold onto anything you can to avoid falling over, which could increase the severity of any injuries.
• Don’t scream or hit them with anything – instead, call out to people nearby for help; try your best not to scream or hit them, since this will worsen the situation.
• Use a deterrent spray – for example, K917 Dog Deterrent Spray instantly deters a dog’s impulse to bite and has no lasting effects on the dog.
• Grab the back of their collar and twist it, hard – if a dog won’t stop attacking you, try grabbing the back of their collar and twist until they let go.

Important: If a dog has bitten you and isn’t letting go, don’t try pulling them away, because this might result in a much bigger injury.

In the aftermath of being attacked by a dog, you should:

• Get the dog’s owner’s contact details, if possible.
• Ask any witnesses for their contact details, if possible.
• Seek medical attention for any injuries.
• Write down all you can remember, take photographs, or create a voice note, to record the incident in as much detail as you can.
• Report the incident to your local police force.

How to deal with a dog attacking your dog

Dog fights can happen, and dogs may get into disagreements at times, but if your dog is attacked, here are a few things to remember:

• Don’t panic – this could cause your dog to feel more stressed and might even escalate the situation.
• Call the dogs away – you and the other dog’s owner might be able to call the dogs away from each other, encouraging them to back away from the altercation.
• Find or create a barrier – throwing a coat, shoe, or other item between the dogs may allow your dog enough time to escape; hitting or shouting at the attacking dog may escalate the incident.
• Use distraction techniques – try to distract the attacking dog, whether through loud whistling or clapping (not shouting) and throwing something over them, like water or a coat.
• Don’t try to separate the dogs – trying to pull the dogs away might worsen your dog’s injuries; breaking up the dogs could result in you becoming injured as well.

While this might be the last thing on your mind following the attack, it’s important to get the owner’s contact details and a photograph of their dog. If there were any witnesses it’s beneficial to get their details, too.

After a dog attack, you must get your dog to the nearest vet practice immediately if they have any injuries. 

Ways to prevent dog attacks

Ultimately, every dog owner is responsible for playing a role in preventing dog attacks.

A great start for any dog would be to make sure they’re socialised safely from a young age, and that they’ve been properly trained (e.g. by building strong recall skills).

Important: It’s essential that dog owners only ever use positive reinforcement while training, since negative training techniques are harmful and could encourage aggression in dogs.

For rescued dogs who may have experienced cruelty or neglect in the past, aggression could have become a learned response as a way to protect themselves. Alongside the help of a vet-approved canine behaviourist, here are some of the ways you could prevent your dog from attacking another dog or person:

• Get your dog checked by a vet, to rule out pain or illness as a reason for their aggressive behaviour.
• Attend training classes with your dog where they’ll get opportunities to interact with other dogs in a safe environment with training professionals present.
• Always keep them on a lead and put a correctly fitted muzzle onto them while walking in public spaces or visiting unfamiliar places, e.g. a friend’s home or neighbour’s garden.

What are the signs a dog might attack?

While all dogs are different, there are some universal signs that could signal a dog is about to attack either another dog or a person. Some signs are obvious, whereas others are so subtle that it’s important to interpret a dog’s entire body language instead of just focusing on one or two signals, like growling.

The signs a dog might be about to attack could include:

• Licking their lips or yawning and turning away.
• Staring and/or showing the whites of their eyes.
• Ears pinned back and holding themselves low to the ground.
• Evidence of tension, e.g. crouching while tucking tail between their legs.
• Raised hackles (i.e. fur standing up along their back).
• Baring teeth, snarling, or growling.
• Lunging towards their target.

To better understand the various ways a dog can communicate through body language, check out our article about the ladder of communication in dogs.

What to do if your dog attacks another dog

It is against the law to allow a dog to become dangerously out of control, whether they’re in a private or public space.

A dog is considered ‘dangerously out of control’ if:

• They injure someone.
• They attack another animal.
• They make someone worried they might injure them.

Additionally, a dog might be considered dangerously out of control if a dog owner thinks they’ll be injured should they try to stop them from attacking their own dog.

The penalties for allowing your dog to become dangerously out of control can include unlimited fines and prison sentences. Also, the police, a vet, or local authority can order a dog to be put to sleep if they’re considered an immediate threat to the safety of the public.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts to train them with kindness and socialise them safely with others, dogs can act in ways that take us by surprise. So, knowing what to do if your dog attacks another dog is important, even if you don’t think your dog would snap at, bite, or attack anyone.

1. Stay calm and try not to panic – your dog can sense your distress, so panicking could worsen the situation.
2. Distract your dog – call your dog away from the attack if you can, using a toy or treats to entice them to return to you, drawing focus away from the other dog.
3. Put a barrier between the dogs – like a bag or open umbrella; alternatively, cover your dog’s eyes with a coat or splash bottled water over them.
4. Get your dog on a lead – if they’re no longer attacking the other dog, put your dog on a lead; being careful not to get bitten, since they’re likely to be stressed.
5. Provide your details and offer assistance to the other dog owner – apologise for your dog’s behaviour and support the other dog and owner however you can.

Important: If a dog has bitten somebody, attacked another dog, has been attacked, or is alone and likely to attack, report them to the police (101) or local council’s dog warden.