Home Health CarePreparing Yourself for Dog Encounters

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Five Deadly Sins of Dog Encounters 1. Never run from or turn your back; dog may chase you or bite you out of fear2. Don’t trust the owner; most owners believe their dogs won’t bite 3. Don’t stand still, face to face during a threat; dog sees that as a challenge4. Don't pet or trust any dog. Don’t make it your job to get dogs to like you.5. Don't go to work mentally unprepared for any threat, role play in your mind different scenarios and how you are going to react. This will make your reactions subconscious, reacting faster and calmer.

When Arriving at a Location “Scan Area” Check for “Beware of Dog” signs Check for doghouse, chains, bowls, waste Check for worn track around fence Dogs tied up “caution” Listen for chain Shake fence before entering

If in Your Vehicle If dog circles your vehicle, do not exit Call to have dog secured If you exit and dog surprises you, keep your back to the car Place an object in front of you

If Owner is Present Insist the dog be placed in a secure area “I NEED” -- don’t ask, tell them Keep your eyes on the dog at all times Don’t trust the owner to control the dog

When Owner is Answering Door or Door is Insecure Be ready to control door using hands or feet If more than one dog escapes out, place your back to an object

Dogs Confined by an Underground Containment System Don’t rely on it to successfully secure the dog. Dogs can work themselves into such an aggressive state that they break through the boundary, numb to the shock, to attack you. Once in the House, if a Dog is Present

Make sure the dog is secured in another part of the house or apartment, if not Evaluate the dog’s body language When you’re close to owner, dog may see you as a threat or dog may be

aggressive protecting its owner

If the dog becomes aggressive, don’t grasp the owner in an attempt to use her as a shield. The dog may view your actions as an attack on the owner and may bite you to protect her. Instead, place any object between you and the dog.

Defending Yourself Against a Dog Encounter Face the dog and move backwards slowly, keeping your eyes on the dog at all

times Remain calm and confident by taking deep breaths If you’re able, give common commands using a firm voice (Stay! Sit! Down!) If cornered, place your back to a wall and wait until dog loses interest

If the dog is committed to biting you and continues to come forward, do the following:

Present a continuously moving target, as the dog is running toward you, walk backwards

Move something in front of the dog: clipboard, hat, shirt, sweater If the dog bites object, use mace or strikes If bitten don’t pull away, to prevent deep lacerations. Use strikes to get dog off

How to Use Dog Repellent Spray Use your weak hand to spray and your strong hand to block the wind from your

face or ready to use strikes Spray the dog aiming for the face, do this while moving backwards The most vulnerable areas are the nose and mouth

Protecting Yourself by Giving Strikes If you believe you may be bitten, you have the right to protect yourself without the risk of legal ramifications.

Knee or kick the dog in the chest Punch or chop downwards to the back of the neck, just below shoulders or spine Give an uppercut to the chin or throat

Protecting Yourself from a Pack of Dogs Dogs feel more confident in numbers, and will circle you to attack from behind, so keep your back to a wall and be ready to use strikes.

Territorial Aggression A dog in a house or yard has, in its mind, won all challenges. After all, its barking scares you away since you leave after completing your services on foot or driving. Also, when arriving at the same time a dog learns the element of surprise, which it will use to bite you if it is loose.

The Treat Myth when Encountering DogsThe dog will have a positive response when people, in uniform or not, enter the property. The problem arises when strangers confuse the dog’s friendly approach for aggression and either mace, hit or shoot it.

Understand a Dog’s Body Language Friendly

Total body wiggling -- relaxed Mouth opening and closing--relaxed Play behavior -- bouncing with total body wiggling

Pre-Aggression Tenses mouth when closed May be licking its muzzle Could be barking or silent Dog’s head turned but still looking at the person. If the person continues to

invade dog’s space it may bite.

Dangerous Direct eye contact that becomes tunnel vision Total body stiff, hackles may rise Barking and not moving, teeth could be showing Tail is wagging -- dog could be happy to bite you Fast direct approach then runs away

Fearful (Unpredictable) Dog’s head turned but still looking at you Pacing with other body language signs and looking back and forth Tail tucked between legs Eyes wide open May be lying down or running away waiting for you to turn your back so it can

bite you

Nervous/Anxious (May respond impulsively with aggression) Trembling Closed tensed mouth Excessive salivation Foaming mouth Body tight and compacted sometimes in a curl either standing or lying down