Aggressive dogs

From Wikitravel

This article is a travel topic.

Wikitravel articles have a stay safe section with location specific advice. This article contains general information relevant to many destinations

[edit] Understand

Aggressive dogs are a common problem when travelling in places such as Asia and South America. The dogs are often feral (and hence not used taking commands from people) and may be running round wild in packs, which can be extremely intimidating if you are confronted by one. The obvious precautions — travel in groups, avoid areas where the dogs are, don't go out at might when they are most active, and carry a walking stick if you must go — reduce the risks but do not eliminate them.

Such dogs are rarely rabid, but it is possible. Consider being vaccinated against rabies before travelling to such areas. See individual articles here for region-specific information and consult a physician (preferably one with expertise in travel medicine) for advice on vaccinations before you travel.

[edit] What to do when confronted by an aggressive dog

• DO NOT RUN! Although it may seem counter-intuitive when you suddenly see an angry, barking and snarling dog running towards you, the most important thing to do is not to turn and run. The dogs natural instincts will kick in and it will chase after you.

• Stay calm, don't make any sudden movements, and don't look the dog directly in the eye - dogs see this as a challenge and may react by becoming more aggressive.

• Try to turn sideways on - this isn't necessarily a submissive gesture, but will minimise the chance that the dog will see you as a threat.

• In areas such as Iran, the locals' response on seeing dogs nearby is often to pick up a few stones to throw at them. The dogs will fairly often retreat if they see you bending over for ammo.

[edit] What to do if you're attacked

If you're unlucky enough to get attacked, there are a number of things you can do to minimize the damage.

• If you have an object (bag, coat, umbrella, etc.) you can hold out in front of you, offer this to the dog as it attacks. Alternatively, wrap some padding around your arm and use this. If the dog bites on this, keep hold of it - if you let go, the dog will realize that it's not part of you and go for something else.

• If you get bitten, don't yank yourself away from the dog, it's teeth are designed to stop things being ripped out of it's mouth, in addition to which, the animal's instinct will be to bite harder.