Stay calm and walk away. Don’t run.
This is the simplest, most important thing to remember. If a stray dog is barking at you from a distance, it’s most likely warning you to stay off its territory. It will stand at the edge of its territory and bark to warn you against entering it. As long as you remain calm and walk away from the dog, you should have no problem.
(Caveat: I know that Cesar Millan’s approach to dogs is highly problematic, but the video offers sensible advice on reading stray dog behavior.)
Whatever you do, do not run away; dogs are likely to instinctively give chase, and there’s no way you’ll outrun them on a short sprint. This is the reason you see dogs chasing cars and motorbikes, not to mention, much to my annoyance, runners. Dogs who run you down are likely to bite your legs to make you stop.
For my fellow runners out there, be wary of dogs chasing you while you run. Dogs who are unused to runners might think you’re fleeing and might instinctively run you down. The only trick I’ve found is to stop and walk, then start running again when you’re further away. Sucks for your pace, but it beats a bite in the calf.
While you can always bluster your way through an encounter with a lone dog, dog packs are bad news. The dogs’ confidence is multiplied when they have their buddies around, and they know real well how to coordinate to take a threat down. What’s worse, dog packs don’t always signal their aggressive intent by barking; I’ve seen dogs in pack quietly flank a perceived threat without a sound.
If a dog pack is just lying about sleeping or acting friendly, you’re most likely OK. But trust your instincts on this; if a pack feels threatening even if no one is barking, don’t chance it. Walk away and find another way around even if it’s a long one.
An interesting note on dog behavior is that a dog who wags its tail is not necessarily friendly. Dogs wag their tail when they’re excited, and a dog who’s about to bite you will definitely feel excitement at the upcoming confrontation. As a matter of fact, many barking dogs wag their tails even though it’s clear they’re not being friendly.
This was the biggest “gotcha” for me as I learned about dog behavior. There are simple ways you can signal to a dog that you have peaceful intent. By performing these, you’re telling the dog that you mean it no harm, and you’ll avoid triggering its aggression. Remember that the majority of lone dogs are afraid of humans. By telling them in their own language that you’re not here to attack them, they’re likely to back down.
Some useful calming signals I often use:
Likewise,
Some aggressive behaviors to avoid:
Here’s a great video on the topic of calming signals:
Locals are a great help when dealing with stray dogs. As a matter of fact, you’re unlikely to have any real trouble as long as locals are nearby. The dogs will know them, and the people will know how to deal with the local strays. I’ve had a few hairy encounters with dogs in Thai temples (where whole packs thrive on the monks’ generosity), and monks saved my hide a few times. If no locals are around and you don’t know what to do to avoid injury, just yell for help.
Having cautioned you against aggressive behavior, let me now recommend something which the dogs will assuredly perceive as an aggression. Use this as a last resort if the above fails. Crouch and feign picking up a small rock. For some reason, this is a gesture that dogs all around the world have learned to recognize as a source of impending pain, which unfortunately says a lot about the abuse they often receive.
I’ve never had to use this one since I’ve learned about calming signals. But before I knew how to defuse a situation, I had to resort to this trick a few times, and it worked every time. It did make the dogs more aggressive, but they kept a respectful distance.
Carry food as a distraction. Pepper spray (or some other non-lethal spray) is not an appropriate defense measure, as this doesnt always work and can exacerbate the situation. Carrying treats or a pocket full of kibble along with you is a much better option. Because strays are almost always hungry, you can use the food to take the dogs attention off you. Throw the food farther and farther away from you so the dog focuses on the food while you retreat to a place of safety. Kibble works especially well as the dog will forage to find every morsel.
Annually, on average, about 800,000 people are injured by dogs seriously enough to require medical attention; 63 percent of dog bites occur within pet owners homes and 43 percent of all dog bites involve children bitten by the family dog. Broad estimates indicate that about 10 to 12 percent of dog bites involve strays.
Stray dogs-dogs that have been abandoned and are homeless or dogs that are running loose without an owner-are a growing problem nationwide. By some reports, more than 500,000 dogs are lost or abandoned every month across the country. Some are reunited with their owners and others are picked up by animal control authorities, but some become feral and can pose a threat to humans.
We all know it is the responsibility of dog owners to care for, train, and look after their canine companions, but we also know this does not always happen. So what should we do if we encounter a stray dog while out walking? Our attention to our surroundings and our intellect are our top defenses in avoiding an incident with a stray dog.
Walk with awareness. Stay aware of your surroundings. Even in familiar surroundings, scan the area, near and far. This level of awareness doesnt have to take away from the joy of your walk. You may see things youve not noticed before. Its always best to know who and what is around you. Also, for a variety of safety reasons, always bring a mobile phone with you.
How do you stop a street dog from barking?
So, when you see a dog barking excessively, distract them by making a loud sound like clapping, ringing a bell or dropping something like a steel utensil. One could also throw some water (NOT HOT WATER) on them. It is important to know that dogs bark for a reason.