HOW TO DEFEND FROM STRAW DOGS — THE PRACTICAL GUIDE

Some of these dogs, very often, have little sociality with humans and are transformed into 'feral' subjects whose control, unfortunately, is problematic especially when they come together in packs. Thus, a problem arises: how can this situation solve? And how to defend against stray dogs in the event of an attack?

Stray dogs on the territory, single or in packs, can therefore represent a potential risk of aggression for people, a reservoir, and vehicle of infectious and infectious diseases for humans and finally, cause road accidents.

It is therefore important to know how to defend yourself from stray dogs which can make a difference when you meet a stray dog alone or in a pack. I suggest 7 useful tips to avoid unpleasant encounters and protect yourself in the event of an attack.

How to defend yourself from stray dogs?

1) Avoid isolated places when going on holiday. If possible, try to stay away from countryside, woods, suburban meadows, unpaved paths, dirt roads. However, one cannot deprive oneself of pleasant excursions for the fear of encountering stray animals. In these cases it is good to know the area you are about to travel, and it would be better to organize excursions in groups of several people.

2) How to defend yourself from stray dogs? Always bring sticks or snowshoes: if you decide to go hiking in isolated areas. Having such an object in your hand basically serves two purposes. The first is more intuitive and that is to defend oneself in the event of an attack. The second purpose is more psychological: it serves to infuse us with greater security.

3) Don't run away if you encounter a single stray dog. The dog interprets the flight as a sign of weakness and his instinct as a predatory animal will certainly lead him to chase you. What must be considered is that the dog in the wild has a territory to defend. Probably, without knowing it, it is possible that his aggressive reaction towards us depends on an invasion of his territory. We leave this space without any sudden movements, screams, or runs.

4) How to defend yourself from stray dogs? Do not be afraid. The most important reason for staying calm is that the animal perceives the chemicals produced by our body in times of stress; in particular adrenaline. Fear for the dog is the ideal stimulus to attack, because at that moment we are communicating our weakness chemically. If the dog barks, however, he is simply telling us to walk away and that is what we will do.

5) It is good to step back without challenging the dog, possibly turning around without completely turning away or remaining in front of him. It is advisable to turn away slightly. The advantage in this case is that we can continue to watch the animal to see if it calms down.

6) In the event of an encounter with an entire pack of stray dogs, on the other hand, it is first necessary to identify the leader of the pack. We will recognize him because he will be the one slightly advanced compared to the others who instead will be positioned immediately behind him. For any reason, look him in the eye. This will be interpreted as a challenge to the leader himself, who must maintain authority over the group. Never raise your voice or shout but try to walk away slowly without turning your back completely. In the event of an attack, if you are unable to make the pack leader desist with a stick or some blunt object, curl up on the ground covering the vital points with your arms and legs and resist. Often the animal attacks to show its authority over it, but if it does not see reactions from us, it is likely to give up.

7) If you come across a stray dog, single or in a pack, contact the local Forestry Corps to report its presence, obviously as soon as you are out of danger.

In this article we have understood how to defend against stray dogs, learning which are the most useful and correct behaviours to maintain control of the situation.