Hey, dear sports fans!
Have you ever been in the unpleasant situation of being attacked by a loose dog while exercising or walking? We ask ourselves, how exactly do you react correctly? How can you prevent something worse from happening in an unavoidable situation?
The fact is that dogs of all breeds individually have a more or less strong hunting instinct. Once caught by the hunting fever, the dog can sometimes be difficult to recall, depending on its upbringing and disposition. The spotted “prey”, regardless of whether it is a deer, a conspecific or a human, is hunted mercilessly. When excited, the dog feels little to no pain during the chase. Hunting fever is also very contagious. Completely unknown members of the same species can communicate non-verbally to form a “team” in a matter of seconds simply through eye contact and body language. The prey is then circled and “separated”. The predatory dog fixes its “prey” rigidly. The body is tense and trembles slightly. They sprint towards the “prey” with determination. Everything is possible, from simply jumping at you in an unfriendly way to throwing you over and biting. In the case of a dog attack, the forearm is not bitten and "posed" in a polite manner. The dog, from the Rehpinscher to the Afghan Hound, may bite quickly and several times.
Wild gesticulating, yelling or even staring hard into the dog's eyes can make the situation significantly worse before an attack starts!
It is better to stand still while walking and avert your gaze. Walking slowly in the opposite direction without provoking the attacker through direct eye contact. If you are traveling with a dog, it should be placed behind you if possible. A calm owner signals to his furry friend that he has everything under control.
On the bike, the situation can be solved more easily from a suitable distance. Since very few dogs have the condition to run for a long time, the direction is simply changed here. You should not stop until the pursuer has left behind!
If the situation does not allow it, resistance is indicated. Since "everything that has four paws is always two steps ahead of a two-legged friend" (according to Henke), a hard, long branch, for example, can keep the attacker at a distance.
An animal repellent spray, also known as pepper spray, will reliably keep the attacker away. The active ingredient capsaicin (an oil) in pepper spray is obtained from the chili plant. The eyes are targeted. The immediate effect is an extremely sharp, burning pain in the eyes with temporary blurring of vision. The effect lasts from one to several hours. And “heals” without damage. As a precautionary measure, accuracy should be practiced first. There are practice cartridges filled with water for this. Pepper spray is very small and handy and can be bought for around five euros. In a life-threatening situation, it can save lives! However, use is only permitted if there is imminent danger to life! (§32 StGB)
If the dog owner is within sight, he or she can be informed in advance about the possible use of the repellent spray. If the owner cannot get his dog under control, he is fully responsible for any temporary damage to his animal.
Every situation is of course different and must be assessed with foresight. A boisterous, happy dog can suddenly jump up on strangers out of joy and try to "kiss". A defensive measure beyond simply pushing the dog away would be inappropriate. Mutual consideration, but also leniency can do no harm for peaceful coexistence. Every dog owner has an exemplary duty here.
You are welcome to share your experiences, comments or point out gaps and errors here in a comment! :)
Ciao, your Fellige Sportsfreunde (furry sports friends)