What would you do if a large dog charged You?

Edit it was over in seconds. It never got close enough for me to kick at it. I was in my swim trunks so I couldn’t defend myself if it attacked my legs.

Sounds like you handled it very well. Nobody was hurt.

There’s not a lot you can do against an angry dog. She should not be leading the dog into bad situations.

But I have read that saying “NO! STOP!” sometimes works because dogs are looking for directions from people. It’s worth a try.

I have faced one dangerous dog in my adult life. I was riding my bike and it attacked and I kicked him hard in the face and smacked him with my air pump.

The owner got him inside, and I circled back and we both apologized.

I love dogs and assume they love me. I still feel bad for kicking him. But replaying the incident in my mind, I still would do the same thing.

I’ve had it happen a bunch.
I always take a solid, aggressive stance, and in my most deep and bossy voice I tell them, “BACK OFF!” I then stare them in the eyes. I neither advance nor retreat. I stay planted, my whole body, arms, face, feet, all poised. The dog will back down, or bite, but by whimpering or running you reduce your chances. A step towards indicates an intent to attack, and that is bad. If you do that, they are more likely to bite.

When a dog attacks, your adrenaline will race. You can use that power in attempt to intimidate them pretty successfully. If you shrink away, the adrenaline will just make you shake and cry harder.

With your large size, a dog will view you as a threat. If you stand firm and sound deep/growly, that should create a stand off. If the dog responds by doing pretty much the same, you could use a calmer tone to indicate you are not a threat. After you have already established you are a worthy opponent, the dog should then be subdued enough for the owner to control it.

I have been charged, but never bitten.

I am glad you are okay. Feeling shook up is normal. (Hug)

Get some pepper spray. That crap can ruin anyone’s day. Even a dogs.

That is terrifying to me. I’m following to see what people answer. What I would do is probably not the best way to handle it.

Was it a “mean” breed. Please nobody lecture me about the breeds.

@JLeslie It don’t know the breed , but it wasn’t a Pit Bull, Doberman or German Shepard. Might have been a lab or retriever. I got caught off guard seeing that I had already past it, and It barked at a lady just seconds before. I’m glad that the owner had a leash attached to her waist. It was on the street and I just wanted to go home and get my groceries home. I’m more angry than scared right now.

It depends on the demeanour of the dog. A barking dog isn’t usually an attacking dog and I usually just shout a command at it and make a slow strategic retreat if it persists. I get more angry at the owner than the dog in such situations. The owner bears responsibility. It is as if someone waved a gun in your face. It isn’t nice.

Why has this happened to you so often @Patty_Melt?

I’ve only been charged by a large dog once and it was my dog! She was playing. She RAN at me. I just froze! She jumped and planted all four paws on the center of my chest. Knocked me on my ass!
I was laying on the ground staring up at the sky, shocked. She came back around and stood over me, looking in my face and laughing!
I sais “No that was not fun!!! Don’t do it again!!” She didn’t.

In your situation I’d start kicking I think. If my kids are involved I’d become a mad woman and do my best to kill it by any means necessary.

You’ve gotten some good advice already.

The WRONG thing t do is act scared or run. They see you as prey.

However — as CallMeJay has already said, a firm “NO!” will usually work, as dogs are domesticated and acclimated to take directions from people.

Being unafraid and talking in a kind, soothing voice as if it were your own beloved pet may calm a dog that’s angry but not actually charging yet. Ask it sweetly, ‘what’s wrong?” and speak with a quip of humor. They may continue to bark and stand their own ground but will not charge and act unsure.

Pepper Spray or a taizer-like device called a dazer will work. It would be really hard for me personally to permanently injure a dog—but you could. I mean, they have that horizntal spine and jaws/teeth that are protruded and vulnerable.

I wouldn’t stare a dog down or talk In a growly voice—because who knows that might trigger the wrong instinct and make them play the dominance/kill the leader act.

A firm NO—or treating it as your own pet and be calming, comforting and kind usually works for me. Another option is playing dogcatcher. If YOU pretend YOUR task at hand is capturing the dog (and acting calm and in control as a dogcatcher would) works for me and makes a dog retreat.

For some reason, the dumbest things about a dogs intellect is they don’t really understand size. If you approach with a branch or large object and pretend it is a weapon—especially something big like opening an umbrella— or like that flashlight or soda can will subdue them—they can easily be bluffed. But a firm “NO” and pretending to have the upper hand and a way to catch them or subdue them really works. Or sometimes, sweet baby talk like its your pet.

Don’t challenge a dog as another dog in a dogfight would—and don’t act like scared prey. You’re the “adult” and are there to take charge of the dog.

I suppose my repeat experiences is due to my years of walking instead of driving.
Before walking stopped being an option, I used to walk three to ten miles every day.
My first time, I was a kid, doing a paper route. One of my customers would smack their dog with a newspaper for discipline. It was outside when I delivered, and chased my bike down the road.
I’ve been charged by dogs several times over three decades, walking cross town.
Now, little dogs, behind a fence, yapping hard to protect their property, I respect their brave desire to keep whoever is inside safe. I yelp, jump away, and whine as I make a retreat. It makes them feel special. Lol

I would turn to face it, look straight at it and face it down, preparing to take it down if it keeps coming. Possibly grabbing any useful object nearby. Raising arms and/or a stick and roaring at it may help. It would suck though if like you I had no pants on. All the more reason to be fierce and get it to stop.

Better would be if I had more dog training. Good dog trainers/masters can often just use their bearing to dominate and stop dogs. I haven’t learned to relate to the um, pack leader role. I do relate to the lion who will destroy you if you get in range role. That has prevented all actual attacks for me in my life, but does not get aggressive dogs to stop barking and threatening.

Also once it didn’t help when the aggressive dog was focused on my lady’s smaller dog, and it came in fast. We and the owner did manage to call it off before either dog was hurt, though.

The main weakness I’m aware of with my approach is that it might lead to me actually fighting a dog at some point. Being able to dominate them quickly and effectively would be better.

Just turn into a statue and try talking to the dog in a friendly tone.
That happened to me once some years ago, it was two slavering Rottweilers. I was walking/jogging on a lonesome rural road and the dogs just came out of nowhere from a rural home.
There was zero defense objects available. No sticks, no trees to climb, no rocks to throw.

I thought it was over, seriously.
I have never been so scared. They backed off at the last minute of the charge. Now days, not being a big fan of dogs, I would not hesitate to slaughter the damn things if I had the means. Crazed dogs running amok deserve to be killed.

Go for the airway and carotids. Take out the eyes. Crush the nasal cavity. Break the neck or back. Whichever opportunity first arises. Same as if you are faced with any charging mammal and can’t get away, including humans.

Pay up

I’d ask how much & what they intend to purchase, biscuit treats or squeeky toys?
Although maybe the dawg had recently fouled the pavement & was looking to compensate the penaty charge enforced on it’s owner…loyal but badly advised.

Stab it to death.

@RedDeerGuy1 I understand your anger.

Stand your ground and stare at the dog. He was testing you. You needed to be the boss.

I would rely on the fact that dogs are highly social. They’re very good at posturing, and hurting an opponent who acts submissive is the last thing on their mind. They have better things to do.

Do six things: Avert your gaze and blink a lot. Yawn. Sigh. Keep your body loose. Cross your arms. Stay still, but not frozen.

I’ve closely handled dozens of difficult dogs, and I have not been bitten once.

@Zaku yes, it would super suck to get charged by a large dog when you had no pants on! Especially if you were at the mall or something.

longone’s advice is really good according to experiences I’ve had.

I hate to refute anyone’s advice that was helpful to them, but I have to respectfully disagree that you stare a dog down when standing your ground. Staring (eye contact showing dominance) at a stray or unknown dog triggers some other instinct in them that you ARE a threat—as another dominant-minded dog would be.

Virtually ALL dogs know and react to the word ‘NO”, Most dogs understand pointing (sometimes I show and tell them where I am going—it may sound silly but they seem to get it and let me pass). If you act like you are there to take them, or invite them to come, they will retreat.

You handled it very well. Congratulations!
I stand tough and yell back “Shut up!”, while secretly considering where my punch will go. Probably the throat. Fortunately (for the dogs) I’ve never had to do anything physical.

I have fired a 38 next to a dog that was barking at me, intentionally missing it. The noise made absolutely no difference! None! Zero!!! The barking never changed cadence or tone! From that experience I learned that a warning shot is useless. .

That’s because they don’t see the danger in it. They don’t associate it with a bullet that will kill them.

I wonder if a dog whistle would work?

I sure as heck wouldn’t run away! Stand up to it, face it down, spread my arms out, try to look big and growl loudly and menacingly!

My husband and Dakota got into a dog fight in our yard with two stray dogs. They were about the size of labs. Dakota kicked ass more than my husband.
I bought two baseball bats to keep under the couch on the deck after that.

@Dutchess_III The .38 was so loud and it made such a large hole in the ground but the dog never stopped barking. Incredible.

The dog was deaf! Maybe. Or stupid.

Very scary situation! I might have jumped on a car if one was near by.

Up a tree too! Very scary.

My husband and Dakota got into a dog fight in our yard with two stray dogs

Yikes. I got in the middle of a dog fight once. These were two dogs that I care for sometimes. I can order them around and they love me, and it still was really scary and not easy to end the fight.

Two strays, whole different level…

It really was. They came on our property and attacked my Dutchess, who went down instantly submissive. Dakota just got up off the deck, went down the stairs and just started kicking ass. She never made a sound. She used her teeth, she swung her massive body around to knock one down as she slapped (literally SLAPPED) another in the face, back and forth, teeth, body, paws. Not a sound.
Then Rick got in it, kicking and kicking. He said he almost went down once…and wouldn’t that have been splendid. I just stood on the deck frozen in terror! It was over so fast.

Dakota just got up off the deck, went down the stairs and just started kicking ass.

Go, Dakota!!

I don’t condone fighting but I appreciate fighters!

And she’s a good un! Only been in that one fight, but she once backed down a dog that was much bigger than her when he went after “her” cat. Just backed him down. He was a house guest for the weekend. Dakota decided he needed some educatin’

Here ‘Kota, come back ‘Kota, Best Doggone dog in the west.

Like I said, pepper spray is the best solution, spray the crap outta the mutt. And for those of you who call that animal cruelty, tough. I’d rather spray the dog that watch a human get mauled. And it happens.

I should carry pepper spray but I’d forget. Also, I don’t carry a purse. I’d spray a dog in a heart beat.

Get the kind you can carry on a keychain. They have them at WallyWorld.

Perfume works pretty damn good too. My friend has this evil little Pug/Chihuahua mix and he has a bad habit of attacking your feet when you stand up sometimes. A couple months ago he went for my feet and bit my toe ( I was wearing sandals ) and I whipped a little purse sized spray bottle of body mist out and zapped him square in the face. It was PERFECT, he snorted and sneezed and pawed at his face and ran across the room and just lay down completely defeated. haha

Now he doesn’t dare come after me. Little fucker! LOL
Of course I wouldn’t bet my life a zap of perfume would stop some crazed Pit Bull, but maybe.

@Coloma I love it when a plan comes together! Human, 1. Mutt, 0.

@NomoreY_A Haha, yes, it was great. Better than sitting there with a freaking magazine in my hand waiting to the smack the little Dingo. lol

I’ve been bit too many times by dogs off leash. I’ve found that a dog pepper spry called “Muzzle” works great. It shoots out a cloud that will send the meanest dog crying like a puppy. Just be careful to stand up wind of the spray. I never go for a walk or jog without it.

Are you guys talking about an animal approaching slowly and showing signs of aggression, or an animal charging, covering ground quickly and headed straight for you?

I addressed an animal in full charge. I don’t think standing your ground, maintaining eye contact, talking softly and calmly, or using pepper spray is going to have much effect on an animal in full attack mode.

The one time I was charged, I stood rooted to the ground and waited for the owner to collect his dog. I’m certain if I had moved at all it would have bitten me. It wasn’t the dog’s fault its owner was unsocialized. It was simply doing what it had been taught!

@Espiritus_Corvus Spray that bad boy with pepper spray, right in the eyes, and I can guarantee the mutt will be incapacitated. I had to be sprayed with that shit once, for a security job I was working. We had to be pepper sprayed and tasered before we could carry them. The spray will stop a charging man, it will sure stop a charging dog. Makes you think your face is on fire. And most of us recovered from the shock of the taser faster than we bounced back from the pepper spray. I never want to get into that shit again.

Charging is not attacking. Charging is a quick approach, barking, and then they stop short to size you up before attacking or retreating. Attacking is a rapid approach, and they are either growling or silent. It is little different than soldiers in war. Pointing guns, shouting, usually when startled such as on point, each is hoping the other will back down so each can retreat. Silence or a growl accompanies an attack.
Dogs will see a potential threat, and charge noisy, hoping no attack is needed. To step or reach toward them is perceived as aggression, and they will likely attack. Standing your ground will tell them you don’t want to engage, but you won’t be intimidated by them. Running can cause them to lose interest, but for most it will trigger their hunter instincts, and they will take you down.

If a dog is not charging, but attacking, you are fucked, unless it is a lap dog. Pepper spray, bullets, fire won’t stop it unless you maime it to the point it can’t move. In the wild, when dogs attack, they don’t stop even if torn flesh is hanging off them.

Again, charging, and attacking are two seperate modes.

What’s really bad is when you are riding your horse on trails and some jerk lets their unleashed dog charge you. Crazed damn dog charging you barking, biting at your horses heels, your mount getting all skitty, leaping around, bouncing sideways. Scary and extremely dangerous. Don’t get me wrong, I have had several dogs in my life I have loved but dogs are a menace and when t comes to them threatening me or my animals I would not hesitate to knock them silly.

Some really serious accidents/injuries have occurred to people and their horses by loose dogs running amok. If your 1,200 lb. horse rears and falls over on you, it’s curtains.

That would be a time when I would want pepper spray or an air pistol, maybe a paintball gun.

@Patty_Melt I do have pepper spray but a whip works well to.
One of my worst horse accidents years ago, before pepper spray, I was riding my mare bareback on a lake trail when a couple dogs came charging out of nowhere, spooked her, she leapt off the trail and was galloping full speed down a rocky hill side. ( You never run horses down hill, seriously dangerous, not like what you see in the movies .)
I threw myself off as the risk of her going down with me was high.

I severely dislocated my shoulder, tore all the ligaments in my elbow, sprained my knee and had various cuts and contusions but I was lucky, missed falling on the boulders all around and she was fine too. Took me over 2 hours to drag my poor self back to my house about a mile away leading and leaning on her for support. it was bad.

@Coloma That would have been your chance to call one of those daytime TV lawyers and sue the crap out of the dog owners. That is irresponsible behavior to the Nth degree. I’ve always felt that our society is way too litigious, but that was just BS. you and your horse could have both been killed. I’ve done a lot of riding, and I know how skittish a horse can be.

^ Yeah but I was more concerned with rounding up my horse and the people, 3 younger guys, split with the dogs on their boat. They saw the whole thing and didn’t even come to help me. Assholes. They boated into to a remote area of the lake and my little cabin was up in the trees.

It was private property and nobody was supposed to be camping there but it happened all the time . Boaters would come in and camp.Ended up with a pin in my shoulder over that little event, chopped a piece of my collarbone off to fashion a, never to be unhinged, shoulder, ever again. haha

@Coloma My girlfriend had a horse go over on her. Left her somewhat paralyzed on the left side. She was only 17 or so when it happened.

Egad— never considered that. Dogs and horses don’t mix, and few remain unharmed from being thrown from a panicked horse.

Well, I was going to add that the only sure way to prevent a large dog from charging is, you can always take away its credit card…

Damn, Coloma, that wiuld have been the time to have a rifle with you… not for the dogs.

@Yellowdog Yeah, it can be really bad. Dogs that are raised around horses and trained to behave that’s one thing, but dogs that have never seen a horse are prone to be assholes. @Patty_Melt No kidding, pack a pistol for those puppies. haha