Practical Ways to Stay Safe Around Unleashed Dogs

Many people love dogs, but not every encounter is going to be friendly. Every year, around 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States, and over 800,000 require medical treatment. Dogs can be unpredictable, and when they’re not on a leash, they can be even more dangerous. A lot of people file personal injury lawsuits over dog bites because it’s the only way they can cover their medical bills.

Being prepared for an off-leash dog isn’t optional. Here’s how you can keep yourself and your own dogs safe.

1. Stay calm and control your body language

Dogs read human energy like pros. They also mimic it. That’s why they get excited when people get excited, and they get anxious when their owners are anxious. The calmer you remain around a dog, the less you’ll escalate the situation unknowingly.

If you see a loose dog, don’t run. Running triggers a chase response, even in docile dogs. Staying still reduces the chance of escalating the situation. Keep your movements slow and avoid waving your arms and making sudden movements. A dog attempting to assess whether or not you’re a threat will base their perception on movement.

Always avoid direct eye contact. A hard stare can be seen as a challenge. Keep your gaze off to the side or down at the ground while you keep the dog in your view. Staying calm and avoiding eye contact won’t always end an encounter, but it makes you less of a target and can keep a loose dog calm long enough for you to leave.

2. Be ready to pick up your dog

If you’re walking your dog on a leash and you encounter a loose dog, your dog may not react, but you can’t predict what the other dog will do. Sometimes all it takes is one dog staring or lightly barking at the other dog to start a fight (even from a distance). However, many dogs chill out when you pick them up.

You know your dog best. But if you’ve never tried picking them up when you see a loose dog, try it. If loose dogs typically agitate your dog, you might find them going completely silent when you pick them up. If the loose dog isn’t easily agitated, you might even be able to walk past it while you carry your dog.

Of course, it’s much harder to pick up larger dogs, but if your dog is around 20 pounds, it should be easy.

3. Carry pepper spray

Nobody wants to pepper spray a dog but sometimes it’s the only option. It’s smart to carry pepper spray on your keychain or belt loop when you go for a walk, especially if you’re walking your own dog. You can get seriously injured trying to break up a fight but pepper spray will end it from a distance.

Although it’s uncomfortable, pepper spray doesn’t cause any lasting damage. And if you know the dog’s owner, you can tell them what happened so they can get their dog and wash their eyes with water.

4. Use an object as a barrier

When a loose dog approaches you, it helps to have something between you and the dog. This can be a backpack, an umbrella, a water bottle, or even your bicycle. For many dogs, even a small barrier discourages them from coming closer and will give you time to get away.

5. Never trust a loose dog

Even if a dog looks friendly, don’t approach it with the intention of trying to pet it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Saint Bernard, a Labrador, or a chihuahua. Even breeds known to be calm and sweet are capable of aggression, especially if they’ve been abused.

6. Know how to protect yourself

If an unleashed dog starts to charge you, put your dogs behind you (if they’re with you) and say, “NO!” or “STOP!” loudly and firmly. Most dogs will slow down at this point. When they stop barking, make firm eye contact and take a step forward while saying, “Go home!” This usually works. But if a dog comes at you wanting to bite you, stand completely still and don’t move. Even if the dog nips you, don’t make eye contact and be still. If the dog doesn’t stop, slowly back away until you reach a safe place, like a car you can climb onto.

In a worst-case scenario, if the dog is vicious and knocks you to the ground, stay on your stomach and cover your head and neck.  

Preparation is the best defense

Loose dogs are unpredictable (and illegal in most areas), but being prepared can help you reduce the risk of being attacked and seriously injured. In a perfect world, dog owners would do the right thing and keep their dogs contained. But many people don’t, so the burden is on you to keep yourself safe.