Protection from dogs.

Carry pepper spray or doggie treats. Try to strike any attacking animal in the nose.


Side note (and just personal opinion) any breed of dog can be dangerous. Stay aware when you're walking or running. I've been chased/threatened by everything from Chihuahuas to German Shepherds (and licked nearly to death by Pit Bulls, which I happen to adore).

I'm glad that you're ok and any dog, vicious or not.....regardless of breed, should not be out without being on a leash. Period. You never know what any of them should do and it should always be reported.

Dogs don't like when people run. When people run (no matter the breed) they think of hunting and chasing.

Well I am sorry to hear you were bitten by a dog. That is unfortunate. Best thing to do is stand your ground, don't let them sense fear, and YELL at them. Carrying around a stick with you, or dog treats...that sometimes works.

For little dogs that attack (which they are known to go for the ankles) get down on their level, be assertive and YELL at them. If you are standing and yelling it won't have any effect...you need to get on their eye level.

As for the breed of the dog, I think it is unfortunate for Pit Bulls that they are being demonized by people - by those who having fallen prey to the dogs’ misrepresentation in the media. People don't even know how to recognize an actual breed of pit bull! That and the fact that people take these 'bull breeds' because they have a tough looking exterior and train them to be aggressive!

I have had two pitbull mix and they were the most tender dogs I have honestly met. They were both kind hearted, scared of cats, and very smart. Everyone that met Knuckles and Chance adored them. They never hurt anyone, rarely barked, were very loyal, and both had a playful/goofy side. Knuckles was so good that we were asked to use him for helping to keep people calm at the hospital.

Something I read recently: "According to testing by The National Canine Temperament Testing Association, the Golden Retriever, Poodle, Border Collie, English Setter, and numerous other breeds are considered more likely to become aggressive than the breeds commonly referred to as Pit Bulls."

Where I live, the danger is more of wild animals than dogs.

With dogs, the way you present yourself is really important, I know it's hard, but 'showing no fear' does help. I carry an air horn with me, as I prefer to not harm an animal if possible, that being said, I do also carry a knife, just in case. The air horn is usually enough to break the attacking animal's train of thought, and make it a little more wary of you.

Best of luck in future walks, stay safe OP!

Air horn is a fantastic idea!!! I never thought of that. I don't carry anything but my iPod, though.....probably won't be much help.

Everyone that owns a pitbull thinks that with the right love and training their dog would never attack a person, but reality sets and instinct takes over. This particular dog breed should be banned.

ANY breed of dog is capable of snapping and attacking a person. We had a Pit mix when my kids were little and she was one of the most sweet-tempered dogs I've ever owned. I know people that have pure bred Pits and they are lovers; not fighters. They will protect their people, though. I understand where the reputation comes from...but my experience with Pits has been nothing but good. So to say that the entire breed should be banned is utterly ludicrous.

Everyone that owns a pitbull thinks that with the right love and training their dog would never attack a person, but reality sets and instinct takes over. This particular dog breed should be banned.

You should consider speaking to an attorney.

Running away from the animal doesn't help. Also, protect your neck. Given the chance animals will go for the jugular.

You need to shut up SO MUCH.

I love how every article in the news about a dog biting someone states the dog is a pit. I have owned a pit. he was the best behaved and nicest dog you could ever wish for. I currently have 2 boxer mixes which are constantly being called pit bulls.

I also carry a gun when I go out. We have had some close encounters with bear and mountain lions in my neighborhood. In a more urban area I would try the doggie biscuits though.

Do you have the source website for that photo? We adopted a stray that is often mistaken for a pitbull (I made the same mistake). We had DNA testing done and she is part American Bulldog (which is not a pit), Dalmation, Plott Hound, and Boykin Spaniel. We also know folks with a Boxer mix that is routinely mistaken for a pit. I'm not being down on Pit Bulls (I've found myself becoming a breed defender based on the frequent misidentification), but military bases ban Pits and I routinely gather data in case I need to use it.

Apologies for the off-topic post

Everyone that owns a pitbull thinks that with the right love and training their dog would never attack a person, but reality sets and instinct takes over. This particular dog breed should be banned.

Running away from the animal doesn't help. Also, protect your neck. Given the chance animals will go for the jugular.

Wrong on both counts. Maybe read a book, a Wikipedia article, something before you go spouting off nonsense.
The jugular is in the front, animals (when trying to kill, not just snapping) generally go for the back of the neck. Even big cats that go for the front of the neck of large animals are trying to close the windpipe, not sever the jugular. So, during an actual attack (not bite and back off), curl into a ball and get your hands on the back of your neck/head. Protect your spine.
Pit bulls were bred to fight other dogs, not humans. Going all the way back to the beginning of the breed, a dog that would attack a person was culled and not bred. More recently there have been some morons breeding for aggression to humans but that is the minority. So the "instinct" to attack people doesn't exist. There has been some tendency towards human aggression bred in but only in a few lines and not long enough to be an instinct.
There's always going to be a breed that's demonized in the media. It was German Shepherd Dogs in the 70s, Dobermans in the 80s and Rottweillers in the 90s. Now it's the bullies and I'd guess it's going to be one of the South American breeds next. In some areas of Africa they've moved past dogs altogether and the "tough" guys have hyenas.
Pits used to be considered the ultimate All-American family dog. Remember The Our Gang/Little Rascals? Petey was a pit bull.
I worked in a large national pet chain for 14 years. I met a lot of dogs. There was never a pit who gave me reason to be nervous. There were plenty of small dogs I wouldn't touch. The "scariest" looking pit who every came in was a big, blue-brindle male. Intact, short and very powerful. Heavily muscled, cropped ears. He looked like he could eat you. At least until you made eye contact with him and he fell over in a puddle on your feet and wiggled all over for a belly rub.
A few more years and the media will move past pits and find another breed to pick on.
If any dog charges, freeze, say "NO" in a very deep, very calm voice. Carry pepper spray. If pepper spray isn't legal an air horn is surprisingly effective.

I love this

Everyone that owns a pitbull thinks that with the right love and training their dog would never attack a person, but reality sets and instinct takes over. This particular dog breed should be banned.

Running away from the animal doesn't help. Also, protect your neck. Given the chance animals will go for the jugular.

Wrong on both counts. Maybe read a book, a Wikipedia article, something before you go spouting off nonsense.
The jugular is in the front, animals (when trying to kill, not just snapping) generally go for the back of the neck. Even big cats that go for the front of the neck of large animals are trying to close the windpipe, not sever the jugular. So, during an actual attack (not bite and back off), curl into a ball and get your hands on the back of your neck/head. Protect your spine.
Pit bulls were bred to fight other dogs, not humans. Going all the way back to the beginning of the breed, a dog that would attack a person was culled and not bred. More recently there have been some morons breeding for aggression to humans but that is the minority. So the "instinct" to attack people doesn't exist. There has been some tendency towards human aggression bred in but only in a few lines and not long enough to be an instinct.
There's always going to be a breed that's demonized in the media. It was German Shepherd Dogs in the 70s, Dobermans in the 80s and Rottweillers in the 90s. Now it's the bullies and I'd guess it's going to be one of the South American breeds next. In some areas of Africa they've moved past dogs altogether and the "tough" guys have hyenas.
Pits used to be considered the ultimate All-American family dog. Remember The Our Gang/Little Rascals? Petey was a pit bull.
I worked in a large national pet chain for 14 years. I met a lot of dogs. There was never a pit who gave me reason to be nervous. There were plenty of small dogs I wouldn't touch. The "scariest" looking pit who every came in was a big, blue-brindle male. Intact, short and very powerful. Heavily muscled, cropped ears. He looked like he could eat you. At least until you made eye contact with him and he fell over in a puddle on your feet and wiggled all over for a belly rub.
A few more years and the media will move past pits and find another breed to pick on.
If any dog charges, freeze, say "NO" in a very deep, very calm voice. Carry pepper spray. If pepper spray isn't legal an air horn is surprisingly effective.

Thank you so much for this.