When confronted by a dog that seems as though it is going to attack you, which of the following actions will most likely reduce the risk of being bitten?

When confronted by a dog that seems as though it is going to attack you, standing still and avoiding eye contact will most likely reduce the risk of being bitten.

Running away or making direct eye contact can trigger the dog’s defensive or chase instincts, making it more aggressive. By standing still and keeping calm, you minimize the perceived threat to the dog and reduce the likelihood of an attack.

In addition to standing still, there are a few other steps you can take to further reduce the risk of being bitten:

  • Place a barrier, like a bag or stick, between yourself and the dog.
  • Use a calm, firm command such as ‘Stay.’
  • If knocked down, curl into a ball to protect your head and neck.

Source: https://emilms.fema.gov/is_0011a/curriculum/1.html