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How Dangerous Is It To Walk Your Dog? Most people walk their dogs for exercise and enjoyment. Even though your dog may be well behaved, you cannot rely on all dogs you may encounter to be just as friendly. If you remain proactive and aware of your surroundings, however, you may be able to head off a potential disaster.
Summer had multiple severe lacerations to her back. These were so large that they would not heal on their own and required surgical repair to suture them closed. Because of where her wound was and because mouths are full of bacteria, surgically repaired bite wounds require a surgical drain to be placed. This allowed drainage for an additional 3 days after the incision was closed. This prevented the bacteria from getting trapped and abscessing later. The drain was removed after 3 days and then the sutures were removed after 14 days. Although traumatized, Summer is now fully and completely healed.
You won’t be able to walk your dog and carry all these items along with you, so determine what will work best for you. Here are some options to choose from:
2. That same bottle could also contain a small amount of eucalyptus oil, citronella, or Listerine. Any of those should repel dogs and make them retreat without causing any damage. 3. Carry an ultrasonic transducer- This can send out an ultrasonic wave that is detectable to dogs and may deter them from approaching. 4. Carry a coach’s whistle. The loud whistle could stop an approaching dog before they initiate any desirable behavior. 5. Bring some treats. Your dog will enjoy an occasional snack, but it may help distract a lingering dog long enough for you to leave. Toss the treat away from you, in the opposite direction you will be retreating.
7. Your voice and your body are important tools. A loud, stern “No” or “Ah-Ah” can sometimes scare a dog off. Don’t be timid or afraid to “puff” your body posture to make yourself look bigger and taller than you are. This may not work for all cases, but it is worth a try.
Even if you arm yourself with all these items, you must know how they work and practice using them. When a true emergency happens, it will be fast. Stay alert on your walk and always be prepared.
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Take a lesson from Summer, a 13-year-old spaniel mix. Her owner, Dawn was walking Summer one afternoon. They rounded the corner and a loose dog came running over and bit Summer on the back. The dog did not give much warning, nor did it release easily. Due to Summer’s age, she did not fight back much, which probably made her wounds less severe in the long run. The other dog owner finally did come into the picture to rescue Dawn and Summer, otherwise this true story could have ended more badly.
Although Dawn is very relieved to have Summer better, she will continue to wonder, “What could I have done differently?” There are always plenty of things you can think of after the fact. Here are some take home tips based on Dawn’s experience.
1. Carry along a spray bottle that will shoot in a stream. This can help deter a dog coming at you, or break up a dogfight in action. When you start out on your walk, pump the trigger to make sure the water is loaded and ready to be sprayed.
6. Bring an umbrella. You may not need it for the rain, but it can be opened up to shield you and your dog from an approaching aggressive dog. The sight of something unfamiliar and large may be enough to scare the dog off. If not, you can at least keep it between you and the intruding dog until you can get to safety.
If these things to do not work and your dog does get attacked DO NOT try to separate the dogs with your body. It is a normal “knee jerk” reaction to pick up your dog to protect it, or to use your hands to separate the dogs. This is a surefire way for you to be mistaken for a dog and get severely injured. By pulling your dog away from the attacker, it could cause the biting teeth to tear the skin, causing a more severe injury than just a bite wound.