3 Things I Learned from my Dog’s Attack

My dog, Noodle, was attacked unexpectedly on the leash while my back was turned. Here are three things I learned and hope that you can learn from my horrible experience.

1. Practice being prepared.

Prior to the attack, I’ve done a lot of research on what to do if I ever experienced my dog in an attack. Nothing I learned was helpful at the time of the attack. It caught me so off guard. The best way to describe it is, at the time of the attack, my brain only allowed me to use 10% of it. I stood there helplessly, screamed and freaked out, which you arent suppose to do. I’ve read you’re suppose to remain as calm as possible but there was zero possibility of that happening for me. Had I been more aware of the attack protocol, it might have been more helpful. For example, walking with a stick, air horn or citronella spray. Practice having these tools within your reach so you will remember to use them. Make it easy for you to react if you are ever in a situation where you need to take action. Also be aware of the nearest emergency vet in case of needing immediate medical help.

2. Be aware of your surroundings.

I was putting my things in the car and turned around to my dog being attacked by another dog. I’m the type of owner who crosses the street when I see other dogs, not because my dog is bad, but because I don’t trust other owners and their dog. I believe this was a freak situation where I didn’t see the other dog coming and when they turned the corner of my car, the dog got spooked and reacted by attacking my dog. Be an advocate for your dog and don’t let them walk in front of you. Make sure that you are in front of your dog when turning a corner so you can see the surroundings before your dog.

3. Don’t dismiss and think it will never happen to you.

I’ve heard of several dog attacks happening. I would subconsiously dismiss the learning experience because I thought it would never actually happen to me and my dog. Because I didn’t truly learn from other’s mistakes, I was not as prepared as I could have been. I go out of my way to make sure that my dog is safe and is well taken care of. I would never allow my dog to be attacked. Well unfortunately this attack was far out of my control. We need to be prepared for the incidents that are completely out of our control. How can you be prepared? Educate yourself on what to do during a dog attack. Bring something to protect you and your dog on a walk in case you stumble upon an unfriendly off-leash dog. Be conscious of the possibilities of what can happen so you are able to react accordingly to protect you and your dog.