As some of you know with my job at the airport I have the opportunity to deal with animals including dogs.
I'm an animal person...except for insects....they're creepy.
Now my problem with dogs is when I'm on a courier run by myself. This week I actually got cornered at the front door of a house by a dog. And this was after beeping the horn and rattling the gate before entry. If it were not for the owner coming out I think there would have been blood drawn, namely my blood.
The owner insisted that the dog would be fine as I left as it returned under the house. However, this dog went to latch on my right ankle as I was walking away calmly. No damage was done. I was wearing safety boots and long industrial work pants. Though my mood quickly darkened and I did let the owner that I was less than impressed about her judgement of her dog and yes I will admit that extensive use of four letter words were used and then some more. Even I could tell by the body language of the dog that not all was fine and still she refused to step out of her house to make sure that something wouldn't happen. I am grateful for the fact that she did step out when her dog tried to latch on to my ankle.
The second incident, only 15 minutes later was with a guard dog at a house with no front gate but the back gate was open, not that I could see this until it was too late. I was hlafway up the driveway when the dog comes running up to me barking and being territorial. I only had a package to protect me as I backed off back to the van. I was about to drive away when the owner came out asking whether the dog bit me and was sorry that it happenned. I said that it didn't bite me and gave him his package.
What I want to know is, what is the best thing to do when confronted by an aggressive dog?
So far, this is what I do. I don't use any quick sudden movements. I speak in a calm voice. I pray that the owner will come. I retreat back to the van. And I ALWAYS leave the front gate open so it's easier for me to get out in a rush if I need to.
I'm an animal person...except for insects....they're creepy.
Now my problem with dogs is when I'm on a courier run by myself. This week I actually got cornered at the front door of a house by a dog. And this was after beeping the horn and rattling the gate before entry. If it were not for the owner coming out I think there would have been blood drawn, namely my blood.
The owner insisted that the dog would be fine as I left as it returned under the house. However, this dog went to latch on my right ankle as I was walking away calmly. No damage was done. I was wearing safety boots and long industrial work pants. Though my mood quickly darkened and I did let the owner that I was less than impressed about her judgement of her dog and yes I will admit that extensive use of four letter words were used and then some more. Even I could tell by the body language of the dog that not all was fine and still she refused to step out of her house to make sure that something wouldn't happen. I am grateful for the fact that she did step out when her dog tried to latch on to my ankle.
The second incident, only 15 minutes later was with a guard dog at a house with no front gate but the back gate was open, not that I could see this until it was too late. I was hlafway up the driveway when the dog comes running up to me barking and being territorial. I only had a package to protect me as I backed off back to the van. I was about to drive away when the owner came out asking whether the dog bit me and was sorry that it happenned. I said that it didn't bite me and gave him his package.
What I want to know is, what is the best thing to do when confronted by an aggressive dog?
So far, this is what I do. I don't use any quick sudden movements. I speak in a calm voice. I pray that the owner will come. I retreat back to the van. And I ALWAYS leave the front gate open so it's easier for me to get out in a rush if I need to.