How to survive a dog attack: two quick tricks that could save your life

It's a situation you don't ever want to experience but one that is increasingly likely to happen - being attacked at the hands of a savage dog.

However Daily Mail Online has sought out some help so that, should you ever find yourself in such a precarious position, you may have the know-how to escape relatively unharmed.

According to US security expert Bill Stanton, there are two easy and effective way to stave off a dog attack - one mental and one physical.

As Stanton explained to Daily Mail Online: 'The physical involves putting your arm down and jerking your hand away. This tells the dog to repel and to get down.'

Stanton pointed out that, faced with an attacking dog, instinct would say to keep your limbs out the way. However the reality of the situation requires a block.

'What you're doing is making a calculated decision about a dog that is coming to bite,' he said.

'It could bite the leg, the abdomen, the throat or the face.

'I'd rather it bite the arm, which was the most bone to it, and which allows you to still have the most control.'

The second - and likely preferred - method is mental, and is based on trying to scaring the dog away from ambushing a person.

It involved raising your arms up high overhead and shouting. A similar technique is used to scare off bears.

'Making your posture as large as possible will intimidate the dog. It is telling it this is a losing fight,' Stanton said Wednesday.

The security stalwart said that it's important that victims judge the situation they are in, especially if children are involved.

'As our grandparents used to tell us, you should never pat a dog unless you get permission to do so,' he said.

'Every situation is different. There is not one answer for all. Know your body and your capabilities and apply them accordingly.' 

The dogs seen in the video story above are from Dogs Are Easy.  

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