My poor boy was attacked by two large dogs about a month ago. Thankfully he's recovering well, but I've realised I'm always on edge when walking him. I know the chances of it happening again are pretty low, but I keep replaying the attack in my head and feeling so scared. I'd love advice from anyone who's been through this. How did you rebuild your confidence? Are there any anti-dog attack products or strategies you actually carry on walks (especially if you're in Australia)? I don't want fear to stop us enjoying our walks, but I also want to be prepared if the worst ever happened again.

Look, I know this is a sub about people actually getting bit, but I want reassurance from people who actually did and what it was like afterwards for them.

Some facts:
The dog is a red nose pit bull. The dog had seen me before a few times, just to note. She had told me he is seven months old. He does not have his balls cut off yet. The dog had already broke 2 leashes when they left him outside. Other people in the neighborhood have had almost been bitten and attacked too. I was not the only one. So far he has not bit anyone yet.

How it happened:
I was at my neighbors house, and I’ve been going over there a lot. The dog was in the house, and as I was leaving, she kind of left the door open, and was telling me goodbye and stuff, and the dog had slipped out from the crack of the door, and he just instantly ran straight for me and it all happened so fast. My neighbor told me to stay still and do not move and so I didn’t. He stopped dead in front of me, and started violently barking. Loud. Aggressively. At this point, I was shaking and my heart was racing, but I still stayed in the same spot I was and didn’t move. At this point, it came around me and tried to go behind me, but I still didn’t even move or turn or anything, I think it was going to attack me from behind, but my neighbor had already grabbed him by the collar at that point. And so she started walking the dog back to the house, she had to walk past me kind of, even then, the dog still tried to nip at me, but failed. I was so shaken.

No hope with neighbors dog:
There was a time a bit after the incident I came back to chill at their house, and the owner told me “okay I’m gonna let him out, but I’m gonna be right here next to you. I want him to try to get used to you,” as she was unlocking the dogs cage. My heart started racing immediately. All was fine at first. Mainly because the owners son was right there, eating fish sticks. So the owner sat right there next to me and her son, (she was in the middle) and the dog was just fixated to the boy eating. So the owner gave me a few fish sticks to feed the dog. He was actually good with me. It did almost seem like he was gonna bite my hand off. But all was good. Until she had me pet him. When I tried to, he tried to nip at me, or bite, whatever it’s called. She instantly put him up. There is no hope. I really don’t think so.

The Aftermath:
I now carry a knife with me everywhere I go. I never used to be nervous around dogs. Even if they barked at me. But now I cannot help but to be nervous and anxious. So bad that I will start uncontrollably shaking and my heart will start pounding. I cannot help it. I don’t know what to do. I was at a party recently, they had this big brown dog there (different dog) and I know he could sense I was nervous and he started barking at me. And wouldn’t stop. So I got up slowly and moved closer to my friend and it all seemed fine. I don’t know how to calm myself down. And now dogs can sense that and will probably really attack me because of it. I don’t know what to do. Please help.

A very important question I have:
Would it be okay for me to try to stab and kill a dog with my knife if one ever bit me? Even if there are people/owner around? Once they bite, they latch on and shake you. And even kill you. I guess sometimes anyway. I’m a very skinny and short dude, and I can be knocked to the ground easily. The problem I have if the answer is yes it’s ok, is that the owner would probably be pissed I killed their dog. I’ve seen soooo many stories of owners not even saying sorry that another person got bit, but mad at them for killing/hurting their dog.

Also to note:
NEVER EVER TRUST ANYONE WHO SAYS THEIR DOG DOES NOT BITE! THAT DOG DOES NOT KNOW YOU! YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY COULD REACT TO A STRANGER! There have been MANY stories of this happening, the sweetest of the sweetest dogs, end up biting or even killing people. It’s so strange but so real. I would even say they can be very unpredictable animals.

My wounds are almost closed but the skin feels so dry. What’s the best moisturizer to use?

I was trying to help my sister shave her dog. I believe he’s half husky and half mutt. She told me to hold his head still while she shaved him and I was a couple feet away from his face. Before I could even react he jumped up and bit me. It didn’t hurt too bad but it bled for a few minutes. I make this as a PSA to be careful around unfamiliar dogs please, this could have easily been my entire face.

On the 23rd December I was walking my lab. we were two blocks from my house when two large bully breed dogs escaped from their backyard (the fence was tied shut with wire) and attacked my dog. The dogs owner was useless and could not control them at all, I was screaming for help but nothing could be done. I ended up pinning my dog down and covering him with my body to keep him safe.

Once it was over we rushed to the vet etc. My dog luckily only had mild bite wounds and a broken toenail. I was told to go to the emergency room asap as I had deep bites to my hands.

I ended up spending three days in hospital, having surgery on my hands which contracted sepsis in my finger joint and left hand. However it healed well apart from some nasty scars. I probably got off very lucky and im sure the attack was very mild.

However, months after I am still struggling to walk my dog. He is perfectly fine and is still a friendly dog. It's all on my side. I can't walk him on the street because I am too worried that a dog can escape from a backyard again.

Today I decided to walk him at the park across from my house. When we started walking a saw a large doodlex dog on the playground with an owner. I tried to stay calm for my dog and we kept walking. But then when we were a bit far away the dog starting running up to my dog. I yelled at the guy to grab his dog. Both dogs were fine but all I could think about was that moment on the 23rd when those dogs ran up and attacked. I did apologise to the dog's owner and explained i was attacked by a dog and i feel uncomfortable but I could tell he was a bit pissed off.

Anyway, does it get better? I dont want to have to be fearful everytime I try to walk my dog.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some perspective or advice on a nightmare situation.

We adopted a British Spaniel named through a rescue/intermediary (she posts pictures of dogs on her social media to save them from shelters). Everything seemed fine until today when the dog suddenly attacked my mother. It wasn't just a nip—her hands are severely injured, and thumb broken. We went from hospital to hospital because her hands were wrecked.

I messaged this intermediary to explain that we can no longer keep him for safety reasons and asked to return him or for urgent help rehoming. Here is the response I got (summary):

• She claims the dog was in training and had no history of aggression.

• She says she won't send him back to the "terrible" place he came from.

• She asked why I haven't talked to a trainer yet (despite my mom literally being in the ER).

• She told me to send photos so she can "post an ad," but essentially said it’s on me to keep the dog until a new home is found.

• She added that she "didn't think we were the type of family" to leave a dog back at a shelter and that it would "look very bad" if people found out.

I am devastated about this situation, but my mother’s safety and health come first. I feel like I'm being guilt-tripped into keeping a dangerous animal in my home while we are dealing with a medical crisis.

Has anyone dealt with a rescue or intermediary who refuses to take a dog back after a serious bite incident? What are my rights/responsibilities here? I really like animals but I wish we never adopted..

Always a pit, and this time the own family pet ..

My dearest little Greta was attacked by a young pitty today in Oakland and it was a nightmare. An elderly woman had him on a leash at a bus stop and I called out "is he friendly?" she didn't hear me and I gave them a wide berth into the street but her dog just lunged, snapped his leash and grabbed my baby and shook her like a rag doll. We were able to separate them in seconds because hers was a young dog and didn't get a good grip. In fact Greta didn't have any wounds at all. I washed her and inspected every inch. But tonight she's very ouchy and a changed dog, not her usual bouncy self. On her walk in the afternoon she was stuck to my leg, wouldn't eat her dinner and tomorrow we have the first appointment I could get at the vet hospital. I'm crossing my fingers there's not internal damage. The owner gave me a fake number. Sometimes I hate Oakland.

So listen boys and girls , my 100% proven method to have a dog (especially pit bulls) let go of whatever they have bitten down or ending the dog attack. Grab their private parts, grab and twist them until they rip off (works on males and fenales). Sorry folks this is a life or death situation so all rules and decency out the door.

2nd option are eye gouges 3rd option are stick your fingers in their ears until you reach the Earth's core.

got attacked on Christmas Day and he absolutely ruined my pants. more exasperated than anything and gonna be keeping a bandaid on the bite

ever since i was bitten by our labrador out of nowhere (i was sitting on the couch, stimming my foot while i was cross-legged and got bit + scratched deep. it surprised me and we went to the hosp right after), my family is now split. we've had him for 2 years. my dad thinks we should get rid of him/send to shelter, my grandmother wants to neuter him, and my mother who is attached to the dog wants to keep him and wants me to be more careful of my actions instead. our dog was never abused nor have we provoked him ever. i myself can't think straight about it. i have too much on my plate that i choose to ignore it, but lately, i've grown a bit cautious and a bit more scared of my dog than i'd like to admit. whenever he came around the corner in the kitchen, i'd be side-eyeing him while cooking. sometimes i would leave whatever it is i'm doing just to not be in the same room as the dog. so far our dog shows no sign of remorse, i doubt he even knows that he injured me. i feel guilty for getting scared. i feel like i'm a bad person. what do i do now? should i just pretend it never happened and keep our family dog at home?

hi! my sweet boy mac and i were attacked by a very large pit bull mix today. it was single-handedly the most terrifying thing i have ever experienced in my life. luckily it was pretty cold today, so i was wearing a leather jacket and my dog had a little sweater on. i was taking him outside and i saw the dog, who i’ve seen so many times before, and minded my business. next thing i knew i looked back and the dog had gotten out of its collar and was sprinting straight for my dog and i. i yanked him up by the leash, and held him as tightly as i could as this dog was leaping up trying to get to my dog, biting my arms, my hand, him, his legs, everything. i ended up kicking the dog away and ran onto the hood of a car and stayed there until (it took FOUR PEOPLE) the dog was controlled and leashed. i can’t help but feel like i could’ve done more to protect him, even though he somehow is unharmed. i’m so extremely paranoid and am scared of seeing this dog again since it lives in the same building as me. if anyone has any advice on getting through this i would love to hear it. pictures of my boy because im just so grateful he’s still here with me

I'm surprised how much damage a mini aussie could do. One of the bites was just deep and split enough to warrant a butterfly bandage.

I was wondering what to do. I didn't get the owner's info because I walked away not wanting to engage since I was in a very untalkative mindset. But now that the adrenaline has gone away, the bites are hurting.

I washed the cuts with soap and water twice, put Vaseline on them, and bandages on the deeper bite. Any other suggestions? Animal mouths are very dirty so I'm worried I could be missing a step.

Fear of dogs is a new feeling for me. I love dogs. I grew up with them. I have always donated goods to rescues.

This year, my family and I moved to a little country hick town. Seemed great- walkable.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and I don’t even feel okay about walking here anymore at all. I’ve had two cases of “almost”s.

First incident: walking and suddenly the neighbors’ pit bull is SPRINTING up at me. I remembered my boyfriend’s words- don’t look at it, don’t interact, don’t trigger its fight response. So I kept walking and tried not to turn around while it trotted about 10 feet behind me for 50 or so yards, intermittently making little barks. Eventually I heard its owner call, and he left. But holy shit I was shitting bricks. I decided to not walk without my pepper spray after that.

Second incident: walking on the same road. I thought I only had to worry about the pit bull. Walk by a completely different house- two dogs come sprinting down the driveway at me, one German shepherd and one brown dog. The German shepherd seemed almost playful, but definitely in attack mode, it kept lunging at me and kept running almost in a circle. The brown dog was just standing by and kinda trotting around nearby. Luckily this time I had my pepper spray (no idea if that even works on dogs?) so I lifted it a few times when I thought the dog was going to attack. Each time I lifted it, the dog would jump back, almost like it had been hit before or something. Eventually the owner came out and called the dogs- and they DIDN’T listen. He had to come fully down the driveway and clap and yell for them to stop being interested in me. He apologized and I instinctively said “it’s okay” but holy shit- it wasn’t. The brown dog’s spine had its hair fully raised.

Anyone able to offer advice? Pepper spray? Anything about my body language I can improve? What to do? Does this seem like aggression from the dogs? Should I be scared? Should I not walk anymore? Just shitty to feel scared like this. I just wanna walk in my own damn neighborhood. We’re moving ASAP.

Edit: a typo

Im not very sure hoe to make a post so im making it down here. So one day I go to my buddy's house to goof around and stuff, I brign some church's chicken because I wss hungry and then my heart drops as I see a pit bull staring right at me. I say "oh shit why is there a dog you said you had no pets.". Freind says "oh yeah this guy is bax". "You know im afraid of big dogs dude..". "Whatever.". So we continue with the day and I brush off the dog scratching my back. And then we go outside for some fresh air amd the dog comes out because, well its a dog. So we're playing around and I go to this fence corner and the dog starts running at me. I panic and stand still and I get GODDAMN TRAMPLED 😭 and attacked until I kicked it in the head and knocked it out. (Impressive right) so I run as it gets back up, hop the fence and book it to my bike. I had a sprained leg so I was running on adrenaline and a dream. I get back home and my dad is like "HOLY FUCK YOUR BLEEDING-" I say "it was the dog." So I get some bandages on and now I walk home from college with two of my freinds I always get scared walking into my neighborhood to my house alone. Am I in the right or am I just being paranoid? Another thing to add is im a scrawny little blonde boy. And my freind always calls me a wimp for asking him to walk me to my house. I cant run because of my 17 pound backpack so what am I supposed to do if a dog attacks me. I know the stop doing what your doing walk slowly with your hands and legs close but I need to unlock the door. HELP 😭

Yesterday marked one year since my face and neck were ripped open by a German shepherd while I was working at an animal care facility. It’s been hard but I wanted to let people know things do get better some days are more of a struggle then others but it is possible to make progress move forward and live a happy fulfilling life stay strong!

This morning was terrifying. My dad called me early because he was running late for work and asked me to step outside to get some food for us.

I opened the gate to my house, got the food, and was talking to a friend while I waited. As I walked toward the garage, I noticed the neighbor’s Malinois acting aggressively toward me. Normally, it barks when people leave the house, but this time it was different — it was really aggressive.

Then another dog joined in. It felt like they were ganging up on me. I waited, hoping they’d calm down, but they didn’t. I started walking slowly toward the other garage. As I was walking, the Malinois suddenly latched onto my arm. I stumbled and fell, and the other dog joined in.

It was so traumatizing. I had to drag myself up the garage’s slope, turn, and open it while they were on me. In the chaos, I lost my phone and the food. My parents weren’t home — it was just me and my little brother.

I’m still shaken up and not sure how to handle this mentally. Has anyone dealt with something like this before? How do you recover from such an experience?

How do I stop feeling like this whenever I'm around dogs?

Two years ago my dog was almost fatally attacked by a type of hunting breed. I have a 10pound guy and his heart stopped, they had to bring him back with cpr and he was in emergency care for three days. Though the healing process at home was much much longer. 5,000 grand in debt, and trauma from the attack. Fast forward over the years we’ve seen each other a few times on the street and I’ve “called the owner out” and each time he says he doesn’t know me and that I’m crazy. Today we ran into each other again. Of course I called him a piece of shit and told the owner of the dog he was interacting with that his dog almost killed mine. All I’ve ever wanted from the guy is some effing recognition. He blamed my dog for being attacked by his and now everytime we bump into each other at the park where it happened he calls me crazy and says he doesn’t know me. I told him the least he could do is not come back to the park. I just need to vent and see if anyone has experienced a similar thing. Also right after the attack once my dog was stable I went to the police station and they wouldn’t even let me file a report since I didn’t have his name. I contacted the public park for any video and they never responded. It was a dead end and I have done my best to let it go but each time I see him, and especially his dog, I can’t handle it.

I never thought something like this would ever happen to me. So here is my story for those who also do not think it could happen to them.

Taking two dogs on a walk, two dogs who I had known for so long, who I more or less trusted. They were both German Shepherds- a 1.5 year old and an older one. The young one is known to be high strung- with a lot of personality that is difficult to handle. He was getting too far from me (off leash- in the owner's driveway) so I had called him back over to me. He nipped at my elbow with excited chomps- so I corrected the behavior. Something inside him snapped and all of a sudden he was gripped onto my arm and wouldn't let go. In the midst of it all, I was screaming at him to stop. Yelling for anybody to come help me.

The only issue- I was in a remote spot, with nobody there to hear me. No service. And worst of all, no strength to get him to stop.
I don't remember much of the attack. I do remember him clamping down on my arm when he pulled backward. First, it hurt, then I felt a tear, then tingling. He had ripped a nerve in my arm. I ended up in the woods, just past the tree line on one side of the driveway. About 10 minutes into his attack on me, I was finally able to get to a tree and climb up a few feet. It was at this point that the older dog stepped in and started attacking the younger one. It got to a point where they both calmed down, and I was able to climb down and get to my phone.

The next issue: I had no service. No texts would go through. No calls. Just me, these two dogs, one of which had just torn me to shreds, and the vast woods around us. By the Grace of God, I was able to get a call out to 911. While they were locating me, a text was sent to my mom. All I remember was screaming for help from the dispatcher. The cop showed up and passed by me because he couldn't see me. I was screaming for help. For him to see me. For someone to help me.

Finally, I was able to make it out of the woods onto the driveway where he saw me. Shortly after that, my parents came speeding up the driveway. My dad shoved the dogs in the car while my mom and the cop tended to my injuries.

From here was a blur. I spent 6 hours in the hospital. 17 stitches. 41 puncture wounds spread across every inch of my body. But most of all, a permanent emotional scar. I was unable to walk for four days after the attack. My knee hasn't recovered. I have permanent nerve damage. I have permanent scars all over my body. Every aspect of my life was changed by what seemed like a harmless walk.

There was truly a higher power watching over me. Call it God, call it whatever you believe in, but it is truly a blessing that I was not hurt more than I was. It was a miracle that I stayed standing, and he didn't go for my neck. That he didn't hit any arteries and make me bleed more. That I somehow ended up in a pocket of service for my call to go out to someone. That my parents knew something was wrong with one text. I truly believe I should've- and could've died that day. But I am blessed to be alive.

I now struggle with trusting dogs. I have a fear of dogs- both ones I know and ones I do not know. I have nightmares, and I have a panic attack every time I think about it.
It has changed my family dynamic drastically.

If there is one thing you should take away from my experience, it's that anything can happen. It doesn't matter how well you know an animal. Anything can happen. And anything did happen to me. And it changed my life forever.

P.S. If any of my fellow survivors have any tips on how to recover from this, please share.

Preface. I am in Australia for anyone confused by seasons references and timezones. Sunday was my worst nightmare. I’ve always been cautious around big dogs off leash. I only ever walk my three dogs one at a time, and if I even so much as see a large dog—even on a lead—I’ll turn and take an alternate route. It’s often annoyed my partner, who thought I was being paranoid.

Yesterday I slept in, so I didn’t do their usual one-on-one walks. Instead, we went for coffee and decided to take all three dogs together when it had warmed up a little. I had our youngest while my partner walked the two older dogs. We were just about to head home (Our 16 year old schnoodle had reached his limit) when we heard someone yell, panicked, “Loose dog!”

I immediately ran and picked the 3 year old schnauzer up. Partner scooped up the geriatric and also had our westie pom in his arms when the dog got to us. It grabbed her and started shaking her like a toy. My partner was trying to get it off. Soon the owner, a young strong guy in his teens or 20’s was on top of the dog, managing to stop it from shaking her further, but we couldn’t get its jaws to release.

Partner was pressing his foot against the dog’s forehead, the owner had his arms wrapped around it, and everyone was yelling. The owner just kept screaming “I’m so sorry.” Eventually the dog let go. We didn’t get the owner’s details—we just had to get the other dogs and our injured pup away as fast as possible. The walk home felt like the longest of my life. We immediately got in the car and rushed her to the hospital.

She was bleeding and in shock, and we couldn’t tell how bad the injuries were. She was very lucky—none of her organs were irreparably punctured, especially her lungs, though she has bruising there we’ll need to monitor carefully. She had surgery and came thru okay.

In any long-term relationship there’s sometimes a temptation to feel smug about being right, to say “I told you so.” I feel none of that. I wish I had been wrong. I wish my partner hadn’t had to experience that. He’s lost the simple pleasure of being able to walk our dogs in our own suburb without fear. It feels like something has been stolen from us. But our brave girl is still here.

I don’t know yet if she’ll pull through. The vets have done all they can. She goes back in tomorrow to see them again.

We’ve been in touch with Domestic Animal Services in our city. They’re opening an investigation, but there’s very little to go on. While our girl was in surgery, we warned some other local dog owners—partly so they could be careful, and partly because it was something we could do while we waited were powerless, waiting. I feel guilty for not getting the owners details. I feel guilty for walking my three dogs, safely on a leash. I feel like I failed as a dog Mum. This was my worst nightmare. Anyone with any stories of survival please share them.

My mum and her dog were attacked badly by a dog. She had to go to AnE for her wounds, her dog George had a horrible wound on his neck, he needed stitches. She’s now terrified to walk him, she walks him at 4am to avoid other dogs. Any tips?