These dogs do not look at all happy. I’m alone, they are unattended, we’re in a large field. What’s my best plan of survival? Should I run? There are some trees a couple of hundred yards away, although I don’t think I could outrun these guys. Ruling out flight then I figure I have 3 options: fight, play dead or try to make friends with them. I realize none of these are great choices but which of the 3 offers even slightly better chances of survival than the other 2?
n/m double post
Do you have anything that makes a serviceable weapon?
If not, try making friends. Do you have an extra limb you can offer?
Running will trigger the “chase prey” instinct.
Yea, I would say running is a bad idea. Throw a stick maybe they will chase it, and then head for the trees.
Boy, I would not like that situation.
Where are the owners?
I had this exact scenario with 2 Dobermans. I picked up a stick and held them at bay while I slowly walked out while facing them. I doubt this would work with a pit bull, they don’t back off. Reach for anything you can find with a point and try to gouge out the eyes. You will take some heavy damage at best.
Moved to IMHO.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
You don’t specify enough to know whether they are hostile or not. Keep facing them. Move slowly and calmly. Talk slowly and calmly. Do not turn your back. Do not run. Try to make friends or at least convince them that you are not a threat. Call animal control/emergency services when you can. Two large dogs, of any breed, should not be roaming unsupervised. In an urban/suburban area, they can hurt people, animals, or get hit by a car. In a rural area, they can hurt people, small animals, or livestock. In my state, it is legal to shoot them in rural areas.
This exact scenario happened to me about 15 years ago, except it was two Rottweilers, and it was on the street in a suburban neighborhood. I was jogging early in the morning (very early – about 5 AM or so), and as I passed an intersection, I looked down the sidestreet and saw the two dogs charging towards me.
My first instinct was to flee, but I was tired and not a fast runner in the first place. So I charged toward the dogs, yelling my head off and waving my arms, and they immediately turned tail and ran.
So that’s what I would recommend doing.
Last winter, some git left their Rottweiler out in front of their house to do his business. No front yard, no fence, no leash so the dog was on his own on the sidewalk, right onto the street. He was uncomfortable with not having any privacy, likely scared. I made the mistake of continuing to walk in the same direction I had which was toward the dog. He ran towards me, I crouched to signal friendliness but he wasn’t having it so I got back up, put my arm in front of me, braced myself, looked at him and stayed silent. He stopped 1-2 meters away from me and barked a lot but didn’t bite. He turned back after a short while.
I then made the mistake of continuing to walk in the same direction, only going around the dog as I approached the house. He came towards me again, I repeat the same behavior, he barked again but didn’t bite then went away.
If it came to that, my plan was for the dog to bite onto one arm while I used the other to go for the eyes, nose or throat.
Behaving like neither a friend, prey or predator can put off a dog enough that he doesn’t know what to do with you and just goes :“What the fuck? What the fuck?! Oh fuck this!”
Yes it is legal to shoot unknown dogs in my neck of the woods. I am not sure I like that, but I don’t depend on livestock to make my living.
People have dropped dogs off close to my property for years. Of course they always end up on my deck begging for food. Mr.Wrekker says they have hit the dog lottery, when they come here. I try to find homes for them, I care for them and feed, de-flea and even give them rabies shots. I have always been able to find homes for them eventually. Knock on wood, it has been 6 mos or so since the last. She was a momma dog who gave birth after being here one day. I found homes for all the pups. I took mom in and had her spayed, a lady at the Vets office found a home for her. I have never had a vicious dog ‘yet’. Some were skittish and less friendly. But mostly they are starving for food and love. I am always cautious and I don’t my dogs near them. I really wouldn’t want to have to decide what to do if I was being attacked. I googled it, there is no real help there unless you have weapon or a way to put something between yourself and biting dogs. If you’re in field you are really out of luck.
Show them evidence that pitbulls are a gentle loving breed and accounts of pitbull attacks are usually cases of misidentification and confirmation bias.
I’d sit down on the ground and let them lick my face.
Most dogs in english speaking countries obey the most basic command SIT.
Say it forcefully and you might have just saved your life.
It depends: What breed are the pit bulls? If they’re something small like beagles, then fighting is going to be a lot more favorable than if they’re St. Bernards or something.
Pit bulls are a breed of dog, though there’s a lot of variation in my understanding. On average, I think they’re about 70-100 pounds and very solidly built.
But I’d still go with my tried and true tactic above – wave your arms, scream your head off, and charge them, and I think there’s a very good chance that they’ll flee. If it worked for Rottweilers then I think there’s a great chance it would work for pit bulls.
Or it could be this. 
*whoosh! * city
Everyone knows all vicious dogs are only pit bulls.
And cocker F-ing spaniels.
Former animal trainer here, since there are two of them I would be a bit more concerned than just one since they may exhibit pack behavior, but it doesn’t mean they are going to attack you. I wouldn’t make any sudden movements and certainly don’t try to run since that could trigger a chase response, but I would back away slowly while looking on the ground for any large rocks or hefty sticks you could use to try to defend yourself with if need be. I wouldn’t scream or panic, or draw any attention to yourself.
So you’re backing away slowly in as non-threatening a manner as possible and watching them from the side and not staring at them directly in the face. Also keep your eyes out for another human who can join you as you exit the area. I doubt they will attack, but at least you can try to defend yourself if they do.
If you think about it, pit bulls were breed to fight other dogs, not humans, but they will attack humans, especially children, if they feel threatened. As a full grown adult you are much more intimidating to them than a child would be. If I lived in a neighborhood with loose pit bulls running around I would get in the habit of carrying bear spray with me at all times. Hopefully I would never have to use it, but it will stop just about anything from charging you.
We’ve been over this in other threads. Any dog that attacks a person, or is believed might attack a person is a pit bull. The term has become synonymous with ‘scary dog’.
I guess I missed those conversations. That’s entirely contrary to my experience, though I don’t deal with dogs every day.