Street animals can be dangerous and remember that you may be the cause of the animal's fear. If you accidentally threaten it, the animal may act violently. If you want to get close to street animals, follow these steps. Ideally, the animal will learn to trust you and become tame enough to be brought home.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Approaching and Getting Dog's Attention
Step 1. Be careful with aggressive dogs
Aggressive dogs may display certain body language that shows their aggressiveness. Symptoms can be seen if the dog is grinning, his eyes appear larger than usual, his ears appear to be standing up, his tail is stiff and may be wagging slowly, and so on. Watch for these signs and don't approach a dog that you suspect is an aggressive dog.
Step 2. Avoid prolonged eye contact
Look to one side of the dog and don't look him in the eye as the dog sees this as a sign of dominance. Your dog may interpret it as a challenge and think that you want to fight him. As well as possibly harming you, prolonged eye contact can also make your dog feel angry or frightened.
Step 3. Watch out for dogs with symptoms of rabies
All mammals, including dogs, can get rabies. Dogs with rabies may appear restless, frightened, and aggressive. Dogs with rabies can also bite or act violently towards anything they see (humans, other animals, or even inanimate objects). Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an animal that was previously infected with rabies. A dog with rabies may appear to be licking or biting the infected body part. Dogs may also have a fever and become sensitive to light, sound, and touch. Avoid the dog and contact veterinary authorities if you notice any of these symptoms.
- Since the jaw and/or mouth of a dog with rabies may be paralyzed, the mouth may appear foamy. This is a common symptom of rabies.
- Dogs with rabies may also appear confused and have seizures.
Step 4. Get the dog's attention
An often effective way to do this is to make a low clicking sound with your tongue or speak quietly. Don't startle or frighten your dog as this can cause him to get defensive and possibly attack you. To keep your dog from freaking out and attacking you, stay calm, move slowly, and speak in a soothing voice.
Step 5. Approach the dog very slowly
Once you have his attention, approach the dog very slowly. This should ideally be done in a squat position to make you appear smaller and less intimidating to the dog. The less scared you are, the more likely it is that your dog will be approached safely and effectively.
Don't crouch while touching the ground with your hands as this will make it harder for you to run if the dog attacks you. Approach the dog only from a distance of 3-4, 5 m
Step 6. Let the dog approach you
After approaching him, let the dog come to you. If your dog seems interested (such as wagging his tail), you can lure him to approach you by calling him in a soothing voice and extending your hand. Gently pat the ground in front of you. You can also lure him to approach you by feeding him a strong-smelling dog food such as tuna or canned food for your dog.
- Extend your hand with your palm facing down. This position is considered less threatening for most animals and reduces the risk of your fingers being bitten.
- Pay attention to his body language if the dog doesn't approach you. You can start walking towards the dog very slowly if the dog seems friendly but shy. However, be careful when doing this as the dog may get scared, run away, or mistake the move and attack if you approach it from too close.
Step 7. Stay calm and slowly back away if your dog growls or grins
Don't run. The dog may misunderstand the intention of the movement and chase or attack you. If you retreat carefully, you can escape safely.
- Don't look the dog in the eye.
- Move slowly.
Part 2 of 2: Letting the Dog Check You
Step 1. Let the dog smell your hand
That way, your dog will be able to identify your scent and react like a human to touch. This can be considered a dog as a greeting and introduction to you. Don't move too much when your dog smells your hand.
Step 2. Move your hand to another part of the dog's body
Once your dog has finished smelling your hand, slowly move your hand to his shoulder. Don't pet his head, as this could scare the dog or bite. Keep in mind that many animals don't like having certain parts of their body touched. So, gently touch the dog and see how it reacts.
Step 3. Check the dog's collar or badge
Wait for the dog to feel comfortable. Then, secure or try to catch the dog on a leash or crate and check the badge. Speak softly and move slowly so that the dog is not frightened or startled. If your dog doesn't have a collar or badge on it, contact your local animal shelter, veterinarian or place that can accommodate him. You might also consider bringing it into your home if your dog is calm and friendly.
Step 4. Check if the dog has a microchip implant or not
Today, many dogs are routinely implanted with a microchip containing an identification number that can be used to locate their owner. To check, contact a veterinarian or animal shelter that has a microchip scanner. If your dog has a microchip, you can contact the owner. If your dog doesn't have a microchip, you could post a flyer, post an ad online or in the newspaper, or consider adopting one.
Tips
- Never corner an animal. The animal will feel trapped and will have to attack you.
- Even after the animal is sure that you mean no harm, the sudden movement will still frighten it. Remember to move slowly.
- If you can't earn your dog's trust but are concerned about his life or safety, the best thing to do is contact your local animal shelter. The agency can also advise you on the best way to gain animal trust.
- Try saying a few simple commands like "sit" or "shut up" and see if the dog understands the command or not. If you obey, the dog has been kept by someone else.
- If your dog is foaming at the mouth, you should stay as far away as possible and contact veterinary authorities immediately. The dog may have rabies.
- Never approach an aggressive dog. Symptoms are raised hairs, snaps, growls, a lowered head, and a tail that is stiff or may be wagging slowly.
- Be careful when feeding street dogs.
- An unfamiliar, frightened, and possibly sick or injured animal can act unexpectedly. Sudden movements (such as opening a car door) can frighten the dog and run away (perhaps straight onto the highway). If the dog looks or acts threateningly, or if you have any doubts about the situation, stay in the car.
- Be patient and let the dog learn to understand that you are there to help him and do not mean any harm. At first, the dog will not understand your wishes. You have to approach him slowly and show him your desire and reason for being around him.
Warning
- Make sure that the dog does not have any disease and is properly vaccinated. Check the vaccination card.
- Make sure that the dog doesn't bite you to prevent any possible disease.
- Be careful when approaching alien animals. Street animals that are approached may not have had contact with humans for a long time and will not hesitate to attack you if they think you are dangerous.
- Do not allow children to approach the dog.
- Be careful when trying to gain your dog's trust, as doing so could put you in danger.
