Many people’s first instinct when approached by a seemingly dangerous dog is to run away. They do not think about it, but instead just react.
Unfortunately, this is often the exact wrong reaction, and it can make the situation worse. It may make the dog more likely to attack than if the person tried to remain calm and collected, slowly backing away from the dog and demonstrating that they are not a threat.
Prey drive
The first reason not to run from a dog is because of their inherent prey drive. This is a primal instinct that causes them to chase and sometimes bite.
In other words, if a dog is slowly approaching you and barking in a neighbor’s yard, and you turn and run down the street, the prey drive could kick in so that the dog chases you until it catches up and bites you. But if you avoid eye contact, show the dog that you are not interested in invading its territory and slowly back away, the prey drive never engages, and the dog is more likely to let you leave without incident.
You cannot outrun the dog
The second thing to remember is that most people run at around 6 mph, but the average dog can run up to 20 mph.
It is true that world-class sprinters may be able to outrun certain breeds, but for the average person, the reality is that the dog is going to catch you. So you are not actually making yourself any safer by trying to run away from the threat. You are better off trying to diffuse the situation in other ways, and that usually starts with remaining calm.
All that being said, even if you react appropriately to a dangerous dog, there is still a chance you could suffer injuries in an attack. If the dog owner was negligent and allowed that attack to happen, you may deserve financial compensation.