"Running is risky. I would fight back": Russians share how they would react in the event of a dog attack.

In recent days, several alarming news reports have emerged from various parts of the country about dogs attacking people: in Yekaterinburg, a mother and child were injured, in Stavropol a schoolgirl was killed, and in Sochi two huskies disfigured a boy's face. Despite this, a majority of adult Russians expressed confidence that they could fend off a dog in the event of an attack. This is indicated by the results of a survey conducted by the KP.RU website.

Photo: Dmitry ORLOV. Go to the Photo Bank of KP

Specifically, 52% of respondents stated that if a dog attacked them, regardless of its breed or size, they would hit it and be able to defend themselves.

“Running away is dangerous. I would fight,” reflects one survey participant.

“I would shout at the dog - no, you can't, and I would try to hit it on the nose,” says another.

“They advise hitting the dog on the nose with a fist; I think that might be the only thing that could help,” frowns another respondent.

20% of those surveyed said they would scream loudly, try to scare the dog, and call for help. Some even confessed that this method had once saved their lives, as help arrived just in time.

15% of respondents mentioned that they likely wouldn't be able to resist, so they would simply try to freeze or fall and shield themselves to avoid sustaining serious injuries in the event of a dog attack.

“Running away makes no sense; hitting it doesn't guarantee that I would have enough strength. So if the odds aren't in your favor (for example, if you're facing a pack), try to minimize your injuries, protect vital organs, and limit the dog's ability to bite,” shared one survey participant's opinion.

“It's definitely not a good idea to run. It's better to fall and shield yourself or stand still and try to negotiate. I managed that with a shepherd dog; it left. The key is not to show your fear, as dogs can sense it very well,” says another.

On the other hand, 5% believe that in the event of a dog attack, it's worth trying to run away. These respondents are confident in their abilities and consider this the optimal option since they feel they cannot fight a dog.

The remaining 8% chose the “other” option. Some said they would freeze and panic during an attack, while others mentioned they would defend themselves, as they always carry pepper spray or other self-defense tools.

The survey was conducted among subscribers of the KP.RU website on social networks VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, as well as in the Telegram and Viber messengers. A total of 5,100 people participated in the study.