Most street dogs aren't aggressive — they're afraid. A scared dog that feels cornered can bite, so your job is to look as unthreatening as possible and let the dog make every move. This guide covers how to read the situation, the six steps of a safe approach, and the mistakes that get people bitten.
Read the scene before you step in
Take thirty seconds before approaching. You're checking whether an approach is safe at all — for you and for the dog.
- Traffic: never coax a dog toward a road. Position yourself so the dog's escape route leads away from vehicles.
- Other dogs: a pack changes everything. Feed and retreat; don't try to handle one dog surrounded by others.
- An escape route — for the dog: a dog that can leave feels safer and is far less likely to bite. Never block the only exit.
- Your own exit: stay where you can back away slowly. Don't kneel in a dead-end alley with an unknown dog.
Learn the body language first
Dogs tell you exactly how they feel. Fear looks like: tail tucked tight, ears pinned back, crouching low, licking lips, yawning, showing the whites of the eyes, or freezing completely. Warning signs that mean STOP and back away: a stiff, still body; a hard direct stare; raised hackles; a low growl; lips pulled forward over the teeth. A wagging tail does not mean friendly — a slow, stiff, high wag is often tension.
The six steps
- 1Stop 3–4 metres away and turn your body sideways. A face-on posture reads as confrontation; a sideways stance reads as calm.
- 2Crouch down slowly — don't bend over the dog. Keep your movements slow and your voice low and sing-song, or stay quiet.
- 3Avoid direct eye contact. Watch the dog with soft, sideways glances. Blinking slowly and looking away says "I'm no threat."
- 4Toss food gently to the side of the dog — don't hold it out in your hand at first. Biscuits, boiled eggs, or plain bread work. Each toss can land a little closer to you.
- 5Let the dog close the final distance. If it approaches, keep your hand low, palm down, and let it sniff. Don't grab, even if it seems friendly.
- 6First touches go under the chin or on the chest — never over the top of the head. If the dog stiffens, backs off, or freezes, stop and give it space.
What never to do
These are the mistakes that cause bites
- Never corner a dog, reach into a hiding spot, or block its escape route.
- Never grab the scruff, collar, or tail — even of a friendly-seeming dog.
- Never run, shout, or make sudden overhead movements.
- Never handle a visibly injured dog with bare hands — pain makes gentle dogs bite. Use a thick towel or blanket, or wait for help.
- Never approach a dog showing stiffness, hard stares, or growling. Growling is communication — respect it and retreat.
When to call for help instead
Some situations need experienced hands: a dog that's badly injured, showing possible rabies signs (disorientation, unprovoked aggression, excess drooling, paralysis), trapped somewhere dangerous, or consistently aggressive. Report the dog on Adoptable with a photo and location so a nearby shelter can respond, and keep people and other animals away in the meantime.
If you're bitten or scratched
Wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and see a doctor about post-exposure rabies vaccination the same day. This applies to any bite that breaks skin, however minor it looks.