The first thing you need to know is that you shouldn't run from the dog. Prey drive is triggered by motion. This means that running makes it more likely that the dog will chase and attack. Plus, there is no real benefit.
Running towards you while barking and/or growling is simply the dog's way of trying to scare you away. Refuse to react and instead stand still with your arms by your sides and "be a tree." If you do this long enough, the dog will eventually calm down and lose interest in you.
It can arise for several reasons, among them insecurity, anxiety, juvenile behavior in young adults and puppies and just plain old bad manners.
Jumping up on people is a natural canine behavior. Dogs get to say hello face to face when they jump and even better, it's guaranteed to get attention. However, from a human point of view, jumping to greet is annoying and dangerous.
You should not kick or yell at the dog. An aggressive dog wants you to be stressed out before it attacks, but if you remain calm and in control, it slows them down and distracts them.
Do not kick or punch the dog if at all possible (that might escalate in their arousal). Once the attack is over, immediately get yourself, your dog or your child away. Don't turn around, try to get further control of the situation, or try to find the owner. Just go.
Speed is intoxicating to many dogs, who give chase to anything that's moving such as squirrels, cats, dogs and runners — it's the reason why dogs chase you when you run. The fastest runners — the elites — are more likely to be chased, which I think is due in part to their graceful, gazelle-like build and gait.
Don't give in to fear or anxiety, and don't start yelling or kicking at the dog. An aggressive dog wants you to be stressed out before it attacks, but if you remain calm and in control, it slows them down and throws them off. Also avoid direct eye contact with an aggressive dog.
The safest and most effective way to treat an aggression problem is to implement behavior modification under the guidance of a qualified professional. Modifying a dog's behavior involves rewarding her for good behavior—so you'll likely be more successful if your dog enjoys praise, treats and toys.
Hunter Mayer also suggests you run with a spray bottle with water, dog repellent, or pepper spray. “None of these will hurt the dog, and they may save you both from a disastrous encounter.”
The science is in, and the answer is a resounding YES—dogs can smell fear. Dogs have olfactory superpowers that can detect a human's emotional state by the scent that a human emits. That's right—you can't hide fear from dogs.
Answer: It highly depends on the individual case. Compared with the untrained dogs, trained dogs tend to protect their owners if attacked. But it doesn't necessarily meant that a normal family pet dog would do nothing when a break-in happens. Some of family dogs would also try their best to defend their owners.
Keep Calm and Walk On
Don't run. Running can provoke the approaching dog to charge and will increase the anxiety of the situation for all parties involved. Walk away casually, as to not startle your dog or the approaching animal. This is typically effective for territorial behaviors.
Fight back if the dog leaps at you and won't stop.
If the dog starts biting you, you've got to defend yourself. Hit or kick the dog in the throat, nose, and the back of the head. This will stun the dog and give you time to get away.
A deterrent can be anything from a dog treat to a spray and is easily carried on the body. Some deterrents include: Whistle with a sharp note or ultrasonic: Dogs have sensitive hearing and a whistle with a sharp or ultrasonic tone can be effective in shutting down a dog that's engaging in aggressive behavior.
Can you outrun a dog at a full sprint? Even with fear driving you forward, you can't. Dogs are too fast. There is a reason that the police use them to chase down suspects.
If the dog is small and presents no danger for your neck area, you may want to try to kick it. A good blow to the nose or to the body will stop most small dogs. If a large dog attacks, take a fight stance with one leg in front of the other to maximize balance and protect your inner body.
Teach your dog that they receive no attention for jumping on you or anyone else. You can turn your back and only pet your dog when all four paws are on the floor. Teach your dog to do something that is incompatible with jumping up, such as sitting. They can't sit and jump up at the same time.
Lunging and mouthing are typical ways for dogs to play with each other. This play behavior is especially common in puppyhood, but can continue into adulthood. Certain breeds are more likely to jump up toward the face during play, rather than focusing on the paws, chest or side as other breeds may do.
Use Spray Shield™ (Premier Pet Products, formally called Direct Stop). Spray Shield™ is a citronella spray that can be used to interrupt attacks by surprising/distracting animals with a powerful, unpleasant scent, and has been found to be as effective as pepper spray without the harmful effects on animals and people.
Straight off the bat you should be correcting your dog's growling and/or snapping with a firm “no” at the onset of the behavior. When he stops growling, reward him with a “good boy”, or in the beginning, a treat if it's handy at the exact moment of training so that he knows what he is being rewarded for.
The door for socialization closes at 16 weeks. It may be cracked a hair for some individual dogs, but for most, it is closed. After that, you are treating a behavior problem and you don't want to be in that situation. You can find out more about socialization here (and here).