When a dog may bite:

• When it feels threatened or frightened
• When it is protecting its territory, food, puppies, home or family
• When it is excited or playing
• When it doesn't know you
• When it is enticed to chase
• When it’s been trained or bred to be aggressive
• When it is in pain or being teased

Signs a dog may bite:

• If it stands stiff and still, or with its hackles up
• If it stares at you
• If it holds its tail stiff or up in the air, possibly wagging it
• If it growls, snarls, bares its teeth or barks

How to act if a dog threatens:

• Stand very still and try to be calm. Don’t scream and run away
• Know where the dog is. Don’t turn your back on it and don’t stare into its eyes
• If the dog comes up to sniff you, don’t resist, don’t react at all
• If you speak, use a calm, firm voice
• Try to stay until the dog leaves, then back away slowly
• If the dog attacks suddenly put up your jacket, purse, or anything else in its mouth to distract it
• If you fall or are knocked down, curl into a ball, putting your arms over your head and neck to protect them. Do not scream a roll around.

If you are bitten:

• Kids should tell an adult/parent immediately. All bites should be reported to the police and/or local animal control officers
• Go to a doctor or hospital for treatment
• Tell officers as much about the dog as you remember so that they can locate the dog and its owners and check its rabies vaccination status

Other Tips:
When Skunked/Posions
Finding the Right Dog
My Dog is Dumb and Can't Be Trained/Things We Can Learn From a Dog