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How should you react if a dog without an owner nearby starts barking at you or chasing you?

Expert advice on safely handling barking dogs chasing you

Hi, my name is Liz and I am a professional dog behavior specialist and sport dog trainer. The question is how should you react if a dog without an owner nearby starts barking at you or chasing you? This is a really good question because this is a safety question and we want to make sure that nobody gets hurt. So if they're barking at you it's likely that the dog is not thrilled with your presence. You can read the dog as best you can but generally we should assume if the dog is barking at us that it's not in a friendly manner. So the best thing you can do is be very still, avert your gaze, don't stare at them, turn your body slightly sideways. If you need to move behind another object like a car, slowly behind a car or a tree. But just try to do what you can to de-escalate the situation. And usually most dogs will stop if you don't really react. So soften your body language, be still and be safe.

If a dog without an owner nearby starts barking at you or chasing you, the best thing to do is be still and be safe. Soften your body language and avoid staring at the dog. Try to deescalate the situation by slowly moving behind something like a car or tree.

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If a dog without an owner nearby starts barking at you or chasing you, it's important to react in a way that prioritizes safety. As a professional dog behavior specialist and sport dog trainer, I suggest the following approach. When a dog is barking at you, it indicates that they are likely not happy with your presence. It's important to read the dog's behavior and assume that their barking is not friendly. In response, remain very still, avoid making direct eye contact, and turn your body slightly sideways. If possible, seek protection behind an object like a car or tree, moving slowly and calmly. The key is to de-escalate the situation by not reacting strongly. In most cases, dogs will stop if you don't engage with them. Soften your body language, maintain stillness, and prioritize your safety.

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Professional, certified trainer and dog sport competitor for 12+ years. I help clients across the US with agility skills and behavior challenges. 