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Show u i-- 'mm: mmv M a'i Y .. I ' jxrp K& Jc -- $ t ,-- j t ily P j?js f ptjK EJ ;i 6- It uJ!' . v 1 ' J-- j ?j , mAl: tnV . - (, v'w: l.c- r - A'' - a - s sI Kjj ' -- "V1 mv ! V if . C' .2 A" . ' i - .as" --vu- ?E 4 w..sv' ' !C toft &: you. Unless he stops you, continue walking casually) with a friendly, relaxed attitude. Try to tell him by your manner that you're not looking for a row, or challenging his home turf." Beck notes that contrary to popular belief, stray dogs do less biting than dogs that have homes but are allowed to roam unsupervised. He confirms what many a postman has found out to his sorrow: that youre most likely to be challenged when a dog's on his own front lawn. E.ing V , , f..v J - v. , ,ir 4 t o I 4 When a dog bares its teeth: Researchers find that few people know how to protect themselves against attack by strange canines. Result: At least 1 million cases of e a year in the U.S., many of them children. dog-bit- dogs bite And don't be misled barking dogs sometimes do bite. Fox says you can often calm an angry dog by speaking in a friendly voice. It's helpful if you know a dog's name. Otherwise, you can call out "Hi, fella," "Good boy," or a similar, expression. Many dogs respond to a touch of kindliness. Even your facial expression may help. However, sometimes a dog may challenge you actively. The hackles, or hair on his neck, may rise, and he may bark aggressively and bare his teeth. When these things happen, Beck advises that you halt immediately. "Come to a full stop and stand there facing him," he urges. "Never step toward an aggressive dog. Instead, let him come to investigate you." Beck admits that this is a tense moment, when almost anybody is likely to feel nervous, especially facing a large and powerful dog. This is the point at which children frequently make the mistake of crying or trying to run away. "Parents should teach youngsters to stand perfectly still when a dog noses them," Beck says. Dogs, he emphasizes, almost never bite a person who stands immobile. Another expe-- t, Diana Henley of the ASPCA in New York, barks up this advice and adds: "Always act confidently. And when the animal simmers down, just walk quietly away." Tips from experts by early everybody loves dogs. But nearly everybody is scared of them, too sometimes. And you are right to be afraid when you come face to face with a dog that is growling, snapping, or otherwise behaving in an unfriendly manner. At least 1 million Americans are bitten by dogs annually, according to a conservative estimate by the U.S. Disease Control enter in Atlanta, Ga. Dr. Alan M. Beck and Dr. Michael W. Fox, who've done computer research at Washington University in St. Louis, put cases at 2 million Se total of dog-bit- e a year 1 American in every 100. And 25 percent of these, they say, are children between the ages of 5 and 9. r E. D. Fales Jr. & Nancy Charlton If anything, the peril is on the rise. There now are estimated to be over 30 million family-owne- d dogs in the U.S., and the number is growing. More and more urban dwellers are buying large for protective animals purposes. "Guard-dogs,- " especially trained to combat intruders or lawbreakers, are being used increasingly. No one knows exactly how many strays there are, but they number in the mill.ons. Man vs. dog What really happens when man meets dog? Beck ana Fox have studied the problem for four years in St. Louis and Baltimore. They've examined incidents. Beck hundreds of dog-hit- e and a young researcher named Randall Lockwood have even gone into the field suits. wearing "bite-proo- f' that They say dogs and people react in strikingly similar ways when they meet as strangers. A dog's heart starts to beat faster. He gets excited or nervous. Perhaps he feels compelled to protect his owner's property. Or he may simply be bored and looking for excitement. But something also happens to you when you encounter a strange dog. Your heart also quickens. You're wary or suspicious or scared. "So Rule No. 1 when you meet a strange dog on the street," says Beck, "is to do nothing to excite either of Here are some other tips on how to deal with strange dogs, as gathered from interviews with experts: Never reach out to pat a strange dog. He may think you're reaching for his neck, and react violently. This is something that should be taught early to children, many of whom have a tendency to "pat the nice doggy." Especially when a dog approaches, keep your hands at your sides with your arms relaxed. "Let the dog sniff the back of your hand and the unguarded wrists," Beck suggests. "He knows now that you're friendly because you've put yourself t his mercy. If he seems friendly, after a moment or two you might try gently rubbing his ear." If you're in a car, stay there. You arrive at a house by car and a dog runs out growling. Toot the horn until the continued ti |