Getting bitten by a dog can be a scary and dangerous situation. If a dog bites you and locks its jaws, not letting go, it’s important to remain calm and take action quickly. There are several techniques you can use to get a dog to release its bite.
What causes dogs to bite and not let go?
There are a few reasons why a dog may bite down and refuse to release:
- The dog is trained to hold on. Some dogs, like police dogs, are trained to bite and hold on until commanded to release. This ensures a suspect can’t get away.
- The dog feels threatened. If a dog feels scared or cornered, its natural instinct is to protect itself by biting and holding on. This could happen even with a normally friendly dog.
- The dog is playing tug-of-war. Dogs love to play tug-of-war and when playing will bite down and shake their head from side to side while holding on.
- The dog is startled or provoked. Surprising a dog or provoking it can make it bite down in fear and self-defense.
- The dog has possessive aggression over food or toys. Some dogs become aggressive if they feel their resources are threatened.
- The dog is in pain. A dog in pain may snap and bite down when touched near the painful area.
No matter the reason, it’s critical to get a dog to release its jaws as quickly as possible to avoid further injury.
How to get a dog to release its bite
Here are the most effective techniques to get a dog to let go when it bites down:
1. Apply a chokehold
Applying a chokehold is an effective way to get a dog to release its grip. Here’s how to safely execute it:
- Kneel down behind the dog and wrap your arm around its neck.
- Squeeze your forearm against the dog’s throat to restrict its airway just enough to make it uncomfortable and want to release.
- Avoid fully choking the dog as this takes time to work and you risk losing consciousness yourself.
- With your other hand, grasp the skin behind the dog’s head and ears and pinch hard.
- The combined discomfort should cause the dog to let go.
2. Pry the jaws open
If you can safely maneuver around the dog, prying its mouth open is another option. Be very careful when doing this.
- Wedge your fingers or a stick horizontally between the dog’s back teeth, above the bite location.
- Push down and forward to force the jaws open just enough to release.
- Avoid keeping your fingers in its mouth longer than needed.
3. Press into the gums or eyes
Pressing into sensitive areas can also encourage a dog to let go. Be extremely careful when attempting this.
- Press your fingers firmly up into the dog’s gums just behind its front teeth.
- Or, maintaining your grip on the skin behind its head, press your thumb firmly into the dog’s eye until it releases.
- This is less ideal than other methods since it may provoke the dog to bite down harder.
4. Pour water into the dog’s mouth or nose
Pouring water into a dog’s nose or mouth can also encourage it to release its bite. Have someone help you do this if possible.
- Get into position near the dog’s head and have your helper ready with a bottle or hose of water.
- As you hold the dog’s mouth shut, have them pour water into its nose/mouth which triggers a gag reflex.
- The dog will likely let go to cough and catch its breath.
5. Use a break stick
A break stick is a special tool designed to release a dog’s grip. It’s useful for safely prying the jaws open.
- wedge the stick horizontally between the dog’s back teeth, above the bite location
- Twist the stick to push the molars apart and release the grip.
- Break sticks are a must-have item for handlers of breeds like pit bulls that have strong gripping power.
| Technique | How to Do It | Safety Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Chokehold | Kneel behind dog. Wrap arm around neck, squeeze throat and pinch skin behind head. | Don’t fully choke dog, just restrict airflow briefly. |
| Pry jaws open | Wedge fingers or stick between back teeth. Push down and forward. | Avoid keeping fingers in mouth. Use stick if possible. |
| Press gums/eyes | Firmly press fingers into gums or thumb into eye. | May provoke harder biting. Avoid eye contact. |
| Pour water | Pour water into nose/mouth while holding mouth closed. | Have someone help pour water. Don’t attempt alone. |
| Break stick | Wedge stick between back teeth and twist to separate jaws. | Only for experienced handlers. Risk of bites. |
What to do after the dog releases
Once the dog lets go, it’s important to act quickly and safely:
- Calmly create distance between you and the dog. Back away slowly or put a barrier between you.
- Get medical help immediately. Dog bites often require antibiotics and treatment to avoid infection.
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Bandage it to stop bleeding.
- Take note of the dog’s identifying details like color, breed, name, and owner if possible.
- Report the bite to animal control so they can take action if needed.
- See a doctor even if the bite seems minor to determine if you need shots, antibiotics, or stitches.
- Monitor for signs of infection including redness, swelling, oozing, increased pain, or fever.
How to avoid being bitten
While no method is foolproof, there are things you can do to avoid dog bites in the first place:
- Never approach an unknown dog without owner permission.
- Avoid interacting with dogs that seem aggressive or unrestrained.
- Do not reach through a fence or window to pet a dog.
- Avoid direct eye contact, which can seem threatening.
- Do not run past a dog, which can trigger a chase response.
- Stand still if approached by an off-leash dog – don’t turn and run.
- Learn to recognize signs of an anxious or threatened dog like growling, raised hackles, barking, or baring teeth.
- If knocked over by a dog, curl up in a ball and protect your face and neck.
Taking precautions around unfamiliar dogs can help prevent bites. But if you do get bitten, stay calm and use the techniques above to get released as quickly and safely as possible.
Conclusion
Getting bitten by a dog that won’t let go is a scary situation, but there are ways to get the dog to release safely. Remain calm and use chokeholds, jaw prying, gum/eye pressing, water pouring, or break sticks. Once free, create distance, clean the wound, get medical help, and report the bite. Avoiding off-leash and aggressive dogs and learning bite prevention techniques can also be helpful. Staying vigilant around unfamiliar dogs can help prevent bites and ensure you know how to respond if one occurs.