[Loser]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
I have heard if you punch an attacking dog square on the nose its the canine equivalent to the old knee to the groin. That is what I have always heard is the best way to stun him long enough to get away.

I don't think there's anything in creation that likes a punch in the nose. It seems we're all pretty tender there. But remember that a dog's mouth-eye coordination is, in all likelihood, superior to your hand-eye coordination. Unless you're a darn fast boxer you're just going to get your fist bit if you jab head on. Try swinging down fro mthe top.

The best time to hit a dog's nose is when he's got his mouth wrapped around something else... like some part of you in most cases, or maybe just your clothes if you're lucky. If you can't keep the dog from biting you, and you can make some choice, try to get your off forearm in his mouth so that the two bones in there are side-by-side, not over-under. Even the strongest-jawed canine is not going to be able to snap your arm in half right away, and this gives you some control over where his head is. You're going to get cut, likely torn-up, but at that point it was going to happen anyway. Also keep in mind that the animal is probably going to be whipping his head back and forth if he's got his mouth on you, and that his neck is about the strongest thing on him.

If you are able to strike hard on the place where the dog's snout meets the rest of his skull you can knock him out much the way a good sock to the jaw will a human. Usually a club of some kind is needed for this, but if you're the same guy who can punch the dog in the nose without getting bit, you probably have enough force in your fist to do the job.

As for the 'ripping their fore legs apart' thing, I've heard this before but have not seen any documentation. It may be true, but if a friend told me that in 'real life', I would level the following accusation at him: "You've been reading things on the Internet again, haven't you." Could be true, though.

All in all, you're better off not going to grappling with any animal, as a human your advantages and strengths lie elsewhere: stand back and throw rocks. Still, the best way to win a fight with a dog is to stay away from the dog.

I could be wrong on any of this, except for the Last part.