Your heart is pounding. A dog has come off the pavement, barking, and it’s following you. Every instinct says run.
Don’t. Running is the single most common reason a chase turns into a bite. This guide explains what to do instead, whether you’re walking, riding a scooter or teaching your children, and exactly what to do if you are bitten or scratched.
Why street dogs chase
Most street dogs are not hunting you. They chase because you are moving through what they think of as their territory, because something fast-moving triggers their chase instinct, or because they are protecting puppies or food. Many chases are bluff: the dog wants you gone, not hurt.
That’s why the right response is almost always to become boring: still, calm and slow.
If a stray dog chases you on foot
- Stop and stand still. Movement triggers the chase; stillness ends it. Many dogs will sniff, lose interest and leave.
- Don’t stare. Look at the dog’s feet or to one side. A direct stare can read as a challenge.
- Stay calm and quiet, or use one firm word. A low, firm “Go home” can work. Screaming and waving your arms make you more exciting, not less.
- Turn side-on and keep your hands low and close. Don’t reach towards the dog.
- Back away slowly once the dog loses interest. Don’t turn and run, even when you’re a few steps clear.
- Put something between you and the dog if it keeps coming: a bag, an umbrella, a jacket, a gate.
- If you’re knocked down, curl into a ball. Cover your face, head and neck with your arms and hands, and keep still.
If dogs chase your bike or scooter
This is where most panic happens, and where most accidents happen too.
- Don’t accelerate. You can’t reliably outrun a dog, and speeding away in a narrow lane is how riders crash.
- Slow down and, if it’s safe, stop. Most dogs stop barking once you stop being a moving target.
- Ride out of their area at walking pace. Slowly, without looking back at them.
- If you’ve stopped, keep the bike between you and the dog.
- Hold your line. If a dog runs in front of you, don’t swerve suddenly; reduce speed.
- Know the hotspots. Roadside garbage bins, narrow lanes between houses, quiet roads, and highways where they pass through villages.
- Never kick out at a dog while riding. It’s the quickest way to lose your balance.
Keeping children safe
Children often do exactly what sets off a chase: they run, shout and reach out. Teach them three rules:
- “Be a tree.” If a dog comes close, stand still, fold your arms in and look at your feet.
- Leave sleeping, eating and mother dogs alone, even ones you know.
- Never tease, chase or feed an unfamiliar dog, and always ask an adult first.
For school routes, walk the route with them once and point out where dogs usually sit.
If you are bitten or scratched: the first hour
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, and almost entirely preventable before. Dog bites and scratches cause up to 99% of human rabies cases, so treat every bite or scratch from a street dog seriously.
- Wash the wound immediately with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. This is the most important thing you can do yourself.
- Don’t apply chilli, turmeric, oil, lime or other home remedies, and don’t cover it tightly.
- Go to a hospital the same day for the anti-rabies vaccine. It is stocked at government hospitals and free in many states.
- Finish the full course. The vaccine is given as several doses over about four weeks; missing later doses is a common and dangerous mistake.
- Ask whether you also need rabies immunoglobulin. For bites or scratches that break the skin and draw blood, or saliva on broken skin, doctors also give immunoglobulin, injected into and around the wound.
Myths that put people at risk
- “It’s only a scratch, so I don’t need a vaccine.” False. Scratches that break the skin can transmit rabies, and need medical care just like a bite.
- “The dog looked healthy.” You can’t tell by looking. See a doctor anyway.
- “Run, and it can’t catch you.” Dogs are faster than people, and in a narrow lane you can’t safely outrun them on a scooter either. Running invites the chase.
- “Wait and see if symptoms appear.” By the time rabies symptoms appear, it is too late. Get vaccinated first.
Reporting a dog that is genuinely aggressive
One dog that repeatedly chases or bites people is a problem for everyone, including the other dogs on your street. Report it to your municipal corporation’s animal control helpline or ward office, with the location and dates. Don’t hurt or poison the dog: that is a crime under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and it rarely solves the problem. Under the Supreme Court’s 2026 judgment, authorities can act on dogs that are rabid or proven dangerous, after a vet’s assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if a stray dog chases me at night?
The same steps apply: stop, stay still, don’t stare, and back away slowly. Carry a torch, so you see dogs early and avoid surprising them.
Should I throw stones at a chasing dog?
No. It usually escalates the situation and can turn a bluffing dog into a biting one. Stand still and use a firm voice instead.
Is an anti-rabies injection needed for a dog scratch?
Yes, if the scratch broke the skin. Wash it for 15 minutes and see a doctor the same day.
How many anti-rabies injections are needed after a dog bite?
A course of several doses over about four weeks. The exact schedule depends on the vaccine and route your hospital uses, so follow your doctor’s dates and don’t skip any.
Living together, not just surviving
Most of the fear between people and street dogs comes from not knowing what to do. My book, Our Dogs, Our Streets, has a full chapter on bite safety for children, riders and walkers, alongside honest numbers on bites and rabies and a 30-day plan for RWAs. Get the PDF eBook or the Kindle edition on Amazon.
This post is general safety information, not medical advice. After any bite or scratch, see a doctor. Sources: World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), TVS Motor.