Remember that dogs lived for centuries as hunters and some of them still have a remnant of this hunting instinct. The dog may be following centuries-old genetic programming, but that is no consolation if you are on the other end of its teeth.

What will stimulate this hunting instinct is if you run, scream, or wave your arms wildly. Instead, you should stand still, arms at your side. In dog language, a direct stare is a threat, an invitation to fight. So don’t look into the eyes of the dog. And in order to keep yourself calm and appear confident to the dog, you can recite a nursery rhyme or the alphabet.

These are very important lessons to teach children, who are more likely to get bitten than adults. Consider dog bite prevention an important thing to teach children just like teaching them to watch for cars when they cross the street.