I’m a pet expert… Here’s what you should never do when a dog is attacking you, it could be deadly

A PET expert has revealed the crucial tips for dealing with a potentially deadly dog ​​attack.

Britain is battling an epidemic of vicious abuse, with incidents already hitting a 40-year high.

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Canine behaviorist Nanci Creedon says people need to be prepared should pets suddenly strike.

She warned that many often make the same critical mistake when handling an aggressive animal — and it could cost you your life.

Just this month, two people have already died in dog attacks – including four-year-old Alice Stones, who was killed in her back garden in Milton Keynes.

The dog lover told The Sun her “number one” rule is to avoid escalating tense situations with dogs.

Nanci said, “If you’re ever in a situation where you think a dog is going to attack, the number one thing to remember is to never turn your back.

“You should never turn your back on a dog that looks like it’s about to attack.

“Often, many fatal and near-fatal dog attacks occur when the person turns their back and the dog jumps from behind.”

In 2022, a whopping 10 attacks resulted in fatalities – meaning 12 people were killed in the past 12 months.

Nanci also offered some advice to pet owners on how to distract and calm a dog by mirroring the dog’s body language.

She continued, “I often tell people to back up slowly, yawn excessively, blink a lot excessively and turn your head — slowly turn your head away from them and back toward the dog and so on.

“You’ll often see dogs do these things to each other. These are dog body language signals for ‘I don’t want to fight’.

“Another thing that works is using a downward moving tone of voice.

“If your voice gets louder and louder during a sentence, it excites the dog. Lowering your tone of voice often calms a dog down.”

If the animal doesn’t give in and eventually pounces on you, it’s important to protect yourself as best you can.

The dog behaviorist added: “When you’re alone, the best thing to do is curl up into a ball and cover your head and neck with your hands.

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“Anytime the dog seems to calm down, try talking to that dog in a normal way.

“It may sound silly, but something normal like ‘go get your ball’ or ‘let’s go for a walk’ will almost snap them back to their normal behavior.”

Brits may also need to step in to stop a horrific dog attack – but it’s important they do it safely.

Nanci suggested, “Unfortunately, the best way to stop an attack is to choke the dog — especially if the dog is holding on and refusing to let go.

“If there is a leash, belt, or rope nearby, place it around the dog’s neck and pull tight. Usually, the dog will release its bite within seconds.

“That also means that the dog is held back and the attacked person has time to flee.”

The country has seen a 26 per cent rise in dangerous dog attacks since the pandemic began, amid a boom in Brits buying puppies.

As the death toll soars, grieving family members of victims are calling for tougher laws to stop abuse in their tracks.

The rising deaths are believed to be due to a lack of socialization in lockdowns as well as improper dog training methods.