Why did we point a gun at this pitbull in Beach Rescue!

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Not all pit bulls are bred to fight. Conversely, German shepherds, dobermans, rottweilers, mastiffs and other terriers display "gameness": the tendency to attack.

Pit bulls in particular display a tenacity in fighting and will carry on attacking even if they have broken limbs and are bleeding (it's not for nothing that the breeding, sale, exchange and ownership of American pit bulls -- the "gamest" kind -- was banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act). So how should you react to one?

Stay where you areIf you think a dog is about to attack, don't run.

Predators are hardwired to chase if their "prey drive" is triggered. Even Usain Bolt couldn't outrun a dog

Show no signs of fearStand still. If you can, climb up or on to something high, such as a tree. Dogs can jump - some pit bulls can hop up as far as two metres - but they can't climb.

Protect larger arteries and veins If you've got something to hand, such as an umbrella, extend it to give the dog something to attack. Try to stop the bite from going near your legs, face and neck.

Don't attempt to pull your arm outWhen pit bulls attack, they cause damage to their prey with what's called the "bite, hold and shake". Try forcing your hand down into its throat to make it choke.

Try not to panicOnce the pit bull has got its teeth into your arm, it won't let go (illegal pit-bull trainers use "breaking sticks" to lever the jaws open). Stay upright as long as possible and, if you can, try to restrain the dog by putting your free arm around its neck.

Hold out for the cavalryEither wait for help to arrive or try incapacitating the dog: suffocation is a possibility, and the eye sockets are particularly vulnerable. A nine-year-old boy in the US recently disabled a pit bull by holding the dog in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu "reverse naked choke" hold. If the police arrive before you bleed to death, they will exterminate the dog. Good luck.

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