To many, dogs are man’s best friend. They are often viewed as loyal pets, and these creatures have been providing companionship to human beings for millennia. They’re not only cute and cuddly, but they can also provide a range of useful services too, such as protection.
And just like running into a stray dog on the street in real life may be significant, dreaming of a dog attack could be significant as well. In this article, we discuss dog attack dreams, what they mean, and why people have these dreams. There’s a lot to cover in the sections below, so let’s get started!
What Dreaming of a Dog Attack Can Say About How You’re Feeling
Dreaming about a dog attack can indicate you’re feeling a range of emotions, including:
1. Vulnerability
Receiving a dog bite in a dream could be a sign that you’re feeling vulnerable. You may also have this dream because you’re feeling weak or unsure of yourself in real life.
Additionally, such a dream could be a warning sign that you need to get important affairs in order, or else you’ll soon be overcome by anxiety. Being attacked by a sick dog could also speak to a feeling of vulnerability.
2. Betrayal
Dogs are often associated with loyalty and devotion, which means if you’re attacked by a seemingly gentle dog, this could mean that you’re having trouble with companionship in real life or you’re beginning to distrust people you once felt close to.
Such a dream may also indicate that shocking disloyalty is around the corner, and your mindset may make you too quick to trust people. Remember that a dog can look cute and cuddly, but this could be a disguise to hide their ferociousness.
3. Confidence
Fighting a dog in a dream could be a sign you’re feeling confident. Especially if you beat the dog in a competition, you can view this dream as a sign that you’ll soon go through a positive transformation.
And if you best a big dog (like a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler), take it as a good sign that you’ll overcome a dangerous situation and eventually walk away with new insights.
4. Unsure
If you’re unsure of yourself and you don’t know how to proceed in life, you may have a dream where a dog attacks you. In this kind of dog attack dream, it’s likely you’ll know the dog. It’s also significant if the dog is a white dog (as opposed to a black dog), as these dogs are usually not associated with danger.
In such a dream, you could experience a lot of loud barking as well, and this can indicate that you’re suffering from not being able to make an important decision.
5. Assertive
You may be dealing with an inner conflict, in which case the dream of a dog attacking you is a sign that you need to be assertive. You could be having an issue with family members or coworkers, and in either case, it’s in your best interest to assert how you feel, as holding back emotions can lead to further problems and more stressors.
What Does It Mean if a Dog Is Chasing You Before an Attack?
If you’re being pursued by a dog before they attack you, you can take this as a sign that your subconscious is trying to tell you you’re avoiding problems that should not be avoided. The fact that you cannot outrun the dog is your brain telling you that your problems won’t go away just because you ignore them.
It’s best to face these problems head-on and do your best to reach solutions. It may be that if you stand tall and face your problems, they’ll turn out to be not so severe. Imagine being pursued by a dog when all of a sudden you stand resolute; it’s most likely this quick change of attitude will make the dog think twice about attacking you.
Is It Significant if the Dog Is a Rabid Dog?
Being attacked by a rabid dog is a significant element in a dream. You’ll know the dog is rabid if you see it foaming at the mouth. Such a dream could be an indication that your close friends are not what they appear to be.
Additionally, if the dog is rabid and pursuing you, this could mean that an upcoming conflict is going to paralyze you to some degree since rabies is associated with paralysis. Being attacked by a rabid dog can also indicate that you’re mentally stuck and unable to pursue your creativity as you’d like.
Do You Know the Dog That’s Attacking You?
Are you familiar with the dog that’s attacking you in the dream? If so, this should not be ignored. This may be a sign that the dog holds negative feelings towards you, and perhaps you haven’t experienced these.
You should also keep your guard up in real life if you’ve had a negative dream regarding a dog you know. Especially if you make contact with a lot of dogs on a daily basis, seeing one in a negative light like this must be acknowledged.
Is the Dog Just Attacking You?
In the dream, is the dog just attacking you or others as well? If it’s the latter case, such a dream could show that you are going to have problems in a group, either at work or outside the workplace.
You may lock horns with other strong-minded individuals soon, and if this happens it’s going to be hard for you to reach a productive outcome. But don’t think achieving high-quality collaboration is impossible; it’ll just take more work, but eventually, all parties will agree.
Where You Get Bitten by a Dog in a Dream Is Significant
Where you’re attacked in a dog attack dream is relevant as well:
1. Left Hand
If a dog bites you in your left hand, this could mean that you need to be more cautious when receiving gifts. It may also be a sign that people are trying to manipulate you.
2. Right Hand
Being bitten on the right hand should also be taken as a sign to be cautious, but in this case, it’s a sign that you’re giving too much and wasting valuable energy on others who wouldn’t do the same for you.
Also, you may be feeling insecure or unable to set boundaries, and if you’ve recently been victimized you may have a dream where you’re being bitten on the right hand.
3. Left Leg
Being bitten on the left leg could be an indication that you’re going to have to pay for a bad choice you made earlier. It may also be a sign that you’re seeking forgiveness.
4. Right Leg
Being bitten on the right leg in a dream indicates betrayal. Perhaps someone you know is deliberately inhibiting you and preventing you from making progress.
What if You Kill the Attacking Dog in Your Dream?
Not all dog attacks have to end in a dog dying. But if you do defend yourself and it results in a dog dying, this could be a sign that you’re going to overcome a big hurdle in the near future, one you assumed you’d never overcome.
Killing a dog that attacked you may also be an indication that you’re shutting out negative influences in your life and focusing on the positives. It’s also an unmistakable indication of transformation—the old you is no more and the new you is taking over.
What if Someone Else Kills the Attacking Dog for You?
Should an attacking dog be neutralized by somebody else in your dream, this could be an indication that you’re going to be saved in the future by somebody you don’t know. They could save you from a horrific accident or from making a life-altering mistake.
And if you know the person who prevents the dog attack, this can be taken as a sign that your relationship with that person will strengthen. It may also show they are trustworthy. Although most dog attack dreams are associated with betrayal, this one is actually a sign that you’ll experience great loyalty soon.
What Does It Mean if You’re Defended by a Dog in One of These Dreams?
If you’re defended by a dog in a dream where another dog is attacking you, you may be having this dream because you’re feeling self-doubt, but this is probably an unjustified feeling. You may also be overthinking a situation, so it’s best to just let things play out.
Especially if the defending dog does not die as a result of helping you, this could be a sign that you’re well-equipped at this point in life and surrounded by good people.
Conclusion
In the end, having a dream about a dog is not insignificant, especially if the dream involves a dog attacking you. Therefore, the next time you have such a dream, do some reflection when you wake up and consider the points talked about here. If you do this, you’ll have a clearer grasp of why you’re having such dreams, to begin with.
