I Was Attacked by Three RMoney Seamus Clones on My Walk Today
I walk for exercise every day with just a hiking stick and a day pack. Today’s hike took me five miles along a nice secondary road, with an eclectic mix of high-end homes, mini farms, and trashy double-wides on a few acres each.
Lovely fall weather, my mind is wandering along with my feet – and suddenly I’m surrounded in the middle of the road by three barking, snarling mutts that raced out of the unfenced yard of one of the trashy places. The smallest one kept dodging my stick, trying to get at my ankles. Hackles were raised, mine included.
I went nuclear, yelling at the house (with its Rmoney sign) until a guy came out the front door with a bowl in his hand, continuing to dish some the contents into his mouth with a spoon. He DID NOT call off the dogs, who eventually slunk off back into the yard while I reamed him out, citing the usual song-and-dance about all the cyclists and joggers at risk and how he could be the target of a lawsuit. When I stopped shouting to take a breath, he shrugged and said “Whatever,” before going back inside and slamming the door. NO APOLOGY was given. 
This is the THIRD dog assault I’ve endured this month on my walks. The first one, a big scary mastiff who also charged at me, at least had an owner who came right out the open door and apologized profusely about how sorry he was that the dog had sneaked out while he was getting the paper off the porch.
The second one was a pit bull who silently stalked me as I walked by and then ran at me across the road, barking and growling. While I kept him at bay and went ballistic at the lady in the back yard of the single-wide, she walked slowly towards me with a sour look on her face, grabbed the dog by the collar, and then kicked him back into the yard. Instead of an apology, she said, “He’s just protecting his turf and your stick challenged him.” When I used some appropriate insults (to both her AND her mutt) in response, she sneered and said, “Well, fuck you, lady.” No apology then, either. 
(The only difference in that case is that she pissed me off so much, I filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Office that resulted in them getting a $250 fine and a Dangerous Loose Dog citation – heh, heh.)
Sorry this became a novel, but my beautiful walk today was ruined and I'm fed up with being scared shitless. So how can I be ready for these clueless, inconsiderate, moronic dog owners? The dogs aren't at fault, obviously -- they're just being dogs who are thrilled there's no fence between them and the prey. Mace doesn’t work because it’s always so breezy here. I’ve heard opening an umbrella and keeping it between you and the dog confuses them enough to get away.
I’m not giving up my walks so I need real-world advice about how to keep from being bitten once I’m charged at.
Damn, this just makes me SO MAD… 
= new reply since forum marked as read
They swear by it for aggressive dogs, and that is a regular problem for them when they train out in the country...
Laura
DNA evidence for the next police report. 
Acting like a crazed lunatic (no insult intended) with screaming and stick waving makes you look like a victim (aka "prey"
and the dog owners will just think you are a lawsuit hungry moron because their precious dog babies were just being friendly and if the puppies don't like you, obviously they should beware of you, too.
I am NOT saying you are any of these things, obviously. You are asking for real world advice, so we first identify the problems - the dogs charging is scary, but the owners lack of consideration/apology is beyond infuriating, but it keeps happening to you, so your behavior is triggering something; these would be my thoughts if one of my friendly puppies danced up to a stranger to say hello and chaos ensued. (I understand your perception of the situation is different! Lol!) Frankly, I trust my dogs judgment more than my own; if they are giving off "dangerous person - be aggressive" I am inclined to listen to them.
So stop waving the stick/your arms and yelling unless there are teeth in your skin. Make sure you have a clear understanding of basic dog body language (go to YouTube if you aren't surrounded by friendly dogs in daily life) and assume that since you are NOT prey, you are in charge, and dogs that have lived to be old enough to be loved by a family (as opposed to mistreated/abused fight dogs, for example) aren't going to hurt you.
Now that your attitude is "centered" in a place of calm where you can enjoy your walk knowing you are safe because you are top of the food chain in the dog/human hierarchy, go to a local dollar store and pick up an inexpensive spray bottle with a "mist" feature. Make sure it has a comfortable grip, and use a little ingenuity to figure out how to "attach" or carry it so it is easily accessible to your dominant hand on your walk.
Fill the spray bottle with white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar works also, but it leaves an annoying residue that just irritates me, and this trick works with either, so I say just use the white. Do NOT dilute it. Prime it before you start your walk; the "mist" feature will help you not to have to worry about aim in a scary moment.
If a dog comes near you or into your space (stretch out your arm now to determine your "space" because beyond that is not YOUR space, and therefore ignorable) while you are walking, hold the bottle in your hand at your side, and say "SIT!" in a firm, calm voice. Do not scream. Do not hunch your shoulders. Do not squick your head closer to your torso to protect your neck. Your body language should resemble that of either Hillary or Barack when they are reassuring everyone they have things under control; mimic it.
If the dog continues to advance, say "SIT!" again, still keeping the firm command, but the second one should have that "I am the Momma and I said SIT!" edge to it. Well trained dogs will then sit for you, showing you that they have good manners and you can then ooh and ahh over them, maybe giving them some pets and/or treats. You may also choose to take them home to their families who will hopefully be frantic with worry, or to administer a gentle scold on the dangers of loose dogs and dangerous cars - your choice. Don't scream; commiserate because they have a beautiful dog. Make a new friend from the experience.
If the second "SIT!" with the warning edge doesn't work, and the dog is still advancing into your space, raise the squirt bottle, give the command for the third time - "SIT!" - and squirt the bottle at their face/nose while saying it. The vinegar will not hurt them permanently, but if it gets into their eyes it will sting a little; the biggest dog upset, however, will be their poor nose. Added bonus for misbehavior is some getting into their mouths - yucky!
The dog's personality and training will determine whether they now obey you, or run home. Either way, you can continue your walk, or talk to the owners about loose dogs and proper dog manners when told by an authority figure to SIT.
Good luck, and I hope this helps you to enjoy your walks in the future!
