I must admit to having gotten lucky - only once was I threatend by a dog , and I knew this agressive dog lived in the area, so I was somewhat prepared. I was walking home from the bus from my then job in construction - I draped my tool belt over my left arm (weak side) and held that in front of me as a guard, pulled the 20 oz ball peen from the loop, put my back towards a car, and was ready to defend when the owner came up and yelled at ME for threating HIS dog. I told the owner that was lucky I had not killed the mutt

I was always told that in the worst case IF you can grab the dogs REAR legs, you grab them and start swinging - and bash the dogs head against nearest tree/lightpost/car/etc - and DON'T stop till the brains are running out of the open skull

I love dogs, and in general, dogs love me (only met one dog that didn't like me - never figured that dog out) - but if one attacks me/mine - I WILL defend myself