I USED to think if I was attacked by a dog, I would use force in proportion to the threat, because I’m a nice guy and don’t wanna hurt some “innocent dog”.
AFTER being attacked by a pack of dogs. I think differently.
I won’t pretend to be an expert on what does or doesn’t work.
But I will say, once the fighting starts and it is more than one dog, or one even moderately large dog, do your level best to fucking maim or kill that SOB as soon, fast and hard as you can.
Now is NOT the time to piss around with a measured response.
It’s probably too late for the OP but in “A Deadly Shade Of Gold”, Travis McGee uses his military training to disable and kill a dog that charges him during a nighttime reconnaissance of the bad guy’s estate.
As the dog leaps at you, fall backwards while grabbing a front leg and hurling the dog outward and beyond you. With any luck it’ll dislocate their leg and they’ll smash headfirst into a wall. Requires superlative reflexes, sure hands and willing suspension of disbelief.
The only additions I have to what I said seven years ago is: use your posture and voice to defuse the situation if you can. Not long after I posted the above, I was pushing a stroller containing the little Torqueling down a long fenced road when a dog appeared at the other end, ears pricked up, interested. I had nowhere to run, and would be at a severe disadvantage in a fight due to the need to defend my toddler. So, I kept walking toward it, not speeding or slowing.
When I got level with the dog, without changing pace, I looked down at him, and clearly and firmly I said, “HOME.” His ears drooped, and he backed off. He’d heard the voice of command. Threat neutralized. So, do that if you can.
Failing that, there are two rules: fight dirty, and stay on your feet.
As a kid, I dealt with dogs everyday on a paper route. If you tried to ride away on your bike, the chase was instantly on. I learned to get off my bike and keep it between me and the dog. However if the dog wants to bite you, you just are not quick enough to stop it. I got bit on the ass and I decided to buy pepper spray. I sprayed that dog the next day, and he never came after me again. I sprayed one other dog, and I never had one chase me again on the route. At that point I was no longer scared. I would still get off the bike if I was approached by a dog, but I’m pretty sure they read my posture and somehow realized I wasn’t scared.
Many years later my kids were chased into our kids tree fort by a neighbors pit bull. I grabbed my shotgun and went outside. I didn’t even say anything to the dog. I just went out side and got close enough to make sure I would hit it. It saw me taking aim, and it decided that my yard was not a place to be, and took off. I then wrote a letter to the Sherrif, describing the incident, and asking for his help. Amazingly enough, our neighbors were much more diligent in not letting their dog off the leash after that…
but in “A Deadly Shade Of Gold”, Travis McGee uses his military training to disable and kill a dog that charges him during a nighttime reconnaissance of the bad guy’s estate.