Encounters with loose/stray dogs that are charging at you

Some of you may know that I like to stay fit by going running. When I was in my teens and twenties, I used to go for a run every day for about an hour on country roads and through the woods back in Germany. Well, times have changed a bit. The 10ish km from back then has now turned into 3 miles 3 times per week, and the country roads and woods have turned into loops around the neighborhood. Back then, slick leaves and camouflaged protruding roots were my biggest obstacles; now, sadly, it’s the loose dogs in my neighborhood. 
If they would be minding their own business and just peacefully coexist while I am running past them, life would be good. Unfortunately, that’s often not the case, and I find myself faced with being charged at and chased down by these dogs, but I won’t let that stop me from exercising my right to enjoy my workout in the outdoors. 
Here is how I do it and what I have found useful when being presented with such a situation:

• Stop running: don’t make yourself prey by trying to run away; the dog will 100% chase you down, and four legs run much faster than 2
• Offense is the best Defense: Be loud, make yourself bigger by waving your arms, and start running towards the dog in order to intimidate; most dogs don’t know what to do when they’re put in the role of the victim and will retreat. They do not expect a behavior like that and are quickly overwhelmed unless they have been trained to pursue an agitator like a police dog or a bite sports competition dog
• Throw something at the dog: rocks work best, but be careful and be good at throwing so you won’t hit anyone’s nearby property like a car
• Carry a deterrent with you like an air horn: the sound scares most dogs
• Carry Pepper Gel Spray or Mace with you: Be careful not to stand on the downwind side when utilizing the spray, and don’t start walking forward 
• Don’t try to climb on or jump on something; most dogs are pretty good at scaling obstacles

You can do most of these things while having your dog with you. Yes, I have done it. I have found myself in a situation where I was training a client’s dog, and we got charged by a stray dog who wanted to attack my client’s dog. Here is what I did: the dog was small enough for me to pick him up and carry him. With my client’s dog clamped into my armpit, I chased down the stray, who quickly got scared and ran off. 
If your dog is too big to be picked up, a very good DOWN-STAY works fantastic while dealing with the stray/loose dog issue—another reason to practice down-stay under various distractions. You can also carry a stick with you, but remember it is big and bulky and will slow down your movements. 
In the case that the other dog owner is present and has no control over their loose dog, stay calm and don’t let your emotions get the best of you. I know, easier said than done. Politely but firmly inform the owner of any existing leash laws and or property laws. If the other dog owner shows no responsibility for their pet's actions, options could be informing your local animal control and/or calling your local LE nonemergency number. When doing so, it would be beneficial to have video and photo evidence to support your claims.
I know how frustrating this can be, but staying calm and acting rational will always have a much better outcome than being angry.

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