More Info About Dogs and Running

Just saw this on the Cool Running website. I think it is appropriate given my recent "encounter": This was taken from this article

Dogs>

Every runner has a dog story. You're running innocently along
your course, when you suddenly find yourself nose to snout with a pooch
that's all teeth. Scary stuff. Dogs are very territorial, and while most are
perfectly mild-mannered, others seem to have a bloodlust when it comes to
guarding their turf.

Obviously the best way to avoid dog trouble is to respect the borders of the dog's territory. Cross the street when you see a dog, and you'll probably get only a few harmless barks. Try not to act afraid, though. Look and act confident.

If this doesn't work and the dog is hellbent on coming after you, don't run. Stand your ground and shout "NO!" as loudly and with as much authority as you can muster. The idea here is to intimidate the dog and make clear that you are not an easy lunch. With a truly unpleasant dog, the nice-doggy routine will not work and you have to act tough. Or even crazy. If "NO!" doesn't work, try waving your arms,
looking mean, and screaming at the dog. Like any other thinking, breathing creature, even a mad dog doesn't want to get involved with a crazy nut. This often works.

If it doesn't, try squirting your water bottle at the dog. If this is a dog that frequently causes you trouble, you might even consider bringing along a bottle of diluted ammonia and giving that a go. A squirt of ammonia on the eyes and nose should stop the dog in its tracks. Likewise, some pepper spray (not a bad idea to have around if
you run in a potentially dangerous urban area) should also give the dog pause.
It should go without saying that you should only use these defensively and as a
very last resort. You might also avoid using these in front of the dog's
owner...

I could not agree more