Sorry this happened to you. I frequently hike with one of my dogs, who I keep on a 15' lead. We've been charged by aggressive off-leash dogs more times than I can count. I've started to keep PetSafe spray on my pack. It can spray up to 10' feet. It's intended to surprise and distract a charging dog without harming them (it's not pepper spray). I've never used it, largely because my own dog is there too, and I don't want to spray them accidentally in the fray, but if I were alone and a dog charged me, I would use it. I'll add that I also keep a pocket full of dog kibble with me, and I've used it many times, just throwing a handful in a charging dog's face. Most of them want kibble more than they want me, and it stops them without creating too much of a fuss. It's always a scary moment, though, because you never know what's going to happen. Safe travels and thanks for your stories. Now, I'm off to hike Heald Tract in Wilton.
Sorry this happened to you. I frequently hike with one of my dogs, who I keep on a 15' lead. We've been charged by aggressive off-leash dogs more times than I can count. I've started to keep PetSafe spray on my pack. It can spray up to 10' feet. It's intended to surprise and distract a charging dog without harming them (it's not pepper spray). I've never used it, largely because my own dog is there too, and I don't want to spray them accidentally in the fray, but if I were alone and a dog charged me, I would use it. I'll add that I also keep a pocket full of dog kibble with me, and I've used it many times, just throwing a handful in a charging dog's face. Most of them want kibble more than they want me, and it stops them without creating too much of a fuss. It's always a scary moment, though, because you never know what's going to happen. Safe travels and thanks for your stories. Now, I'm off to hike Heald Tract in Wilton.