I don’t leave the house without a magnum in my pocket. Our little dog Tony has been attacked by two larger dogs in the neighborhood this year, both deterred by kicks.
In both cases the dogs were out the door to the sidewalk before the owners knew they were gone. Tony is always on a leash, which actualy puts him at a disadvantage.
Me too... though I've also started using a walking stick... a six-foot piece of clear hickory. It's a quarterstaff, and used properly is very effective for foes on two feet or four. :-)