Had a little run-in with a dog on Thanksgiving morning myself. I’ve been running lately, and was running through an older neighborhood when I heard a large dog barking. Sure enough, there was a German Shepherd chained up next to the house. No problem. But there was also a little terrier in the yard, and he wasn’t chained. As terriers are fond of doing, he barked at me, and then circled around behind me as I ran by, no doubt hoping to nip at my heels. I just turned at him, waved my arms at him and yelled “rarrarrarr ruff ruff” at him (dog language). He backed off and returned to his yard, and I kept running.
I don’t carry a sidearm when I’m running, but I always have my knife handy. I don’t suspect that I’d need it with a little runt dog, but if a put bull or mean shepherd decides that I look like dinner, I’m going to use it.
Tip: please don't try that with a pit bull. :-)